Guiseley 2 Ashton United 1

IN a game in which the conditions dictated much of the second-half play Guiseley never looked in danger of losing this one. In fact if the match official had been a little more kind to them they would have won by the proverbial mile.

There was certainly plenty of controversy centred around the penalty areas.

Guiseley were on the end of the contested decisions but it did not stop them from gaining a hard-earned win.

It was a game played under difficult conditions with a heavy pitch and high winds but it was all credit to Guiseley's volunteer ground staff that the game went ahead.

The players of both sides also deserve plaudits for producing something resembling a game of football.

Scott Jackson had the ball in the net for Guiseley in the second minute but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Guiseley however were not to be denied as within a couple of minutes the irrepressible Gavin Knight drove in a stunner from 20 yards and celebrated as usual with his trademark somersault.

More openings followed, thou-gh they were at a premium, as the home side enjoyed the upper hand in the first-half.

Skipper Richard Dunning went close in the 27th minute with a long-range shot and Rob Pell headed a Nathan Hay cross just wide in the 35th minute.

Guiseley increased their lead in the 42nd minute when Rob Pell turned well and fired a low shot into the bottom corner to give his side a two goal cushion at the break.

In the second-half Guiseley had claims for a penalty turned down when Knight was brought down in the 58th minute but appeals fell on deaf ears.

Two minutes later, Ashton pulled a goal back when substitute Greg Traynor drilled in a right-foot shot.

That set the Guiseley supporters' hearts a fluttering as Ashton enjoyed a brief spell in the ascendancy but the Guiseley defence stood firm with Paul Collins having replaced young Ryan Serrant at left-back.

It was however manager Terry Dolan's other substitution that galvanised Guiseley with young striker James Hanson showing bags of aggression and energy as he terrorised the Ashton defence.

Hanson became a thorn in Ashton's side with his never-say-die attitude.

Dolan now appears to have riches in abundance up front with his three man starting strike force of Pell, Knight and Jackson all among the goals this season, Hanson showing what he is capable of and Marc Smith just a step away from returning from his collar bone injury.

Before the end former Bradford City defender Sam Denton headed just wide and young Liam Green, on loan from Doncaster Rovers, put his shot from a well-worked free-kick routine over the bar.

Guiseley now face the tough challenge of visiting table topping AFC Telford United on Saturday. Guiseley are still harbouring hopes of making the play-off places and will need a good performance to pinch anything from Telford.

The feel good factor is certainly alive at Nethermoor with around 400 spectators watching Saturday's game (317 paying customers) and a host of new sponsors backing the club.

Match sponsors Sunwin Mazda, who have provided manager Terry Dolan with a new car for two years, provided the match mascots in three year-old Mason Collins and eight year-old Robert Padgett who looked resplendent in their Guiseley kit.