Vanarama National League: Gateshead 1 Guiseley 1

GUISELEY earned another precious point towards their survival bid in the Vanarama National League from a hard-earned draw in the north east.

Promotion-chasing Gateshead were the hosts, and the Lions took an early lead and then held on after the Heed hit back in the second half.

The home side had the game’s first chance when Jordan Burrow headed just wide but Jake Lawlor gave the Lions the lead on the quarter-hour.

A throw-in was turned into the danger area by Kevan Hurst, and Lawlor slotted past keeper James Montgomery at the far post.

Guiseley stopper Jonny Maxted was also busy and made some good saves as the home side ended the first half well.

Their biggest threat came from Wes York, so it came as no surprise when he made the most of a half-chance following a slip.

York seized possession and set himself before curling a shot past Maxted to level in the 62nd minute.

There were more half-chances for both sides before the Heed enjoyed another brief spell on top but the Lions came away with a deserved share of the spoils.

Guiseley manager Adam Lockwood said: “I was disappointed in the way that we conceded because that’s not what we’re about, but Gateshead tested us.

“We got a very good goal from a great bit of play, and we had a purpose. I thought we were impeccable in terms of the professionalism of our performance and I saw a calmness under pressure that really pleased me.

“We’ve come up against some very good sides in the last ten games and we have played to different styles.”

Last night’s draw saw the Lions remain in 16th spot, five places and seven points above the drop zone, while Gateshead retained their current place in the play-off zone.

In the Evo-Stik League, Farsley Celtic remain top of Division One North, despite suffering a home defeat and finishing with ten men.

It was a second opportunity in two weeks for the Celts to claim the outright leadership but they remain top on goal difference only after a 4-2 home loss to promotion hopefuls Clitheroe.

Farsley were 2-1 down on the hour when they had centre back Aiden Savory sent off for allegedly leading with an elbow in a challenge.

The Celts had taken an early lead after Clitheroe’s Ian Rowlands inadvertently turned Ryan Watson’s shot past his own keeper.

The visitors equalised when Celts keeper Graeme McKibbon could only parry a free-kick and Charlie Russell bundled the loose ball over the line.

Russell pounced again in the second half to give the visitors the lead when he reacted quickly to a blocked free-kick.

The writing was on the wall for the Celts when Savory departed, and Clitheroe increased their lead minutes later through Brad Carroll.

Farsley ensured a tense finale as Richard Marshall netted two minutes from time but the Lancastrians put the gloss on their win with fourth in stoppage time, with Kurt Willoughby netting.

Thackley bounced back from their weekend defeat in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division by romping to a 4-1 win at Harrogate Railway Athletic.

The Dennyboys had Mike Garrod to thank as the destroyer-in-chief banged in a hat-trick.

The visitors led 1-0 at the break after Garrod had broken the deadlock and he completed his treble before Dan Broadbent added Thackley’s fourth, while Steve Bromley netted a consolation for the Rail.

Liversedge’s home game against Parkgate in the same division was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Clayborn.

Silsden earned a point from a goalless draw at Charnock Richard in Division One of the Hallmark Security League.

The fourth placed hosts missed two second-half penalties after the Cobbydalers had been denied an opener by the crossbar.