After a long lay-off from league action Guiseley Vixens returned from Morecambe with all three points from a 5-2 away win. 

Goals from Liv Thackray (2), Deb Hastings, Emily Scott and Chantelle O’Hara secured the win to leave the Vixens just one point off the top spot with five games in hand. 

The rust showed in the first 20 minutes when Morecambe capitalised with two counter-attacks, Becky Whittingham and Emma Kay scoring their goals.

Thackray went close on the half hour mark when a long effort dipped and hit the post. Ten minutes later her shot on goal was deflected into the net to halve the deficit.

On the stroke of half–time she did it again, dipping a ball under the crossbar to pull it level going into the break. 

The second-half was played in stark contrast to the first. 

Deb Hastings on her debut, fizzed in a shot from just outside the box which kissed the inside of the post on the way in, putting the Vixens ahead for the first time in the game. 

With the score at 3-2, Beth Seasman dealt smartly with a one-on-one stopping the striker from advancing further forward.

A goal at that stage could have swung the momentum the other way. 

On the hour mark Emily Scott made her long awaited return to action after a four-month spell on the sidelines through injury.

O’Hara gave the Vixens breathing room when she bent a long range free-kick into the top corner.

Just four minutes later Scott tapped the ball over the line to put the game to bed and get a goal to mark her return to action.

Hastings said after the game: “I am thrilled to have scored on my debut for Guiseley. It stemmed from great build-up play from the team that opened up some space for me to shoot.  

“I’m pleased that it got me off the mark after a few half chances in the first-half but more so that it put us in the lead and from there we went on to dominate the game.”

Manager Glen Preston said: “We didn’t come out of the trap like we needed to and I think Morecambe started really well. However, 25 minutes in and our players started to get up to the speed of the game and suddenly showed their dominance. As soon as we raised our intensity we were unstoppable.”

Words: Oliver Coultas | Photo: Alex Daniel