Rooney nets double to see off brave Lions

Guiseley took the lead when Jake Cassidy was found in the area from a corner and he made no mistake with his powerful header finding the back of the net with just over 10 minutes gone.

The away side were showing confidence and could have doubled their lead when Michael Rankine and Derek Asamoah combined well, with the latter just unable to to get his shot away.

But Wrexham were brought back level when Burnley loanee Ntumba Massanka scored a fantastic over-head kick – his effort leaving Jonny Maxted with no chance.

With the scores level at half-time Guiseley again started brightly with Cassidy seeing an effort hooked over the bar, as they kept their attacking intent going.

But it was the hosts who were able to gain the lead for the first time when John Rooney – the brother of Wayne – was allowed to score with a tap-in just two minutes after he came off the bench.

Adam Lockwood gave a debut to Kevan Hurst after he joined from Mansfield Town last week on loan, and he had a chance to score on his first start when Rankine did well to find him with a pass, but he was unable to get the shot on target and it went wide.

Despite a late surge by the visitors, including a goalmouth scramble deep into added time, which saw the ball almost fall to both Adam Boyes and Jordan Preston, Wrexham’s defence were able to hold on.

Then with the last kick of the game, Rooney added another goal with a smart free-kick.

The defeat means the Lions stay in the bottom four places of the National League, although they now do have two homes games in a row coming up next.

In National North, Harrogate Town claimed their first away league win since August with an excellent 3-0 victory at Boston United. In a physical match from start to finish, Simon Ainge gave Town the lead after 31 minutes; meeting Joe Leesley’s cross with a diving header.

Ainge’s strike partner Louie Swain added a second just before the hour mark; capitalising on a defensive error to round the Pilgrims’ stopper and score.

Leesley then finished off proceedings, winning and converting a penalty to seal a win that sees Town move up one place to ninth in the table – eight points behind the play-off zone.

Elsewhere, Liam King’s deflected shot handed FC Halifax Town a hard-fought 1-0 win at rock-bottom Altrincham.

Third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue moved to within two points of safety with an excellent 2-1 victory at Curzon Ashton thanks to goals from James Knowles and Danny Boshell.