Guiseley boss Lockwood won't allow complacency

WE ARE not home and hosed yet.
Jordan PrestonJordan Preston
Jordan Preston

That is the message from Guiseley manager Adam Lockwood, who says that the Lions must not rest on their laurels despite their fine recent run of National League form which has seen them move clear of the relegation positions.

The Nethermoor outfit broke new ground in making history in last Saturday’s impressive 1-0 victory over fellow form side Aldershot – which represented the first time that they have claimed a hat-trick of consecutive league wins at this level.

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Lockwood’s troops aim to push the bar higher in tomorrow’s game at mid-table Boreham Wood, when they will be seeking to record their sixth win in seven league matches –and ninth in 13 National League outings.

Adam LockwoodAdam Lockwood
Adam Lockwood

The fixture evokes memories of their trip to Hertfordshire in their final away game of the season last term, when the Wood triumphed 1-0 in a huge relegation six-pointer to leave the Lions staring relegation in the face, only to be saved by a heroic last-day win against Torquay United and events elsewhere.

The pressure tomorrow is likely to be considerably less intense, but Lockwood, for his part, is staying on-message and says that his 17th-placed side must keep their focus.

And while Guiseley, six points above the drop zone, have a handy buffer and are just five points adrift of their points tally from last season with nine matches still to go in their season, Lockwood is staying humble and grounded and insists that there is work to do yet.

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Lockwood, whose side prevailed last Saturday against the play-off chasing Shots, thanks to a 54th-minute goal from Jordan Preston, said: “It’s a tough, tough league.

Adam LockwoodAdam Lockwood
Adam Lockwood

“I have said all the way through that if you are not right and you do not perform, then you will struggle.

“You have to prepare right and put as much effort as you possibly can into being right before kick-off.

“We try our best to do that and there are probably still improvements that we could make as a club.

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“We will see where we go with that, but first and foremost, we have to keep trying to improve and pick up points.

“No team in this league is going to make it easy for us to get out of trouble – I knew that when I got the chance here. It was always going to be a very tough task and that is still the case.

“With the run that we have been on, you woud like to think we would be a long way clear (of trouble) but we are still there, so we can’t rest on our laurels and we have to keep going.”

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National League North play-off hopefuls Harrogate Town host fourth-placed Chorley with seven points separating them from the top five, writes Ben Groom.

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Unbeaten in their last six, Harrogate can climb into eighth with a victory whilst Chorley are without an away win since the end of January. Elsewhere, fifth-placed Halifax Town welcome Gloucester City to The Shay as they look to put space between themselves and those vying for a spot in the play-offs. Towards the bottom, eighteenth-placed Bradford Park Avenue travel to fellow strugglers Alfreton Town looking to edge closer to safety.

In the Evo Stik Premier, Frickley Athletic host Halesowen Town with both sides level on points and looking to further edge away from the bottom three.

Elsewhere, in First Division North, leaders Farsley Celtic will be looking to open up a gap at the top of the table as they host mid-table Bamber Bridge. Sixth-placed Ossett Town will be aiming to close in on the top three as they host Colwyn Bay whilst Brighouse Town can move into the top six with a victory at home over Kendal Town. Tadcaster Albion travel to high-flying Lancaster City whilst Ossett Albion can move further away from their relegation rivals with a victory away at Radcliffe Borough.

In the NCE Premier, Liversedge play host to a Yorkshire derby as they welcome Hemsworth Miners Welfare. The visitors can break into the top half with a victory, while Liversedge can edge closer to the top six. Meanwhile, second-placed Pickering Town can go top with a victory at bottom-club Retford United.

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In Division One, leaders Pontefract Collieries host third-placed Hall Road Rangers as they look to fend off pressure at the top. Just a point behind, AFC Emley entertain Yorkshire rivals Knaresborough Town who themselves cannot afford to lose ground on the top six.

Elsewhere, Selby Town can climb into ninth as they travel to struggling Westella and Willerby whilst Glasshoughton Welfare visit sixth-placed Hallam.

Leeds side Yorkshire Amateur travel to fourth-placed Penistone Church whilst bottom-club Nostella Miners Welfare welcome Winterton Rangers.