Guiseley kept up their pursuit of leaders Chester with this hard-fought win over a lively Boston United side, goals from Andy Pearson and James Walshaw giving the Lions a two-goal cushion before Ben Milnes’ deflected free kick set up a nervy last five minutes.

The home side got off to the best possible start when centre back Pearson outjumped everyone to head home Andy Holdsworth’s free kick in the first minute of the game. Josh Wilson flashed a shot over shortly afterwards, but when Jack Rea lost possession he had colleague Steve Drench to thank for saving Spencer Weir-Daley’s effort.

Straight after the break, Dan Haystead was just in the nick of time to prevent Walshaw converting Kevin Holsgrove’s through ball, and Wilson then had two chances but couldn’t get enough power on the first and saw the second scrambled away by Haystead. He did, however, set up the Lions’ second, taking a pass from Aaron Hardy to deliver a perfect cross for Walshaw to head home via the underside of the crossbar.

Haystead then denied Walshaw again, saving at full stretch, and when Boston were awarded a free kick twenty yards out, the resulting shot from Lister took a huge deflection off the wall to wrong-foot Drench and set up a frantic last five minutes. However, the Lions survived to extend their unbeaten run to thirteen League games.

Hear Steve Kittrick’s post-match comments here.

Entertainment value: ***

Star man: Josh Wilson (Guiseley)

Scorers: Guiseley – Pearson, 1, Walshaw, 65; Boston – Milnes, 85

Teams: Guiseley: Drench; Hardy, Meynell; Rea, Ellis, Pearson;  Brooksby (M Wilson, 75), Holdsworth (Captain) (J Lawlor, 85), J Wilson, Walshaw, Holsgrove (Marsh, 75).  Subs not used: McWilliams, Giles.

Boston: Haystead; Marshall, Mayo; Foster (Captain), Watt (Lister, 33), Stainfield; Walker (Reid, 60), Milnes (Smith, 60), Weir-Daley, Newsham, Fairclough. Subs not used: Ward, D Lawlor.

H/T 1-0

Att: 705

Referee: Adrian Holmes