Defeat piles even more pressure on Guiseley

GUISELEY plummeted into the National League drop zone after Saturday's 1-0 loss at relegation rivals Boreham Wood was made even worse by a crucial win for FC Halifax Town.
Oli Johnson.Oli Johnson.
Oli Johnson.

The Lions now need at least a point at home to Torquay on the final game of the season and even a win might not be enough if results do not go their way.

Guiseley knew that victory against fellow drop battlers Boreham would have guaranteed survival and began brightly though Oil Johnson’s strong run and cross did not lead to a chance.

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The hosts’ most dangerous player was clearly Delano Sam-Yorke who forced Steven Drench into a good save early on and continued to cause problems. And it was Sam-Yorke who opened the scoring after 23 minutes when a clever one-two saw the ball fall to the Boreham Wood man who made no mistake with a calm finish.

Guiseley had one final chance before half-time when good work between Will Hatfield and Johnson almost saw the ball fall to the latter, but ’keeper James Russell was able to intervene.

Guiseley started the second half well with Adam Boyes putting pressure on the hosts’ defence but Boreham Wood were able to deal with the danger.

Instead, Boreham almost made it 2-0 when Sam-Yorke again found room but his effort hit the inside of the post and was just about cleared.

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For Guiseley, Johnson then had two fine efforts but on both occasions Russell was in the right place to make the saves.

Guiseley are now fourth bottom, and one point behind both fifth-bottom Halifax and sixth-bottom Boreham Wood who also have a far superior goal difference.

Boreham visit relegated basement club Welling on the final day while Halifax – whose goal difference is marginally worse than Guiseley’s – are at home to 10th-placed Altrincham. Torquay, Guiseley’s final-day visitors, are 18th but safe.

Halifax jumped out of the drop zone with a fine 1-0 win at second-placed Forest Green Rovers as Shaquille McDonald’s 70th-minute winner ended a seven-hour Shaymen goal drought.

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In National League North, Harrogate Town failed to guarantee their play-off spot after a 2-1 loss at AFC Fylde who now sit second. Town were 2-0 down by the time Warren Burrell hit a late consolation. Fourth-placed Town host relegated bottom club Corby Town on the final day.

Mid-table Bradford Park Avenue drew 0-0 at second-bottom Hednesford Town and host sixth-placed Nuneaton on Wednesday. Nuneaton are the only team who can take Town out of the play-offs and need two wins from their last two games to stand any chance.

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OSSETT Town capped survival in the EvoStik League First Division North with a final-day 3-1 win at Droylsden that hauled them up to 17th.

Town’s First Division North status looked in grave danger at one point but the Ossett side were comfortably safe going into Saturday’s finale and scored in the first minute through Bradley Kilner. Danny Frost doubled the lead just seven minutes later and while Daniel Parkinson pulled a goal back for the Bloods just after the hour mark, Steven Ridley netted Town’s third with 14 minutes to go.

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Relegated Harrogate Railway were beaten 3-1 at Kendal Town, despite taking an 11th-minute lead through Harry Coates. Samuel Bailey levelled just three minutes later from the penalty spot before netting his second 11 minutes later. Daniel Towers then made it 3-1 after the break.

Farsley Celtic have finished ninth after a 2-1 win at home to Radcliffe Borough in which Robert O’Brien gave them a fourth-minute lead. Paul Walker doubled the advantage 10 minutes after the break before Elliot Rokka’s late riposte.

Ossett Albion ended up 10th after beating visiting Trafford by the same score. Robert Bordman and James Eyles notched for Albion with Dominic Smith on target for Trafford.

Brighouse Town finished up in 14th after a 3-1 success at home to Mossley, who led after 14 minutes through Michael Fish. Second-half goals from Kurt Harris, James Hurtley and Daniel Facey turned the match on its head. Scarborough Athletic ended up 20th – but safe – after their 3-0 loss at Burscough.

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In the Premier, Frickley Athletic finish seventh after a 1-0 defeat at Nantwich. Whitby Town are 19th after Dale Hopson’s equaliser sealed a 1-1 draw at home to Skelmersdale United. Goole AFC were thrashed 5-0 by visiting Newcastle United in First Division South but were already safe in 19th.

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TADCASTER Albion took a giant step towards sealing the NCE Premier League crown as Tom Corner’s strike sealed a 1-0 win at home to Garforth Town, writes LEE SOBOT.

Corner bagged the only goal of the game after 28 minutes to send Albion to the top of the table in light of former leaders Handsworth Parramore losing 2-0 at Brigg Town.

The Brewers are now one point clear of second-placed Handsworth and have three games left compared to Handsworth’s two, meaning two more wins would guarantee Albion the title.

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At the bottom of the table, second-bottom Pontefract Collieries strengthened their survival bid with a 1-0 success at home to Clipstone. Philip Lindley hit the winning goal three minutes after the hour.

But third-bottom Liversedge also obliged 3-1 at home to already relegated Nostell Miners Welfare.

Liversedge were 3-0 up after 23 minutes through a Ray Fogarty strike and Benny Igiehon before Brian Mdaka claimed Nostell a second-half consolation.

Sixth-placed Pickering Town claimed a 1-1 draw at Barton Town Old Boys thanks to Ryan Cooper’s 79th-minute leveller but 12th-placed Thackley were beaten 2-0 at sixth-bottom Armthorpe Welfare who are still not yet safe.

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Fifth-placed Bridlington Town sank third-placed visitors Cleethorpes Town 2-1 with goals from Andy Norfolk and Brett Agnew ending the away side’s title hopes.

In Division One, newly-crowned champions Hemsworth Miners Welfare saw off visiting Bottesford Town 3-0 through a Bill Law double and Nash Connolly strike.

Play-offs-bound AFC Emley drew 0-0 at eighth-placed Knaresborough Town who cannot make the top six.

Goals from Ryan Poskitt and Lucas Middleton gave Glasshoughton Welfare a 2-1 win at Winterton Rangers while Chris Jackson’s strike saw Selby Town to a 1-0 triumph at home to Hall Road Rangers.

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Anil Singh netted for Eccleshill United who drew 1-1 with visiting Rossington Main but strikes from Harrison Blakey and Eder Ruiz were in vain for hosts Yorkshire Amateur who were felled 5-2 by Westella VIP.