Guiseley suffered heartbreak play-off defeat for the second successive season as Andy Brown’s goal with just three minutes of extra time remaining clinched a place in the Play-Off Final for visitors Nuneaton Town.

As with Wednesday’s first leg, there was very little to choose between these  two well-matched sides as they slugged it out on a perfect day for football at a sunny Nethermoor this afternoon.  Wednesday’s heroes Chris Senior and Matt Wilson started, with Danny Boshell dropping to the bench.

Nuneaton were first to threaten as Steve Drench punched away an early effort from the visitors before Simon Forsdick made a timely tackle on Danny Forrest. Lee Moore headed over from a free kick from the right and Davidson went close with a near-post header.

Danny Glover had the best chance so far on twenty minutes but shot straight at Steve Drench, while Chris Senior hit the bar with a looping header from a Jamie Clarke cross. Danny Glover put a glancing header wide from a corner and then Adam Walker’s free kick was headed home by Brown on the stroke of half time only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

At the start of the second period, Glover put in a looping shot that nearly caught out Drench and Holdsworth shot just the wrong side of the upright before both Brown and Lee Moore went close for the visitors.

Senior’s quick free kick then created a half-chance for Joe O’Neill and Walker lifted an effort over the bar. O’Neill went closest to breaking the deadlock with a rasping drive from 35 yards that Neil Collett did well to claw out of the top corner. Wilson tested Collett again before the game went to extra time, when Danny Boshell and Michael Burns replaced Wilson and Holdsworth.

Even in extra time the game produced few clear-cut openings, but after Brown had brought a great stop from Drench Town were awarded a corner that was half-cleared and as the ball was played back in Brown half-volleyed into the far corner, giving Drench no chance and sealing a Play-Off Final place for Nuneaton at Gainsborough next Sunday

Team

1 – Drench

2 – Clarke

3 – Merris

4 – Toner

5 – Ellis

6 – Ainge

7 – Forrest (Ellington 76)

8 – Holdsworth (Burns 95)

9 – O’Neill

10 – Senior

11 – Wilson (Boshell 95)

12 – Boshell

14 – Ellington

15 – Burns

16 – Price

18 – Giles