Match report: Squires Gate 2 Maine Road 2

The visitors played the final half-hour of this Hallmark Security League premier division fixture with only 10 men but were on course for victory until Connor Finlayson saved Gate in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

In a rather lacklustre first half of few chances, Maine Road went closest after 15 minutes, when Jack Coop seized on a mistake in the Gate defence but keeper Ben Fletcher came out to deny the striker with his feet.

Visiting keeper Ryan Livesey was also alert to thwart in-form Gate frontman Gary Pett.

Maine Road were in front a minute after the restart, when Coop this time got the better of Fletcher.

The lead lasted less than 10 minutes until Pett found the top corner with an inch-perfect free-kick from the edge of the box.

Jon Mason ended Issac Sinclair’s impressive run with a foul which earned him a red card after 63 minutes but this time Pett fired the free-kick over the bar.

Substitute Finlayson and Pett were denied by a great double save from the Maine Road keeper, whose side defied the odds to regain the lead in the 82nd minute.

Ben Davison, who scored the equaliser when the sides met last month, was on hand again the convert a cross and boost his team's relegation battle.

There was to be a final twist, though, as Finlayson closed down the keeper, whose clearance rebounded in off the Gate man’s back.

Gate remain ninth with six to play and next host Hanley Town on Saturday.

Gate: Fletcher, Gray, Salthouse, Bamba, Colquhoun, Riley, Ing, Rothwell, Sinclair, Harries, Pett. Subs: Pope, Finalyson, Turner, Clarkson, Charnley.