Vanarama National League: Guiseley 1 AFC Fylde 0

THE Guiseley faithful will be hoping the great escape is on after the Lions ended a seven-game losing streak with a narrow home win over Fylde to send the majority of the Nethermoor crowd home happy.

Guiseley remain at the foot of the Vanarama National League table but they will feel as though the tide has finally turned after their victory.

The club recently sacked boss Paul Cox, and last night caretaker manager Sean St Ledger got his first win after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Maidenhead United.

Unlike the weekend, former Preston, Leicester City and Republic of Ireland defender St Ledger selected himself in the squad at right back, but only after an injury to on-loan Victor Nirennold in the warm-up.

St Ledger almost netted a rare goal as well as his cross-cum-shot just after the half-hour was hacked off the line by the Coasters’ Jordan Tunnicliffe.

Will Hatfield and Dayle Southwell had gone close in that goalless first half, and John Rooney had fired a free-kick just over Jay Lynch’s goal.

It was Lions’ keeper Luke Coddington who was in action after the break as he palmed a Jonny Smith shot for a corner.

The stopper, on loan from Northampton, had denied Fylde’s Danny Rowe in the first half, and with 12 minutes remaining he safely gathered a deflected shot from the same player.

Guiseley claimed their confidence-boosting victory with a little over five minutes to go, and Rooney provided the assist.

The midfielder’s ball into the area was deflected home, with Rowan Liburd in close attendance, but a defender probably got the last touch.

St Ledger described the feeling as "unbelievable" and added: “It’s one of the best feelings I’ve had in football.

“I’ve had some good ones but to be able to be playing, and the interim caretaker-manager, and for us to get the goal so late on – I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a victory more in my life.

“The effort, the application from everyone – the players that came on, the players on the bench – was absolutely fantastic.

"What I spoke about in the dressing room after was about the club coming together, and I think that’s happened today.

“The work rate, the passion, the effort from the players, and then the fans jumped on board. Speaking from a player’s point of view, I think if you give passion and hard work, fans respect that and they come along with you and become the 12th man.

“I don’t know when the last time we had a victory here was (October – long before St Ledger arrived at the club) but I thank the fans for still coming out and hopefully we can build on this now.”

It was also Guiseley's first clean sheet since Boxing Day.