Guiseley 2 Radcliffe Borough 1

Guiseley manager Terry Dolan is using his contacts to bring in young players to help his side's cause and for this match he added Leeds United junior Ryan Serrant to Doncaster Rovers Liam Green.

Green arrived the previous week ostensibly to fill in for midfielder Craig Hall who was on holiday but Serrant's arrival raised a few eyebrows when young left-back Paul Collins was dropped out of the squad to accomodate him.

Many in the crowd felt that Collins was steadily making his mark in the side and were surprised to see him kicking his heels on the terraces.

Serrant, a 19 year-old product of the Leeds United Academy, is a cousin of Farsley Celtic's former Newcastle United defender Carl Serrant and he certainly showed he has a footballing pedigree despite the atrocious conditions at Nethermoor.

The groundstaff had done a sterling job to get this game on but it was heavy underfoot and the rain poured down throughout.

Nevertheless Guiseley picked up their third win in four outings to keep in the hunt for a UniBond Premier Division play-off berth.

After dropping from third place down to eighth the ship has steadied and a good January could pitch them back into the leading pack.

The scoreline appears close but the home side were the only likely winners of this clash. Radcliffe worked hard but could not match Guiseley's creativity.

They snatched an injury-time consolation goal which posed a few questions. Was Guiseley keeper Steve Dickinson pushed in the back as he went for the cross, was the ball handled and then handled again on its way into the net?

Guiseley made a good start and were unlucky when Rob Pell's left-foot shot came back off the post. The rebound was picked up by Gavin Knight but he fired wide when well-placed.

Midway through the half, Knight saw another right-foot shot go wide of the target and then central defender Simon Sturdy had a header saved.

Young Tom Marsden shot wide and seemed to be struggling with a thigh injury. He did not come out for the second-half and was replaced by the side's leading scorer Scott Jackson.

Jackson was full of energy and put himself about as Guiseley battled to turn their superiority into goals. The irrepressible Gavin Knight had his header from a Danny Ellis cross deflected wide and, following the resulting corner, Ellis shot just wide.

Knight then had the ball at his feet in the penalty area when he was upended by a challenge from behind. Pell stepped up to continue his 100 per cent ratio from the spot since Dolan brought him back to the club. He did not risk a run up on the slippery surface instead taking the safe route and thundering the ball home from a standing start.

More chances were created by the hosts with Knight shooting wide and a fierce shot from skipper Richard Dunning being saved.

In the 69th minute Knight produced a wonderful shot from fully 25 yards into the top corner and despite the gluepot conditions underfoot managed to get his feet off the ground for his customary somersault celebration which always delights the crowd.

The points had always looked safe after Pell's spot-kick but they were assured now.

Guiseley continued to press and Sam Denton headed over from a Liam Green cormer before Johnston pulled off a stunning save from another Knight effort.

Radcliffe's late consolation goal was not merely deep into stoppage time, it was highly contentious as well. Boro forced a corner and Guiseley keeper Steve Dickinson appeared to have it in his sights as he leapt to gather.

His flight was altered by what appeared to be a push in the back and the ball dropped onto the hand of an attacker.

It crossed the line and, as the whistle was blown, Dickinson prepared to take a free-kick, either for the foul or the handball, only to be told that a goal had been given. Ian Fitzpatrick was credited with the strike.

Radcliffe's only other real threat on goal had come just before half-time when an inswinging corner was pushed round the post by Dickinson.

On Saturday Guiseley travel to Prescot Cables and the Reserves have a home derby in the Lancashire League Cup when they take on high riding Farsley Celtic Reserves. If this cup tie in any way reflects the recent league meeting between the two it should be an excellent game. (Kick-off 3 pm).