Guiseley all but wrapped up their three points within the opening 45 minutes of their 3-1 win over Workington on a damp afternoon in Cumbria.

The Lions welcomed a returning Danny Forrest and debutant Andy Holdsworth to their starting line-up as they looked to record their first league win in three games. They were forced to survive an early scare, however, when captain Simon Ainge was deceived by a curling ball only for Workington’s Simon Tucker to spurn his opportunity.

The breakthrough for the Lions came on 22 minutes when a corner was cleared out of the Workington defence only for Holdsworth to drive the ball goalwards before Gavin Rothery deflected it in for his eighth goal of the season.

Guiseley’s breakthrough seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts who had started the opening exchanges well, playing football which belied their positioning near the bottom of the league. The goal had the opposite effect on Guiseley however as they went from strength to strength, threatening the Workington goal a number of times before doubling their lead on 39 minutes.

This time a corner was slung into the box only to be headed clear into the path of Ciaran Toner. Swivelling well, the former Northern Ireland international fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net to double his side’s advantage.

The second half was largely a scrappy affair, with Guiseley failing to pass the ball with the same rhythm and Workington fighting hard to find a way back into the game.  In the 78th minute Workington’s hard work looked like it might be about to pay off with a goal that almost mirrored Guiseley’s second. Again a corner was cleared, and the ball fell for Jake Simpson to smash home through a crowded penalty area.

Guiseley recovered, however, a smart Gavin Allott chip following a through ball from Holdsworth proving enough to dampen Workington hopes and send Guiseley third in the league.

Manager Steve Kittrick said after the game:  “I’m happy with the result. I just thought second half we came out and didn’t do what I asked us to do. They’ve got to trust in what we keep preaching about playing good football. If they trust that, we’ll go far but if they don’t then we’ll hit and miss a bit.”

Edited highlights are available here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialGuiseleyAFC#p/a/u/0/WoCQkeo4zqk

Guiseley team: Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ainge, Bower, Baldry, Holdsworth, Ellington, Forrest (Allott 46), Rothery.

Unused Subs: Davidson, Burns, Booker, Giles.

Star man: Gavin Rothery