Having suffered a 6-2 home defeat to promotion rivals Chester on Saturday, Stalybridge came to Nethermoor this evening and set out their stall to ensure that this wasn’t going to be a repeat, with two banks of four always behind the ball to try and stifle the home side’s free-flowing football.
The strategy nearly worked, but in the end they were undone by an individual piece of magic from substitute James Walshaw with just six minutes left on the clock. It occurred after a first half in which the Lions had the greater share of possession but couldn’t find the crucial breakthrough, with Nicky Boshell whistling a free kick just over the bar and Andy McWilliams firing inches past the post.
For the visitors, Mitchell Austin forced Mark Bower into a last-ditch clearance but they were soon under the cosh again after the restart as Josh Wilson got in behind Celtic’s defence only to see his shot cannon back off the post.
The England ‘C’ striker was replaced by Walshaw on 69 minutes, while Gavin Rothery came on for Rhys Meynell. The change had an immediate effect; Walshaw made his presence felt down the left flank, where Kristian Platt struggled to contain the talismanic striker. After threatening on a couple of occasions Walshaw stung the hands of Alex Cairns, but he left the visiting keeper clawing at fresh air in the 84th minute as a quick one-two with Danny Boshell saw him twist and turn Platt before firing wide of Cairns into the far corner to send the home supporters into raptures.
With four minutes’ stoppage time, Celtic had a chance at the far post following a corner on the left but fluffed their chance to ensure that Guiseley took the three points. It leaves them still in second place, one point behind leaders Brackley, who beat Histon 2-1 this evening, and three points ahead of Chester, who now have two games in hand on the Lions.
Oxford City, whom Guiseley beat comprehensively on Saturday, are now in fourth place while West Yorkshire rivals FC Halifax are eight points adrift after their home game against Vauxhall was called off just 20 minutes before the scheduled start owing to a waterlogged pitch.
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