Guiseley delivered a hugely impressive display at Bower Fold this afternoon to defeat one-time promotion contenders Stalybridge for the third time this season and rack up their ninth league win on the bounce.

After soaking up some heavy pressure during the first twenty minutes they gradually took control, and stunned Celtic with two goals in as many minutes just before the break. They then put the game out of reach midway through the second half before striker James Walshaw was seemingly dismissed following the intervention of home keeper Jan Budtz. As a consequence, he will miss the final league game at Boston and the two legs of the play-off semi-final should the Lions be involved.

The game opened with Celtic on the attack, Steve Drench making two decisive stops before the Lions lost Dave Merris to an aggravated back injury on 15 minutes. Michael Burns took his place, with Andy Holdsworth dropping to left back.

Having absorbed the early onslaught, the visitors gradually took control of the game and deservedly went ahead on 41 minutes when a corner from the left saw several Guiseley efforts blocked and as the ball found its way out to Burns he floated in a tantalising cross that skipper Simon Ainge powered home with a trademark header.

One minute later the lead was doubled; this time it was Ciaran Toner who was the provider,  with Walshaw heading home from two yards at the far post. Ainge and Joe O’Neill were booked shortly after the restart but Matt Wilson sealed the win on 55 minutes, heading Burns’s corner past Budtz ,who really should have kept the ball out.

Walshaw was then dismissed without the referee actually seemingly seeing the alleged incident with Lees but just reacting to the protestations of the home keeper. Further superb defending restricted Celtic to long-range pot-shots, although Drench produced two further top-notch stops late on as Guiseley held out for what eventually proved to be a routine win.

1 – Drench

2 – Clarke

3 – Merris (Burns, 15)

4 – Toner

5 – Ellis

6 – Ainge (Capt) 41

7 – Holdsworth

8 – Wilson 55

9 – O’Neill (Ellington, 87)

10 – Walshaw 42

11 – Boshell (Baldry, 75)

12 – Burns

14 – Baldry

15 – Senior

16 –  Ellington

18 – Giles