BRIGHOUSE TOWN emerged from an action packed thriller with a point from a 3-3 draw at Scarborough Athletic that lifted them to second place in The Northern Counties East League’s Premier Division.

Along with Town’s point there were six goals, nine bookings, a sending off and a last minute penalty miss.

Setting the tone Town took the lead with their first attack on six minutes when Tom Brown released Tom Mathews and though his first shot was saved by Stephen Wilson he touched the rebound into the path of Danny Naidole who lashed the ball into the net.

Boro drew level on 21 minutes when Tony Hackworth netted, but Town regained the lead on 29 minutes as Ernest Boafo beat three defenders before pulling the ball back to Matthews who side-footed home.

On 39 minutes the scores were level again as the Town defence allowed Tom Adams space to cross and Ryan Blott scored from close range with a simple header.

Scarborough eventually got their noses in front on 59 minutes when Blott’s cross was pushed away by Town keeper Tom Taylor into the path of Ben Charlesworth who bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Hackworth.

Town equalised on 74 minutes when Boafo ran at the home defence and was up-ended just inside the penalty area. Mathews’s penalty wasn’t the best, but it found its way into the back of the net despite Wilson getting a hand to it.

Boro were then reduced to ten men when former AFC Emley player Oliver Banks received a second yellow card and Town tried to take advantage of the extra man.

As the home side reorganised both Luke Gibson and Boafo had shots blocked before Gibson then made way for Ryan Hall to come on.

Town were seeing plenty of the ball, but Scarborough were still dangerous with the long ball out of defence trying to free Blott and Hackworth.

No clear cut chances were created in the closing stages, but Blott fired a free kick over the bar from the edge of the box and Nick Jaggar headed just over from a Town corner.

As the game entered added time, controversy struck as Boro were awarded a penalty.

An over-hit cross saw the ball skim off the head of Hackworth as he challenged with Leon Henry and go for a goal kick. Hackworth, who had been as strong as a bull outside the box, claimed that the diminutive Henry had fouled him, the referee was having none of it but his assistant put the flag across his chest for a spot kick.

From Town’ point of view justice was done when Blott smashed his shot against the bar and the ball was cleared and Town had the point their performance deserved.