The Lions kept pace with leaders Hyde – who won 3-1 at Altrincham – with a hard-fought victory in North Wales this afternoon, where two goals from Simon Ainge secured a 2-1 win against Colwyn Bay after a less-than-impressive first half performance that had seen the home side dominate physically and go in a goal to the good courtesy of John McKenna.

Andy Holdsworth and Danny Forrest had gone close for the visitors but the home side took the lead on 35 minutes when central defender McKenna fired home past Steve Drench – none-the-worse for his midweek injury – after a shot had been blocked.

James Walshaw had a shot cleared off the line early in the second period and the Lions were level on the hour when Ainge lashed in a shot from 18 yards. Two minutes later they were in front, when the visiting skipper headed home at the far post from Holdsworth’s free kick.

In the closing stages Dave Merris almost finished off a decisive Guiseley move only to see his effort tipped away by the keeper, who also clutched Chris Senior’s acrobatic overhead kick.

Steve Kittrick said after the game: “The performance was a lot better in the second half. I don’t know what’s wrong with us in the first half. We give teams too much respect and let them get about us.

“I’ve just spoken to the lads and asked them what they want to do, if they want to do the warm up differently or something, but it all seems to start from the ball coming back too quick from up front. The lads at the front have got to be a platform that lets us build and get forward.”

Team :

1 – Drench

2 – Clarke

3 –  Merris

4 – Toner

5 – Ellis

6 – Ainge (Capt) 60, 62

7 – Forrest (Senior, 77)

8 – Boshell (Wilson, 61)

9 – Ellington (Baldry, 59)

10 – Walshaw

11 – Holdsworth

12 – Baldry

14 – Wilson

15 – Burns

16 – Senior

18 – Giles