Jordan Preston’s 54th minute goal ensured another precious three points as Guiseley seek to ensure National League survival edging a nervy encounter against promotion play-off contenders Aldershot Town before another 1000+ crowd at Nethermoor this afternoon.
The home side started strongly and Preston beat Jake Cole with a low shot after just three minutes only to see his effort cannon of the foot of the post and the strikers next effort was headed straight into the arms of Cole.
Idris Kanu created an opening for himself at the other end but blazed well over with his effort finishing up on the adjacent bowling green.
Will Evans then tried a speculative lob from inside the centre circle for the Shots that wasn’t all that far away.
As the Town pressure grew Shamir Fenelon’s fierce drive was tipped on to the bar by Jonathan Maxted.
The lively Kanu cut inside at the start of the second half to shoot past Maxted but Elliott Green was on hand to make the goal line clearance.
Shortly after Preston scored the all-important goal as he latched on to a through ball and held off three defenders in a 40 yard chase tht finished with him placing a shot wide of the advancing Cole for the opener.
John Rooney then nearly caught Cole out, the keeper being forced to punch away from underneath his own bar.
Cole was again his side’s saviour as he foiled Will Hatfield as the home side hit a purple patch and Jake Cassidy found himself free on the left but chose to shoot over when a cross into the six yard box might have been a better option.
The Lions defence was holding out against some ferocious pressure and three successive clearances including two point blank saves by Maxted maintained the Lions slender advantage.
Adam Boyes and Derek Asamoah replaced Cassidy and Preston to good effect as Boyes pulled a shot just wide and Asamoah failed to cross to the unmarked Boyes as Cole fluffed his lines outside his area.
Asamoah the blazed over from a good position but in the final analysis it didn’t really matter as the home side held on for another win that puts them six points clear of Woking who occupy the last relegation place and nine points above York City who are third from bottom.
Team:
26 Maxted
33 Green
20 Williams
24 Walton
15 Palmer
2 Brown
7 Hurst
8 Hatfield
10 Rooney
19 Preston (Asamoah 83)
29 Cassidy (Boyes 82)
Subs:
4 Vidal
9 Boyes
11 Rankine
32 Logan
34 Asamoah
Post match reaction
Adam Lockwood
Jordan Preston
Elliot Green