A CONTROVERSIAL late goal denied Dudley Town all three points in an entertaining Boxing Day derby clash at title-chasing Gornal Athletic.

Dudley boss Andy Burgess was able to recall full back Steve Edmunds following the former Trysull man's recovery from a broken foot, while Dreniz Bala was unavailable. There was also a start for Ben Stretton following an ankle problem to face a Gornal - a side with no fewer than nine ex-Robins players in their starting eleven.

It was the hosts, who were starting the day looking to close the gap on league leaders Black Country Rangers, who made an early breakthrough. Just 40 seconds had passed wwhen full-back Richard Young crossed the ball, only to unintentionally beat Robins shot-stopper Jay Travelion at his far post. The visitors soaked up the early pressure and Ross Love had to be on fine form to deny Marvin Nisbett from close range.

Town eventually dragged themselves into the game as Niki Faux had Burgess' men first effort of the afternoon on 12 minutes. They were deservedly level on 17 minutes when a Danny Ludlow corner beat a shaky looking Gornal back four and Love duly obliged to head home.

Things might have got even better for Dudley on the half hour mark. Now firmly in control of the game Ant Cox broke free on the right hand wing and although his shot beat James Pemberton former Dudley skipper Chris Waterhouse was on hand to head the effort off the line.

Instead it was the hosts who went in at half-time ahead, as Mark Swann took advantage of the injury hit Ross Love to break clean through and fire a shot which squirmed under Travelion.

But following the restart it only took nine minutes for Dudley to be back on level terms. This time Cox broke free of the Gornal defence and with ease placed the ball past Pemberton for his first goal of the afternoon.

There were chances at each end although it was the visitors who were looking more likely and they found the breakthrough with just fifteen minutes to go.

It appeared Stretton had given the Robins the lead although the ball had previously been handled on the line by Chris Waterhouse. After Waterhouse's dismissal Cox made no mistake from the spot to make it 3-2.

Despite a barrage of attacks from Gornal it appeared that Dudley had hung on to a well earned three points.

But it was not to be as Swann headed home a Lee Wherton corner from close range in the sixth minute of stoppage time to save a point for the hosts.

Gornal Athletic: Pemberton, Young (Weyman), Keates, Wood, Waterhouse, Green, Perks (Craven), Wherton, Nisbett (C. Martin), Swann, M. Martin. Subs not used: Wilkhoo, Sangha.

Dudley Town: Travelion, Edmunds, Ludlow, Love (Store), Whitley, Perry, Stretton, Langford, Francis-Mills (Beresford), Cox, Faux (Whittaker). Subs not used: Richards, Arnold.

Referee: A. Dean