Guiseley marked their first league fixture since 28th January with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hinckley United, thanks to a second-half strike from Simon Baldry.

Lions’ manager Steve Kittrick brought in Mark Bower to partner Danny Ellis at centre back, moving skipper Simon Ainge to right back. The trio, along with the ever-present Dave Merris, provided the foundation for a win that kept the Lions’ hunt for promotion firmly on the boil.

Hinckley started the brighter, however, with lively forward Andre Gray finding himself through on goal only to blast over, while Danny Forrest and Danny Boshell both threatened for the visitors.  As the first half went on, the Lions continued to press with a series of corners and a refused penalty shout.

A resilient Hinckley side had frustrated Gusieley in the opening 45 minutes but a half-time discussion with Kittrick obviously did the trick, with Simon Baldry netting in the 47th minute. Following a Guiseley attack, the ex-Huddersfield man lashed a drive past the hosts’ debutant ‘keeper Patrick Lane.

The remainder of the half would be an entertaining one, with Guiseley searching to kill the game off and Hinckley looking for a leveller. That leveller could, and should, have come for Hinckley shortly after the opener but a missed open goal from Gray put paid to that.

Guiseley, too, had a chance to add to their tally but James Walshaw saw his penalty saved by Lane after he himself had been felled in the box. A number of spurned half-chances from both sides were to follow, but the Lions held on for an important three points on a day when other promotion contenders slipped up.

Lions: Drench, Ainge, Merris, Toner, Ellis, Bower, Baldry (Senior), Boshell, Forrest, Walshaw (Ellington), Holdsworth.

Subs not used: Clarke, Burns, Giles.

Att – 469

Star man – Simon Baldry