Guiseley 3

Leamington 0

GUISELEY move back above neighbours Farsley Celtic and within five points of the play-offs in the Vanarama National North after a rare home maximum.

Victory over Leamington ended the Brakes’ budding resurgence as they had beaten Southport and held second-placed Kings Lynn Town to a goalless draw in their previous two fixtures.

There was very little quality from either side in the first half at Nethermoor but the Lions snatched a lead on the stroke of half-time.

A set-piece inside the third of three added minutes was only half cleared and the Lions worked the ball to Gabby Johnson, whose excellent delivery was headed in at the near post by Andrai Jones.

Guiseley had done the majority of the attacking in the first half but hadn’t really threatened the Brakes goal.

Having broken the deadlock, it allowed them to play with a bit more freedom and they doubled their advantage early in the second half.

A sweeping move led to a final ball that invited Kaine Felix to sprint through the inside right channel. He collected the ball just outside the area and continued his run before lashing a shot past keeper Jake Weaver from just inside the corner of the area.

Leamington came close to halving the deficit midway through the second half when Joe Parker got two shots away in a matter of seconds.

Parker’s first shot went just wide but the visitors won the ball back from the goal kick and Parker had another sight of goal but his low shot hit the inside of the post and the rebound was cleared.

Both sides made changes in the latter stages, one of which saw Jamie Spencer replacing Aram Soleman in Guiseley’s midfield.

Spencer made a bustling run just into stoppage time and was brought down just inside the area.

He was up to grab the ball and after a quick glance to the dugout he got the nod to take the spot-kick himself and he drilled it past the outstretched Weaver to put the gloss on Guiseley’s victory.

The three points only lifted the Lions up one place to tenth but it was a vital win with Farsley losing at home to Hereford and defeats for Spennymoor Town, Gateshead and Chester who are all battling for the last two play-off places.

Joint manager Russ O’Neill said: “I didn’t think we were at our best but we are gradually learning how to grind results out and three goals at home and a clean sheet is just about perfect.

“We’re a young side and these lads are improving as individuals and improving as a team, they’re not used to this level of football but slowly and surely we’re getting there.

“Their mindset is improving and you can see in our game both on the ball and off the ball.”

Centre back Price Ekpolo as man-of-the-match after a superb overall display and an assist for Felix’s goal.

O’Neill said: “He is another one who has jumped up two divisions to sign for us and we saw a lot of potential in him when he joined the group but it was all about timing his progress.

“I think we got it just about right because he has put in some good performances since he got a place in the side.

“This was one of them - he was excellent, but I thought there were a few good performances and you need that from a team to win games in this division.”

IAN WHITING