Newton Aycliffe squandered a three-goal lead as they earned a point at home to Guisborough Town on Saturday.
The draw maintained Aycliffe’s unbeaten start to the 2017-18 season – but the Newtonians are yet to win a league game after drawing their first fixtures.
Aycliffe totally dominated the first half at Moore Lane Park on Saturday, racing into a 3-0 half-time lead.
But Guisborough grabbed three second-half goals in as many minutes to complete an impressive comeback.
Aycliffe started well and were ahead on three minutes when Kurt Matthews beat the full-back before rifling a shot low into the corner.
Craig Hutchinson then got through one-on-one, but keeper Nixon pulled off a good save.
On 13 minutes, Aycliffe made it 2-0 when Jamie Davis and Hutchinson opened up the defence for Matty Pennal to round the keeper.
Both sides then had the ball in the net during the next 10 minutes, but both were deemed to be offside.
In the 32nd minute Hutchinson broke through, but was forced wide by the keeper; he twisted around and scored with an audacious chip over the keeper from an acute angle.
Guisborough started the second half with intent after a dressing down from their manager. But there was no hint of what was to come.
On 59 minutes a free-kick wasn’t cleared by the Aycliffe defence, and Connor Scott put it past home keeper James Winter.
Within a minute, Scott got his and Guisborough’s second when he headed in from a free kick.
Then two minutes later, it was 3-3 when Winter made a good save but the ball was put back into the penalty area for Steven Roberts to get there first and score the equaliser.
Aycliffe then managed to steady the ship. Both sides went for a winner, but there were no further breakthroughs.
Aycliffe travel to Seaham Red Star on Tuesday night for another league fixture before their FA Cup preliminary round trip to Albion Sports on Saturday.
