A BEN DUNNE header earned Kirkburton a point in a 1-1 draw at Golcar United’s Longfield Avenue ground.

Kirkburton started the liveliest with Ryan Robinson coming close after nine minutes from a free-kick sent into the area by Steve Chandler but Robinson’s header went just wide.

Burton had a big claim for a penalty on 12 minutes when Dan Ingham was blatantly brought down in the area but the referee waved play on.

Moments later, hosts Golcar nearly scored an own goal when a cross came in from the skilful play of Chandler, the ball hit a defender and was going towards goal but the keeper pulled off a good save.

Golcar’s first real chance came on 17 minutes but the No7’s shot was easily dealt with by Jordan Robinson in the Burton goal.

And Robinson was in action soon after with a great save from Golcar’s No11 who crossed the ball from the left and it bounced menacingly in front of the keeper before he recovered to push the ball around a post for a corner.

Robinson should have been sent from the field of play in the 25th minute after he handled the ball outside his area, but the referee was lenient and showed him yellow.

Burton were awarded a penalty after Ingham was brought down but Adam Wilson’s shot was saved comfortably.

Golcar then took the lead from a dead ball kick. The ball was launched into Burton’s half, the defence didn’t cope with it, and the ball fell kindly for Kieran Ryan who finished in style.

Burton came close to equalising in the dying seconds of the first half when another long throw from Robinson fell at the feet of Wilson whose shot was blocked and the ball then fell to captain Robert Barnes who also had a shot blocked by a defender.

Golcar came close to getting a second goal after the break from a vicious shot by the centre back but it just went wide.

But Kirkburton then drew level on 65 minutes when, from a Wilson corner, he fired the ball into the six-yard area and it was met by centre-back Dunne with a superb header.

Lee Bradley came close to scoring on 78 minutes when he slid in to try and connect with an Ashley Flynn cross but missed by millimetres.

Golcar’s No8 tried his luck from distance but Robinson gathered comfortably in the 87th minute and then right on the stroke of full-time Golcar’s No10 thought he had got the winner when he shot over the out- coming Robinson but the ball hit the crossbar and came back into play.