A KAINE Felix masterclass proved crucial in Guiseley’s third victory of the season, as he scored, assisted twice and won a penalty to provide joint-managers Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill with a 4-2 win against a Southport team who had lost four of their last six games.

Southport were 10th in the National League North prior to kick-off, but their play-off hopes took a beating from the Lions at Nethermoor, who moved out of the relegation zone and up to 19th.

O’Neill hailed Felix after the game, saying: “We’ve had to adjust the two up front, Kaine and Jon Wafula.

“We know Kaine’s positives that he had from last season and we’ve had him on a slow burner trying to get him back as fit as we can, and I think he’s got three assists and a goal today.”

O’Neill also took the time out to praise his injury-hit team as a whole, adding: “[It was] a real pleasing performance and victory. We’ve scored four goals in a game that we went behind in, so we’ve shown great character to get back into it.

“We’ve had a horrendous time with injuries since we got back from our three week break from Covid, and we’ve lost Prince (Ekpolo), Andy (Kellett) and a lot of youngsters who have got into the team and done really well.”

It was Southport who took the lead in controversial manner on Saturday.

The ball trickled out to the wing and was lofted back into the box by Connor Woods, where an unmarked George Newell pounced to score at the back post, with referee Ben Wyatt waving away the calls for offside from a furious Guiseley side.

But the Lions were to roar again, as Felix retrieved a loose cross from Lebrun Mbeka and whipped in a fantastic ball on to the head of Wafula, who nodded past Dan Hanford to equalise.

Southport’s lead was nearly restored when Marcus Carver met a low cross, but he somehow steered the ball wide from five yards out.

Heading into the second half, and new signing Josh Parsons got his first goal for the club.

A threaded ball from Nathan Newall on the wing came to Felix in the box, whose powerful cross was converted by Parsons.

Guiseley extended their lead in the final ten minutes, as Felix controlled the ball and sauntered past Jack Bainbridge, before smashing the ball past Hanford.

Felix then turned in the box and was pulled down to win the home side a penalty.

Up stepped Mbeka, who piled on the misery for the visitors, as he fired the ball past Hanford to make it 4-1.

Southport did grab one in the dying minutes, as Carver bundled the ball over the line, but it was merely a consolation goal.

Guiseley's next game sees them host divisional rivals Chorley in the FA Trophy Second Round tomorrow evening. The game kicks off at 7:45pm and will be behind closed doors.

The Lions handed a debut to midfielder Milan Butterfield against Southport. He has come in a month-long loan from Chesterfield.

BY GABRIEL RAMSEY