Looking to clinch their first league win in three matches Guiseley traveled over the Pennines to Bower Fold to face Stalybridge Celtic who they had already defeated twice this season with the Lions retaining the same line up from the midweek draw with Workington.

Home boss Jim Harvey said in his programme notes that he couldn’t understand why Steve Kittrick had labeled his side a ‘physical’,  well his own captain Rhys Meynell provided a pointer going in to the book for his first challenge of the game after just two minutes.

Playing route one football Celtic soon had the Lions on the backfoot and leading scorer Phil marsh should have put them ahead when he got in behind the back four and went past Steve Drench only for his shot to cannon off the upright and go behind.

Shortly afterwards he forced Drench into a full length save to push his angled drive round the post. In between times Andy McWilliams did exceptionally well to clear his own lines under pressure from James Walshaw and Joe O’Niell.

Gavin Rothery and Warren Peyton made way immediately on the restart for Luke Sharry and Danny Forrest as the Guiseley management looked for a more positive second half display. But it all looked in vain when Marsh went down over Drench’s outstretched arm as the keeper attempted to get the ball of him.

With the home supporters baying for a dismissal, the visiting custodian was shown a yellow as the home striker had been moving away from goal. Drench had the last laugh though as he dived to his went to collect the home side’s feeble spot kick.

Finally stirred into action the Lions mounted some sustained pressure and when Walshaw latched on to Boshell astute pass it looks odd on that he would score before Budtz dived at his feet to smother his effort. The home keeper then pulled off a fine one handed to save to deny O’Niell after Walshaw had fed him down the channel.

And although Celtic forced a series of corners towards the end – one of which was cleared off the line – the game headed for the inevitable goalless draw. A disappointing result for the Lions and a missed opportunity to make up some ground on the five teams above them given that of these only AFC Telford and Solihull registered wins this afternoon.

Team:

1. James Coates
2. Ryan Toulson
3. Dave Merris
4. Warren Peyton (Sharry 45)
5. Danny Ellis
6. Simon Ainge
7. Simon Baldry
8. Danny Boshell
9. Joe O’Neill
10. James Walshaw
11. Gavin Rothery (Forrest 45)
12. Darryn Stamp
13. Danny Forrest
14. Jake McEneaney
15. Luke Sharry
16. James Coates