Joint boss Russ O’Neill happy as Guiseley earn ‘good’ point at Hereford

The long away trip just a few days before Christmas saw the Lions create the better chances during the game, just not able to get the crucial goal.

Early on, Danny Greenslade was denied by Lions keeper Marcus Dewhurst who did well to block the effort, Reece Styche was then unable to get his shot away in the area and it was cleared.

The visitors would go forward again, when Kaine Felix ran at the Hereford back-line and he saw his long-range effort well saved by Brandon Hall who had to dive to his left to ensure it didn’t creep in.

Just an hour before kick-off Chris Sang was announced as a loan signing for Guiseley and on his debut he put in a hard working display during the opening half.

A Gabriel Johnson cross so nearly found Kennedy Digie who would have surely scored, but the ball just missed his out-stretched leg and went away from danger, thanks to Martin Riley getting the faintest of touches on the cross to ensure the hosts didn’t concede.

With time running out Greenslade looked to have picked his spot but his powerful effort just rising over the crossbar.

In added time a good delivery found the head of Hamza Bencherif who just couldn’t direct his effort towards goal and it drifted wide, with the referee blowing for full-time soon after.

After the match, Guiseley joint-manager Russ O’Neill said: “It was a good performance by us in many areas. We worked hard during this game, this can be something we use going into the next week of matches.”

Next up for Guiseley is a local derby against Farsley Celtic at Nethermoor Park on Boxing Day.

Meanwhile, a 2-1 home win over Leamington saw Farsley Celtic move back into the National League North play-off positions.

The visitors forged ahead on 11 minutes courtesy of a far-post header from Josh March, but the Celts struck straight back with Will Hayhurst converting from the penalty spot.

Luke Parkin then grabbed the winner with an emphatic finish from the edge of the box after Matt Regan’s cross had been headed out.

Basement-side Bradford Park Avenue went down 3-0 at Spennymoor.

The hosts were in charge from the start with Rob Ramshaw rattling the crossbar and Nicky Clee clearing another chance off the line.

Ramshaw subsequently opened the scoring on 36 minutes, confidently converting a one-on-one opportunity.

Ryan Hall also hit the bar on the stroke of half-time for Spennymoor, who doubled their advantage on 70 minutes when sub Mark Anderson followed up to net after Glen Taylor’s shot came back off a post.

A third was added by Anderson late on before Carl Magnay provided the only blemish on Spenymoor’s afternoon with a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Elsewhere, stuttering York City have now failed to net in five of their last seven games following a 1-0 loss to Darlington.

Former Newcastle striker Adam Campbell won the points for the visitors, trying his luck from distance with a spectacular strike that found Pete Jameson’s top corner.

***

A 93rd-minute winner from Kab Tshimanga meant Harrogate Town left Boreham Wood empty handed following a 2-1 defeat in the National League yesterday.

Boreham Wood took the lead in the 14th minute when Justin Shaibu drove at the Town defence and fed Tyrone Marsh, who slotted the ball low past James Belshaw.

Town were back on level terms six minutes before the half-time break as Alex Bradley produced a goal of the highest quality, bending an effort into the top left corner and in off the woodwork from long range.

Harrogate began the second half strongly, threatening again through Bradley whose shot flashed past Nathan Ashmore’s goal.

With the contest looking like heading for a draw, Will Smith’s block fell to Tshimanga, who demonstrated his predatory instincts to fire past Belshaw and win the game late on.

Seventh-placed Town remain in the final play-off place despite their defeat.

Elsewhere, FC Halifax Town let the lead slip twice as they lost 4-2 to Notts County at the Shay.

After a slow start Michael Duckworth took it upon himself to inject some urgency into the contest by charging upfield and was rewarded when his shot took a deflection off Shawn McCoulsky and wrong-footed Ross Fitzsimons.

County were soon level though when Kyle Wootton drilled the loose ball home from a free-kick into the box.

Halifax regained the lead, and this time had Josh Staunton to thank.

He burst forward and played in Danny Williams down the left, whose cross was drilled across goal by Jamie Allen after it had evaded a touch in the middle of goal.

But the lead lasted only three minutes as Mitch Rose’s thunderbolt restored parity, with the midfielder blasting the ball home from 20 yards after a Town clearance fell to him.

And the visitors took the lead when Rose confidently converted from the spot after Josh Staunton was penalised for a foul on the County player in the box.

Wootton added the gloss deep into added time as County broke from a Town corner with Halifax players committed upfield.

***

TADCASTER ALBION moved into the top five in the BetVictor League North West Division after a 2-1 victory at Trafford which meant the Brewers leapfrogged their opponents in the table.

After falling behind to a Darius Palma penalty, goals from Alfie Beestin and Donald Chimalilo ensured all three points would be heading back to Tadcaster.

Eighth-placed Brighouse Town enjoyed a 3-1 home victory against Clitheroe.

On the scoresheet for Town were Shiraz Khan, Kurt Harris and Joshua Grant.

Second-from-bottom Ossett United looked to heading for a morale-boosting victory at Mossley until two late goals saw the hosts claim a 3-2 win.

Tom Greaves and Marko Basic netted the United goals.

Pickering Town slipped to their 15th defeat of the season, going down 4-1 at home to Workington.

Town took the lead through Jackson Jowett but it was all downhill from there.

Frickley Athletic moved up to eighth place in the South East Division following their 3-0 win at Chasetown.

Second-half goals from Jacob Hazel, Samuel Cable and Jonathon Margetts did the trick for Frickley.

Hemsworth MW will go into Christmas in second spot in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division after Saturday’s goalless draw against Albion Sports.

Yorkshire Amateur are up to seventh-spot after a 6-1 thumping of Maltby Main.

Stephen Crawford and Matthew Sykes both bagged braces while Adam Priestley and Niall Heaton also found the net.

Liversedge remain in sixth place after a 2-2 draw at leaders Penistone Church.

Alfie Raw put Liversedge in the box seat when the netted his second goal of the game from the penalty spot on 81 minutes but the home side found an equaliser with two minutes left.