Truth be told, this was a walk in the park for Guiseley, who cruised to a 3-0 win against a Corby side that could muster only two shots on target, the first of which posed their only real threat and took over an hour to materialise. Two goals from James Walshaw and one from Andy Holdsworth sealed the three points to keep the pressure on leaders Hyde, who also won today.

A game where every minor transgression was punished never really got going as a spectacle, and the first goal after 24 minutes summed up the seeming lack of interest from the visitors. A ball was lofted into the area, goalkeeper Nicholas Bennison misjudged the bounce on a hard pitch and the ball sailed over his head, where Walshaw was on hand to nod home despite the efforts of Delroy Gordon to keep the ball out.

The nearest the home side came to doubling the lead before the interval was when Danny Boshell’s goal-bound free kick was blocked by one of his own players. It was only a matter of time, however, before a second goal arrived, and sure enough Andy Holdsworth was tripped from behind five minutes into the second half, allowing Walshaw to bag his second from the spot.

Corby responded by testing Steve Drench for the first time, the home custodian having been a virtual spectator up to this point. Simon Baldry’s header was millimetres over, and then when his nod down allowed Boshell to unleash a vicious volley Bennison proved equal to it, fingertipping the midfielder’s effort round the post.

The third goal came on 65 minutes when Walshaw swung a cross into the area, where Holdsworth stole in front of Bennison and Gordon to plant a powerful header into the back of the net. Walshaw was only denied his hat-trick by two timely tackles as the visitors finally found some energy, and although it might not have been one for the purists it’s another three points towards the Lions’ promotion aspirations.

Entertainment value:***

Star man: James Walshaw (Guiseley)

Teams: Guiseley – Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ellis, Ainge, Baldry (Forrest, 67), Boshell, Ellington (Price, 53), Walshaw (Wilson 89), Holdsworth.  Subs not used: Burns, Giles.

Corby Town – Bennison, Gordon, Mayo, Malone (Armory, 60), Gulliver, Hibbert, Hall, Towers, Ozmen (McGowan 74), Jones, Smith (Mullarkey, 70). Sub not used: Farden.

Scorers: Guiseley – Walshaw 24, 50 (pen), Holdsworth 65.

H/T 1-0

Att: 589

Referee: Mr Fyvie