For the second week in succession, Guiseley failed to grasp the initiative and went down to a single goal defeat, and with FC Halifax winning at Forest Green, the Lions have gone from being in control of their own destiny to needing a victory over Torquay at Nethermoor next Saturday and hoping that either FCH or Boreham Wood fail to win, at home to Macclesfield and away at Welling respectively.

The first half at Meadow Park was a largely-forgettable affair for the visitors, Will Hatfield’s shot being their only effort of note. At the other end, Delano Sam-Yorke took advantage of some slack defending to lash a shot into the top corner on 23 minutes for what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Whatever was said in the Lions’ dressing room at half-time seemed to have had the desired effect as they showed the drive and initiative that had been missing in the first period. First, Rob Atkinson’s header hit the underside of the bar and came out, then home custodian James Russell denied Oli Johnson with two superb saves.

Scorer Sam-Yorke nearly doubled Wood’s advantage, but his shot rebounded to safety off the inside of the post before Anthony Dudley missed a golden opportunity to level matters but sent his shot over the bar after being set up by Johnson. And despite the introduction of Ollie Norburn, Tom Craddock and Nicky Boshell late on, Boreham held on for a precious three points.

Post match reaction from Mark Bower: