Goals from Jake Lawlor and John Rooney gave Paul Cox his first win as Guiseley manager but only after the Lions had been pegged back twice by a resilient Solihull Moors side.

Cox kept faith with the side that had so clinically dispatched Shildon in the FA Cup a week ago with the exception of Rooney who dropped to the bench to make way for Kevan Hurst. New loan signing Rowan Liburd from Stevenage began his Guiseley career on the bench.

In a cautious opening Hurst was first to threaten for the home side as he put a half volley just over.

The Lions then suffered a blow when influential midfielder Will Hatfield had to go of injured to be replaced by Chris M’Boungou with Lawlor moving into midfield.

The change didn’t seem to affect the home team as Lawlor was fouled on the edge of the area shortly after and Lee Molyneux curled a peach of a free kick round the wall and into the top corner past Nathan Vaughan for the opener on 23 minutes.

Molyneux then tested the keeper but found him equal to his effort before the Moors levelled matters on the stroke of halftime when substitute Oladapo Afolayan fired home from the edge of the area after Guiseley had failed to clear their lines despite several attempts.

Liburd replaced Kayode Odejayi on the hour and had an immediate impact five minutes later as he took advantage of a slip by an opponent in midfield and cut inside two defenders before shooting wide of Vaughan to restore the home sides lead.

The joy was short-lived however as the Solihull replied immediately with Shepherd Murombedzi pulling a ball back from the dead ball line for Afolayan to score his second.

Three minutes later the Lions were back in front courtesy of Lawlor getting on the end of a free kick to divert the ball past Vaughan.

There was nearly a fourth when Darren Holden broke from a Solihull corner and rang the length of the pitch, his crossfield pass finding Hurst who shot just over.

Jonny Maxted then came to his sides rescue with two smart saves from Akwasi Asante and Afolayan.

But when Guiseley were awarded a free kick twenty yards out with four minutes left substitute Roone drilled a low shot past the wall and beyond Vaughan into the bottom corner to seal the victory that sees the Lions move up one place to 21st while Solihull now languish at the foot of the table.

Team:
1 Maxted
2 Brown
5 Palmer
11 Molyneux
7 Hurst
6 Lawlor
8 Hatfield (M’Boungou 17)
19 Odejayi (Liburd 59)
28 Lenighan
30 Fondop-Talom (Rooney 82)
34 Holden

Subs:
10 Rooney
18 Mulhern
31 Haworth
32 M’Boungou
35 Liburd