A somewhat lacklustre Guiseley had Gavin Rothery to thank for giving them some pre-festive cheer in a scrappy 1-0 win against lowly Leamington at Nethermoor on Saturday.
The omens looked good for the visitors early on; Jamie Tank cleared Oli Johnson’s cross and Johnson also tested keeper Ross Atkins.
James Fry then had a shot on goal for Leamington and home custodian Steven Drench did well to push Matt Dodd’s effort round the post.
The game finally came to life for Mark Bower’s men five minutes before the break as Andy Holdsworth crashed a free kick against the bar and Atkins made a superb instinctive save to deny Johnson, who also had a shot charged down before Rothery had one saved.
Guiseley resumed their assault on the restart and were rewarded on 49 minutes when Rothery swept home Holdsworth’s inviting cross from six yards.
Having achieved the breakthrough, however, Guiseley were unable to add to their tally. Oli Johnson brought another good stop from Atkins, and there was no-one near enough to take advantage after substitute Alex Johnson had stung the keeper’s hands.
Leamington meanwhile had a couple of chances to square matters, first when Drench fumbled a cross but recovered just in time and when Jordan Goddard put a good chance just over the bar late on.
The Lions now face a festive double header against near-neighbours Harrogate Town, at Wetherby Road on Boxing Day and Nethermoor on New Year’s Day. In between times, they welcome fellow promotion contenders AFC Fylde on Sunday, December 28th.
Entertainment value: **
Star man: Danny Lowe (Guiseley)
Mark Bower’s post-match interview
Teams: Guiseley: Drench; Holdsworth, Parker (C); Lowe, Ellis, Lawlor; Brooksby, Boshell (D), Boyes, Johnson (O) (Johnson (A), 71), Rothery. Subs not used: Harrison, Boshell (N), Stockdill, Dickinson
Leamington: Atkins; Mace, Morley (C); Fry, Tank, Gordon (Connolly, 82); Moore, Goddard (Wint, 65), Newton, Edwards (Mgunda, 75), Dodd. Subs not used: Naylor, Fenney.
Scorer: Guiseley – Brooksby 49
Att: 500
Referee: P Davison
