Boss Bower takes positives as Lions fall to leaders

Two late goals cost Guiseley dear as the Lions slipped to within two points of the National League drop zone with Saturday's 2-0 loss at home to leaders Cheltenham Town.
Guiseley manager Mark Bower.Guiseley manager Mark Bower.
Guiseley manager Mark Bower.

Rob Dickie was found in the area in the 80th minute and made no mistake in heading home from a cross to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Then, in a similar incident, Dan Holman made no mistake with a side-footed finish nine minutes later, shortly before Town’s Harry Pell was sent off.

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Cheltenham were unlucky not to be leading going into the break but Guiseley had the first opportunity when James Hurst, fresh from scoring against Eastleigh last week, saw his effort deflected off Danny Parslow and wide of the goal.

The hosts were then dealt a blow when on loan York City striker Emile Sinclair fell to the floor with a hamstring problem and had to be substituted.

Cheltenham then started to show the mark of champions as first Dan Holman cut inside from the left and saw his curled effort go just wide of Steven Drench’s goal.

Town then had the best chance of the half when Holman produced a run forward and produced a fine dipping effort from range which Drench had to turn over the ‘bar.

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The second half started with Town again getting forward but Guiseley showed they could get into areas as well.

But it was Cheltenham who showed their clinical edge inside the final ten minutes before Pell was sent off due to two bookable offences.

Guiseley now sit sixth bottom ahead of tomorrow night’s home clash with eighth-placed Wrexham.

The club’s safety is still in their own hands and boss Mark Bower was disappointed with Saturday’s result but not the performance.

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“We have played the best team in the division and done really well,” said Bower.

“This has to give us confidence for the next games.”

FC Halifax Town are fifth-bottom and level on points with Guiseley having played one game more after Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to Aldershot. Jim Stevenson netted one minute after the interval before Rhys Browne struck seven minutes from time.

The Shaymen are back in action tomorrow at bottom club Kidderminster.

In National League North, Harrogate Town dropped to fourth after a 3-2 loss at Alfreton Town, with Jordan Thewlis and Bendon Daniels netting for the visitors. Town next face a crunch clash at sixth-placed Nuneaton tomorrow evening.

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Bradford Park Avenue are 16th after Saturday’s 3-0 loss at fifth-placed Boston United. Avenue welcome rock-bottom Corby Town on Wednesday evening.

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OSSETT Town moved one step closer to First Division North survival with Saturday’s 3-1 success at Prescot Cables.

Anthony Mackie fired Town into a 27th-minute lead which was doubled by Simon Rogers seven minutes after the break.

David Brown then put the visitors 3-0 up with six minutes remaining before Oliver Grundy bagged what proved only a consolation for the hosts with four minutes left.

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Third-bottom Town stay five points clear of Harrogate Railway who have also played two games more and have just three games left.

Rail’ kept Town within some sort of hailing distance with Saturday’s 4-1 win at home to rock-bottom New Mills who have picked up just two points all season. The visitors took a shock 12th-minute lead through Michael Jones but Chris Ovington levelled six minutes later.

Rail’ eventually cruised to victory with second-half strikes from Harry Coates, Ovington again and Stephen Bromley.

Scarborough Athletic are fifth bottom after a 1-1 draw at Lancaster City who led after six minutes but Dean Lisle levelled just before the hour.

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Ossett Albion dropped to tenth after a 3-1 loss at home to Kendal Town who were 2-0 up after nine minutes. A Rikki Paylor response failed to save the hosts.

Farsley Celtic moved 11th with a 2-0 triumph at home to Clitheroe thanks to goals from Aiden Savory and Lewis Nightingale.

Brighouse Town are 14th after a 2-1 reverse at home to Northwich Victoria who struck twice in the first half through Gary Burnett before Ben Atkinson’s late home consolation.

In the Premier, Frickley Athletic moved eighth with a 3-1 triumph at Workington thanks to a brace from John Cyrus plus a Jacob Hazel strike.

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In First Division South, fourth-bottom Goole AFC held third-placed visitors Coalville Town to a goalless draw.

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TADCASTER Albion significantly strengthened their NCE Premier title claims as Josh Greening’s hat-trick inspired Saturday’s 5-2 defeat of main rivals Handsworth Parramore.

Parramore arrived top of the table and took an 11th-minute lead through John Froggatt in a game watched by 631 fans.

But Greening levelled just two minutes later before firing the hosts ahead just seven minutes later. Tom Corner then put Albion 3-1 up with his 44th-minute penalty before making it 4-1 two minutes after the break.

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Simon Harrison pulled a goal back for Parramore one minute before the hour but Greening had the final say when sealing his hat-trick two minutes from time. Tadcaster now lead Handsworth by a point and also have one game in hand.

Basement club Nostell Miners Welfare are on the verge of relegation after losing 1-0 at Worksop Town.

Third-bottom Pontefract Collieries were also blitzed 5-2 by visiting Thackley while Garforth Town are eighth-bottom after a 2-1 loss at Parkgate. Mark Simpson was the solitary Garforth scorer.

Sixth-placed Pickering Town enjoyed a 1-0 win at Liversedge thanks to Sam Calvert’s first-half winner, while fourth-placed Bridlington Towwn beat off visiting Retford United 5-2 with doubles from Chris Jenkinson and Brett Agnew plus a strike from Tom Fleming.

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In Division One, fourth-placed AFC Emley were upset 1-0 at mid-table Selby Town whose Tom Owen hit a 28th-minute winner.

Already promoted league leaders Hemsworth Miners Welfare saw their trip to Lincoln Moorlands Railway postponed, with Knaresborough Town’s home clash with Worsbrough Bridge Athletic also off.

Eccleshill United crumbled late on in a 2-2 draw at home to play-off chasing Hallam who were 2-0 down with 15 minutes left. Goals from Jermaine Springer and Lee Smith had Eccleshill 2-0 up at half-time.

Glasshoughton Welfare were felled 4-0 at Westella VIP while Yorkshire Amateur were undone by an 80th-minute Josh Nichols winner in a 2-1 loss at home to Bottesford Town. Ammers led after 20 minutes through Harrison Blakey.