After Saturday’s disappointment Guiseley showed the grit and determination required tohopefully secure National League football at Nethermoor next season as Kevan Hurst’s goalsecured a crucial win against play-off chasing Barrow at Nethermoor this evening.
The win moves the Lions three points clear of the relegation zone up to eighteenth as they now travel to Torquay on Saturday to play the team that now occupy the last relegation place for another tasty encounter.
Hurst’s goal came in the thirteenth minute as he fired in a cross from the right that evaded a posse of defenders and goalkeeper Jon Flatt to hit the inside of the far upright and nestle in the back of the net.
Shortly after Hurst nearly doubled the home sides advantage as he forced Flatt to save his free kick at the foot of the post.
For their part, Barrow proved to be industrious and gave the home side a couple of scares as two melees in the six-yard box ended with a hoofed clearance followed by a superb one handed save by Jonathan Maxted.
Richie Bennett then headed over from a good position for the Bluebirds before John Rooney put his effort just the wrong side of the post at the other end.
Maxted was again in action at the start of the second hal,f this time diving to his right to deny Ross Hannah.
Rooney once again tested Flatt with a snap shot that had the goalkeeper scrambling to his near post where he fumbled the midfielder’s effort leaving Danny Livesey to spar his blushes.
The keeper spilled one again shortly after but fortunately for him Guiseley had no one on hand to take advantage.
As the visitors pressed for an equaliser Bennett found himself in good position once again but as in the first half headed his effort over the bar.
Derek Asamoah replaced man-of-the-match Jordan Preston late on and Michael Rankine also came on for Hurst as the Lions played out added time to secure another precious three points.
Team:
26 Maxted
2 Brown
6 Lawlor
19 Preston (Asamoah 85)
8 Hatfield
7 Hurst (Rankine 87)
10 Rooney
20 Williams
24 Walton
29 Cassidy
33 Green
Subs:
4 Vidal
9 Boyes
11 Rankine
34 Asamoah
35 Palmer
