Will Hatfield returned to Nethermoor and scored the goal that eventually proved to be the difference between the two sides as Darlington hung on to take maximum points in this clash of the play-off contenders.
The visitors got off to the best possible start as the Lions conceded an early goal for the second game in succession with five minutes gone.
The penalty resulted from Marcus Dewhurst diving at full stretch and pushing the ball away with both hands but also took out his opponent in the process and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
From the resulting penalty Adam Campbell put it straight down the middle as Marcus Dewhurst dived to his right.
Not that it took the home side long to level things up with a brilliant solo effort from the in-form Kaine Felix who skipped past two defenders, was nearly felled but still kept his composure to beat Christopher Elliott from close in seven minutes later.
A great touch from Aaron Martin shortly after saw him create room for himself but his shot was charged down.
With both sides playing at a high intensity this absorbing contest took another twist midway through the half as Guiseley gave Hatfield far too much room and his sweet shot from 25 yards out found the bottom corner.
This briefly took the wind out of the home sides sales but the second half saw them launch a series of early attacks and force several corners which they couldn’t capitalize on.
Prince Ekpolo replaced Andrai Jones to make his home debut as Guiseley looked for an alternative way to open up the Darlington defence as Lee Shaw and Dylan Barkers also joined the fray replacing Aram Soleman and Kennedy Digie respectively.
But despite the three substitutions and near misses from Martin, Gabriel Johnson, Hamza Bencherif, Shaw and Felix and aided by some desperate defending at times, Darlington hung on to maintain their slender advantage.
However, the Lions do not have to wait long for the opportunity to put matters right as they travel to Blackwell Meadows a week on Saturday (01 February 2020) for the rematch.
Attendance: 859
Team:
- Marcus Dewhurst
- Reiss McNally
- Brad Nicholson
- Andrai Jones (Ekpolo 58)
- Hamza Bencherif
- Kennedy Digie (Barkers 77)
- Kaine Felix
- George Cantrill
- Aaron Martin
- Aram Soleman (Shaw 65)
- Gabriel Johnson
Subs:
- Lee Shaw
- Prince Ekpolo
- Dylan Barkers
- Nathan Newall
- Harry Sheppeard
