A DEBUT goal from striker Ryan Rowe and a rousing cameo display from City’s latest signing Ashley Vincent helped earn Worcester a share of the spoils in Lincolnshire.

But it could have been so much better for the visitors who dominated for much of the opening National League North clash and only came unstuck when the home side introduced former Kidderminster Harriers loanee Darryn Stamp late in the game.

Solid defending had kept the Trinity attack out of range until Stamp’s arrival unsettled the previously rock-solid back-three culminating in the equaliser eight minutes from time.

In fact it could have been Gainsborough celebrating an unlikely win had City substitute Kyle Haynes not made a last-ditch challenge in front of goal deep in injury-time when the visitors were down to 10 men following the dismissal of defender Kieran Morris.

It was Worcester who dominated the first-half chances. George Nash, one of six summer signings in the starting line-up, was denied by an excellent save from Jan Budtz on six minutes, while Rowe and Sean Geddes were off target with further chances.

It was a similar tale after the break with Budtz pulling off another outstanding stop as he dived full-length to push Rowe’s effort away for a corner.

A Geddes free-kick was scooped away by the Gainsborough keeper and some neat interplay between Geddes and Rowe led to the striker failing to steer his shot beyond Budtz after being played into space between the home defence.

Vincent, who only signed for City in midweek, replaced Dan Nti on 63 minutes and two minutes later he had a hand in his side’s opener.

The former Port Vale and Cheltenham Town winger skipped past his marker wide on the left and whipped in a low cross which Rowe calmly guided beyond Budtz from four yards.

But, rather than boosting the visitors, the goal appeared to lift the home side and the final stages saw them in control.

Strike pair Nick Bignall and Nathan Jarman were thwarted by blocks from the City defence in the space of a frantic couple of seconds and when the ball broke to Jake Picton he managed to put his shot wide of the left-hand post.

The arrival of assistant manager Stamp added to Worcester’s unease and after a series of corners came to nothing it was Stamp who finally headed one of them beyond City keeper Nathan Vaughan.

Five minutes later, the veteran headed the ball into the path of Jarman but he presented Vaughan with an easy save.

It was now all Gainsborough and the visitors’ cause was not helped when Morris picked up his side’s seventh yellow card and his second of the game as City were reduced to 10 men.

But they held on for a deserved share of the spoils thanks in part to Haynes who slid in to block Jarman when the striker had again latched on to a clever Stamp pass.