Needing points to keep pace with the four clubs above them, the Lions welcomed second-placed Stalybridge to Nethermoor and shared the points in an absorbing encounter that could have gone either way right up to the death.
Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick said that he had changed his game plan to cope with the threat that Stalybridge offered but doing so somewhat stifled the Lions’ flowing football during a first half in which the visitors looked to carry the greater threat.
After the break, however, the home side looked a more potent force when they returned to their normal 4-3-3 formation. Celtic though will be the more disappointed of the two potential promotion contenders as they created several opportunities but let themselves down with some poor finishing.
One of only two teams to have beaten Celtic this season – by ending their interest in the FA Cup early doors – Guiseley fielded the same outfield side that drew at Eastwood a week earlier, although leading scorer Gavin Rothery was amongst the subs on his return from injury.
Greg Wilkinson fired an early warning for the home side but his shot went into the side netting. In-form striker Connor Jennings was then crowded out before going close with a header, and his strike partner nearly put Celtic in front as he got between Steve Drench and Simon Ainge but saw his header go just the wrong side of the post.
The home side finally showed some momentum when Budtz had to be alert to deny Simon Baldry and Wilkinson made a timely interception as Danny Boshell raced through. Ellams put one just over the angle before the break, and Stalybridge continued to press for the opener on the resumption as Jennings spun his marker but fired wide. All the visitors’ efforts came to nought though on 52 minutes when home debutant Michael Brough’s header from a free kick squeezed in between Budtz and the post. The Lions then nearly clinched it with Baldry feeding Holdsworth but he was denied by the outstretched leg of Budtz.
A superb three-man move by Celtic ended with Jennings firing across the six-yard box with no takers, but his team was back on level terms with five minutes remaining as Stephen Brogan floated in a wicked free kick that dipped at the last moment and went in at the far corner. The home side were put under even more pressure following Jamie Clarke’s dismissal for a second bookable offence straight after the equalizer, and in chasing the winner Celtic had two penalty claims waved away by referee Adam Holmes as the home side clung on.
Steve Kittrick post Stalybridge Celtic by matthewrogerson
Entertainment value: ****
Star man: Andy Holdsworth (Guiseley)
Guiseley: Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Brough, Ainge, Baldry, Boshell, Gall (Rothery 84), Forrest, Holdsworth. Unused subs: O’Neill, Ellington, Burns, Giles
Stalybridge: Budtz, Bembo-Leta, McWilliams, Meynell, Lynch, Rea, Brogan, Wilkinson (Austin 75), Marsh, Ellams (Hobson 62), Jennings. Unused subs: Warburton, Gnahoua, McGillivray
Scorers: Guiseley – Brough 52 Stalybridge – Brogan 85
H/T 0-0
Att: 738
Referee: Adrian Holmes
