Burto chose a 4-4-2 formation with Lips in goal, Basher, Wheats, Leon and Talla in defence, Steve Cochrane, Burto, Gilly and Tom in midfield and Skelly and Bruno up front. Once again, Charlo and Rawsy had to make do with a place on the bench.

The first half was excellent and by half time it could have been 3-3. Marske took the lead after 15 minutes when a quality corner from Burto was powerfully headed home off the crossbar from Leon (looking forward to Mr MJ putting it on you tube). Unfortunately, Marske couldn't hold onto the lead and Bishop's equalised two minutes later through the league's top scorer, Johnson. The rest of the half was end to end with Bishop's having two excellent chances and Skelly shooting just wide for Marske after some great team play. Bruno could also have had a penalty after keeper Jeffries appeared to clean him out near the byline.

The second half was a tighter affair with few chances. On 81 minutes Bishop's appeared to have won it when Johnson got past Basher down the inside left channel and slotted past Lips. Full credit to Marske though who kept going and equalised two minutes later with a clever finish from Gilly (who by now had been pushed up front after Skelly was subbed and Owen came on in midfield).

Overall, this was a much better performance than in previous weeks and a point was fully deserved. Hopefully, we are now starting to turn the corner and get the points we need to stay up.

Three final points to make. Firstly, Bishop's number 6 should be ashamed of himself for his foul mouthed tirade towards the main stand near the end of the game - absolutely no need for it.

Secondly, many thanks to Peter for putting on the bus today - an excellent turnout from Marske with around 60 fans present. Finally, one fan who wasn't there was Jim Smith who I hope is feeling better, helped by the point earned today.

Thanks for that Mark and it sounds like we deserved at least a point. That point could prove vital come the end of the season.

Just one point Mark. I've just spoken to Gilly to congratulate him and he says that Jon got the goal not him but he would be happy to accept it. Pleased to hear that he got a stint up front tho'.

Glad you all had a good day and I endorse your praise for our wonderful chairman.

Come on Marske we deserve to stay in this division.

Well summed up Mark.

It was a really entertaining game to watch and a well-earned point after a gutsy team performance.

It was end-to-end stuff in the first half and as Mark said, it could easily have been 3-3 at half-time.

Bishops had the first real chance with top scorer Johnson forcing a great save from Lips. Marske came close when a free-kick from the left was knocked down into the path of Bruno, who almost hooked it over the keeper, who scrambled to palm the ball safety.

On 17 minutes, Marske took the lead when Burton's inswinging corner was met with a bullet header from Carling, that went in off the bar. I believe that's his first goal for the club.

Just two minutes later, Bishops were level in similar circumstances as Johnson rose above everyone else to head home a cross with the ball once again going in off the bar.

We almost went 2-1 up when Skelly got the ball inside the box and went round one defender before curling the ball around the oncoming keeper, only for it to go just wide. It would've been one of the goals of the season if it had gone in.

The home side missed a golden opportunity just after that when Lips parried a shot and the Bishops player fired wide when it looked easier to score.

Just before half-time, Marske had a strong penalty shout when Bruno was brought down on the byeline by the keeper. A corner was given but I felt the keeper didn't make contact with the ball before it went out of play and probably went through Bruno to get it.

Chances were harder to come by in the second half, partly due to Basher who was like a man possessed, getting his foot to almost everything in what was his best game of the season, for me.

Bishops took the lead on 81 minutes when Johnson got in behind the defence and produced a well-placed finish that crept in at the far post. At that point, the Marske fans' attention was taken by a bloke who started having a go at Burto in the away dugout. No-one knew who he was or why he'd decide to have a go at the away manager when Bishops had just taken the lead. One theory is he thought it was the home dugout. Whatever he was doing, he quickly shut up a minute later when Marske went down the other end and equalised when the ball was clipped in at the far post by Burton. I'll hold my hands up and say I wasn't sure who'd got it. My first thought was Owen but then Gilly's name was announced over the tannoy.

The Bishops no. 6 was lucky to stay on the pitch shortly before the end after a shocking lunge on Owen, that was followed by a foul-mouthed tirade towards the stand.

Overall, 2-2 was a fair result but it felt like a win after the run we've been on. West Auckland away on Tuesday will be difficult but it would be a huge bonus if we could get something there ahead of next weekend's massive game against Stokesley.

Very good set up at Bishops and the new ground is very nice (similar to Penrith's for those who went earlier in the season), even if a few of the fans are a bit... strange...

Will get the video of Carling's goal up soon.

Thanks to Peter for putting on the bus for the fans. It really felt like the extra support made a difference.

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Much better performance yesterday and a draw was a fair result. If we continue to play like that then we should be good for a couple of more wins at least. The front 2 battled without creating a lot of chances and Skelly left the keeper standing in no-mans land when his shot went wide.

West Auckland will be a tougher game and a point would be fantastic, but all eyes are now on next Saturday for the Stokesley game. A win will make us secure I'm sure given Jarrow's really tough run in and Tow Law unlikely to make up any ground. I'd love to see Gilly up front playing off either Bruno or Skelly just to give their defence some pace to worry about but yesterday's team did very well, so I'm expecting no changes.

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"I'm not finished when I'm tired, I'm finished when I'm done"

Does anyone know why Leon came off at half-time yesterday what his chances of playing on Tuesday are?

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Leon's goal from yesterday:

http://youtu.be/UKCbGtArpqg

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As a little bonus, here's a bit of magic from Tommy Marron at Spennymoor in January:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnRQej__sx8

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well done marske great away point that

told you Jimbo it would be 2-2