Guiseley returned to league action this afternoon at Moss Rose looking to put the disappointment of exiting the FA Trophy behind them and two goals from Michael Rankine and a battling performance all over the pitch not only consigned the Nuneaton defeat to the history books but also saw the Lions grab their first away win of the season.

The starting line-up had a more familiar look about it than last Saturday with a makeshift centre back pairing of Elliott Green and Jake Lawlor and new signing from Carlisle United Derek Asamoah making his Guiseley debut on the left flank.

The home side started the stronger and should have been ahead early on but Omry Perel and Chris Holroyd both headed over from good positions.

Having survived the initial pressure the Lions began to take the game to the Silkmen and were rewarded for their efforts on 29 minutes when James Wesolowski was chopped down and Rankine dispatched the resulting spot kick. Not that the lead lasted long as Town equalised through Holroyd straight from the kick off.

Having only signed yesterday it took Asamoah a while to find his feet but as the game progressed he began to show his qualities to cut inside and bring a good save from Scott Flinders.

Asamoah was also instrumental in the visitors restoring their one goal advantage as his cross was fumbled by Flinders who then pulled down Will Hatfield as he went for the loose ball. And although the home custodian nearly redeemed himself by saving Rankine’s second spot kick the big striker followed up to net his second of the game on 48 minutes.

Asamoah then put a half volley just wide and then fired just the wrong side of the post from Rankine’s knock down.

After this setback the home side went looking for the equaliser but were denied by a battling defensive display from the Lions,  the nearest that they came being a last ditch save by Jon Maxted from John McCombe in the closing  minutes of the game, as the visitors clinched their first away win of the season.

Team:

26  Maxted

2    Brown

33  Green

24  Walton

6    Lawlor

3    Lowe

8    Hatfield

31  Wesolowski (Preston 69)

11  Rankine

29  Cassidy (Boyes  88)

34  Asamoah

Substitutes

9    Boyes

10  Johnson

17  Atkinson

19  Preston

32  Logan

Adam Lockwood on first away win