Guiseley produced a second-half backs-to-the-wall performance to ensure a 2-1 win at Gainsborough Trinity that moves the Lions third in the table, just four points behind leaders Barrow, who have a game in hand.

Despite the Lions having gone into the break two goals to the good and looking comfortable against a workmanlike Gainsborough side, it was Trinity who grabbed the initiative seven minutes after the restart.

Following a corner, Charlie Binns’ shot hit an outstretched foot in a crowded penalty area before looping over Danny Lowe on the post to halve the arrears.

Having staged a remarkable comeback from three down against Chorley in their last home game only to lose eventually by the odd goal in seven, Trinity probably thought one goal deficit would be easy to eradicate.

However, they reckoned without a towering performance from Steven Drench and the Lions’ back four, aided and abetted by another understated midfield performance from Jake Lawlor.

Indeed, the nearest the home side came to grabbing an equaliser was when Drench parried a Liam Davis shot and the evergreen Darryn Stamp headed the loose ball wide of the target from a good position.

Adam Boyes had opened the scoring after just ten minutes, shooting under Jan Budtz after Oli Johnson had caught Adam Quinn dawdling midway inside his own half.

Shane Killock then made a telling tackle on Simon Russell as Trinity went in search of a quick equaliser, but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score and Johnson shot across the face of goal only to see his shot pass the wrong side of the upright.

The former Norwich man then had Budtz at full stretch before he latched on to a flick-on to rifle a low drive past the home custodian from eighteen yards to double the Lions’ advantage.

At the other end, Drench pulled off a good stop from Tom Davies’ free kick but he could only watch as Stamp put a glorious chance wide of the target just before the break.

It was not a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination but sometimes, as proved this evening, the Lions can be as effective in defence as they are going forward.

Guiseley Team:

1-Steven Drench

2-Ryan Toulson

3-Danny Lowe (C)

4-Shane Killock

5-Danny Ellis

6-Jake Lawlor

7-Wayne Brooksby (Forrest, 90)

8-Danny Boshell

9-Adam Boyes 10  (Holdsworth, 80)

10-Oli Johnson 26  (A Johnson, 65)

11-Gavin Rothery

12-Andy Holdsworth

14-Danny Forrest

15-Jack Stockdill

16-Alex Johnson

18-Steve Dickinson