Earlier in the season the visitors had defeated United 5-0 during a freezing midweek league game in Lincoln, in which player availability had been a significant factor in the outcome.

In truth, having taken an early lead and failing to convert a penalty shortly afterwards, United will be unhappy that they didn’t take all three points in Saturday’s game at Grange Park.

Hucknall Town loan player Steve Chaplin was in United’s starting line-up for his second spell with the club this season and Wayne Duik retained his place after playing against Winterton Rangers. Dean Whiley returned after injury and Shaun Rickford was given a start after his two-goal salvo from the bench a fortnight ago. Martin Bowles was missing and Kev Mabon, recovering from injury, was named amongst the substitutes.

Moorlands had to weather United’s early pressure and a Rickford header just missed the target after only seven minutes. However, minutes later the same player seized on a loose ball in the visitors box, after good work from Adam Campbell and Chaplin, to shrug off the attention of a defender and ease the ball home from close range. The strike was Rickford’s sixth of the current season from only six starts.

United continued as the more assertive of the two sides and after sixteen minutes Nathan Parker guided a superb through ball to Rickford and the bustling striker was brought done heavily as he bore down on goal. To the surprise of most onlookers, the referee awarded the penalty to United but only booked a relieved-looking Lincoln defender. Unfortunately, Paul Gamble’s spot kick was well saved by ‘keeper Mario Ziccardi.

It was disappointing that United again conceded two quick goals in a five minute spell just before the interval, at a time when they were dominating, as firstly, Luke Forbes rapped home a penalty after an infringement by Whiley and then Matt O’Halloran edged Lincoln in front on forty-two minutes via a simple tap-in.

In the second half, Gary Breach, Rickford, Campbell, Whiley and Chaplin all had efforts on goal as United battled valiantly to get back on terms. During one skirmish, Rickford was again felled heavily by the same player who had conceded United’s first half penalty and on this occasion he was shown a red card.

As the game reached the eighty-minute mark Mabon was introduced from the bench and within five minutes the veteran striker had levelled the scores. A clever ball from Chaplin found Mabon free on the right and he thumped the ball past Ziccardi with some venom.

Despite efforts to secure all three points, United had to be satisfied with the point that ensured they have drawn all four of their NCEL games this year and maintain their own six match unbeaten league run. It was also only the third time in the club’s history that they had drawn four consecutive league games, having had a similar sequence in both 1972 and 1986. The club have never drawn five games in a row.

Interestingly, as United slip down the table due to the recent run of drawn games, it should be highlighted that only United and Maltby Main have avoided a league defeat in their last six NCEL matches.

It is clear that the first team are becoming harder to beat and luck often appears to have gone against them at crucial times. Defensively, they are becoming more solid, but have conceded goals at times when they have been in control. More importantly, it wouldn’t have been undeserved if they had gained maximum points from the four recent drawn games.

During the first thirty minutes of today’s game, and from where I was standing, the Moorlands defence were run ragged trying to cope with the physical presence of Rickford and Chaplin.

The smokescreen of Gamble’s missed penalty should not detract from the advantage gained by the visitors after the referee decided not to dismiss the offender, who was clearly the ‘last man’ when he brought down Rickford.

There were steady performances throughout, with the previously unmentioned Wayne Duik, Michael Martin, Chris Murdock and Simon Baldwin all playing their part.

With regard to United’s home form, it is hard to accept when the team don’t quite get over the finishing line but it has also become difficult for team’s to actually win at Grange Park, with only Tadcaster, and a very fortunate Farsley, gaining victories.