Danny Forrest’s brace and a Gavin Rothery penalty helped Guiseley to a 3-0 win over neighbours Bradford Park Avenue at the Horsfall Stadium this evening as the Lions drew first blood in the first game of this week’s double header.

Mark Bower’s men were without the injured Adam Lockwood and Jack Rea (replaced by Ben Parker and Jake Lawlor) but they had more than enough to see off Avenue in advance of the sides’ FA Trophy encounter at Nethermoor on Saturday.

Forrest added to his goal on Saturday after just two minutes, when he beat Jamie Price all ends up before expertly curling an effort past John Lamb and into the far corner to put his side ahead.

Chances were at a premium for the remainder of the half, with Avenue limited to set-piece efforts while the visitors came close to extending their lead when Wayne Brooksby hit the crossbar from distance.

Nine minutes after the break Forrest had his second, taking a pass from Alex Johnson in his stride, teeing himself up and firing over Lamb again into the top corner to cap an excellent display. He could have had his hat trick shortly afterwards, curling a shot just the wrong side of the upright.

There was enough time for Rothery to convert a penalty after Brooksby was bundled over in the area on 70 minutes as Steven Drench was rarely tested.

The Lions have now kept clean sheets in their last four league outings, extending the run tonight thanks to a last-ditch clearance off the line from captain Andy Holdsworth late on. It capped another fine team performance that sees them move up three places to eighth, although several of the teams around them play tomorrow evening.

Mark Bowers thoughts on the victory

1-Drench

2-Holdsworth (C)

3-Meynell

4-Parker

5-Lawlor

6-Hall

7-Brooksby

8-Boshell (Potts, 80)

9-Johnson (Hobson, 75)

10-Forrest   2 & 54

11-Rothery  70 pen (Swain, 85)

12-Harrison

14-Potts

15-Hobson

16-Swain

18-Dickinson