In a game short on clear cut chances a late strike by Boston’s Andre Johnson proved to be the difference between two teams who understandably looked a little ring rusty given that this was the opening game of the season.

Guiseley chose to go with Rowan Liburd, Paul Clayton and Reece Thompson up front with Curtis Morrison and Kaine Felix amongst those on the bench and it was the latter’s introduction late in the game after the Lions had gone behind, that proved to be the visitors most fruitful period of the afternoon.

The Pilgrims opened brightly but as Guiseley soaked up the initial momentum they came more into the game.

Liburd had an early shot blocked and Will Hatfield pulled one wide without bothering home custodian George Wallis.

Hatfield picked up Guiseleys first yellow of the season but the resultant free kick came to nought.

As the home side pressed Joe Green pull off a superb one handed save to deny Adam Marriott and then tipped a corner over at full stretch.

The visitors replied with a sustained period of pressure which saw panic break out in the home defence but from the two ensuing goalmouth scrambles no attacker was able to get a decisive touch during either melee.

Kayode Odejayi replaced Paul Clayton midway through the second period as both sides struggled to gather any momentum.

However, that changed with the introduction of Johnson who was denied a certain goal when Andy Halls slid in to block his shot but when Marriot’s through ball found him shortly after the young striker made no mistake as he shot under the advancing Green for the Pilgrims opener.

In an effort to rescue a point Guiseleys threw on Morrison and Felix and although it nearly had the desired effect when Odejayi’s back header bounced off the bar, it was perhaps too little, too late in a game crying out for someone to test  the nervy home defence.

Team:

1 Green

2 Moyo

3 Heaton

4 James

5 Garner

6 Halls

7 Purver

8 Hatfield

9 Liburd

10 Clayton

11 Thompson

12 Dyche

14 Thornton

15 Morrison

16 Felix

17 Odejayi