Non-League: Guiseley stalemate as Avenue ease home

After the match, Guiseley joint-manager Marcus Bignot said. “I think we have to say we are frustrated, we have had a good few chances, we are unlucky not to score, it is a good point, just it isn’t in isolation after the loss on Tuesday, that performance was so different to this one.

“It was a good performance and that is what we want to see, if we keep doing this, we will keep picking up the points.”

The first chance of the game saw the Lions break through the hosts’ defence and Kaine Felix came in from the left-side and saw his shot beat keeper Zach Hemmings, but it hit the outside of the near post and went out of play.

Ex-Guiseley defender now turned forward for Darlington, Simon Ainge, had one of the hosts’ best opportunities, when a ball in the area wasn’t cleared but he scooped his effort over the bar.

Darlington had one more real chance in the game at the start of the second-half when Harvey Saunders forced Guiseley keeper Joe Green into a smart save to his left-hand side.

The Lions’ player-assistant manager Paul Clayton started this game and should have scored when Hemmings saved a Kingsley James effort and it fell to the striker who got a bit too much on it and the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.

With Guiseley upping the pressure they again came close when Felix saw a cross take a deflection and it had to be palmed onto the crossbar and out of play.

There would be one more chance for the visitors to win the game, as they again worked some space, with Felix seeing an effort saved, it fell to Clayton who on the angle, made good contact with the ball but it hit the crossbar and summed up a frustrating day for the away side.

Elsewhere, Bradford Park Avenue moved level on points with long-time National League North leaders Chorley following a thumping 4-1 win at ten-man neighbours York City.

Goals from Jake Beesley (2), Jamie Spencer and Ben McKenna inflicted a third defeat in eight days on a Minstermen team, who never recovered from skipper Joe Tait’s 25th-minute dismissal.

Tait floored Beesley with a flailing arm in the penalty box to receive his marching orders and the on-loan Salford striker compounded the home team’s misery by opening the scoring from the spot.

The visitors then fully capitalised on their numerical advantage, despite a brief second-half rally that saw York reduce the deficit to 3-1 just past the hour mark with a Sean Newton free-kick.

But Simon Collins’ troubled hosts ended the match resoundingly beaten and are now 15th in the table – one point closer to the relegation zone than the play-off positions – as promotion-chasing Avenue boss Mark Bower collected all three points on his return to the club he played for as a defender at the start of the century.

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Aaron Williams netted with almost the last kick of the game to earn Harrogate Town a last-gasp draw at home to National eague rivals Chesterfield.

Simon Weaver’s team looked as if they were heading for a third defeat in four matches following a below-par display until substitute Williams struck in the 96th minute of Saturday’s contest. With the Spireites well-organised at the back and lacking any real forward ambition, Town saw plenty of the ball in the first half though clear-cut chances were at a premium.

The closest either side came to a goal was when Joe Leesley stung the palms of visiting stopper Callum Burton with a fierce 40th-minute strike from inside the penalty area.

The second 45 began with Chesterfield showing slightly more intent.

They were rewarded in the 57th minute, substitute Jerome Binnom-Williams’ strength and determination inside the home penalty area enabling him to slide the ball across goal for Jonathan Smith to stroke home the simplest of close-range finishes.

A belated late onslaught eventually saw Liam Kitching and Mark Beck go close, but Chesterfield defended bravely, throwing bodies in front of the ball, while Burton also made a couple of important saves.

And it seemed as though the Derbyshire outfit had successfully negotiated seven minutes of added-time until Town won a corner with just seconds remaining and Williams forced home from close range following an almighty scramble.

FC Halifax Town lost 2-1 at Havant and Waterlooville to extend their winless league run to 12 games.

The Shaymen failed to build on an encouraging first-half by conceding twice after the restart through Tyler Cordner and Alfie Rutherford.

Niall Maher got one back for Halifax, but it’s now five defeats and seven draws in the league since August 27.

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Farsley Celtic boosted their promotion hopes with a 3-1 defeat of Evo-Stik Premier Division leaders Scarborough Athletic.

Watched by a crowd of 727, Celts took the lead Nathan Cartman (23) and held on to it until half-time.

Michael Coulson levelled for Scarborough ten minutes into the second half, but a Will Hayhurst penalty (68) and Adam Clayton five minutes later, secured the points for the fourth-placed hosts.

Goals in either half by Aaron Martin (10) and Gabriel Johnson (57) saw third-placed Brighouse Town defeat Belper Town 2-0 in the East Division.

Pontefract Collieries are fifth after a 3-0 home win over bottom side Cleethorpes Town.

Early goals from Michael Dunn (3) and Eli Hey (15), plus Jake Picton’s 52nd-minute effort wrapped up the win.

Tadcaster Albion slipped to sixth after a 1-1 draw with struggling AFC Mansfield who led from the fourth minute through Charlie Dawes’ penalty. But Joe Lumsden’s 90th-minute leveller earned Tad’ a point.

Elsewhere, Ossett Town lost 3-0 at Sheffield FC, while Frickley went down 2-0 against leaders Morpeth Town at Westfield Lane.

In the NCE Premier Division, leaders Yorkshire Amateur maintained their three-point advantage over second-placed Penistone Church with a 4-0 win against Bottesford Town at Bracken Edge.

Ashley Flynn (20, 89), plus Fernando Moke (28) and Calloum Charlton (45), on target for the Ammers.

Brad Walker’s hat-trick (2, 66 and 72) saw third-placed Knaresborough Town defeat visiting Albion Sports, 3-2, but mid-table Garforth Town went down 3-1 at home to third-placed Bridlington Town, despite taking a 14th-minute lead through Shaquille Clarke-Adams.

Bottom side Harrogate Railway lost 4-0 at home to Maltby Main and Liversedge slipped to 17th after a 2-0 loss to visiting Athersley Rec.

Sam Cable scored a hat-trick as fifth-placed home side Selby Town beat Skegness Town 4-0, in Division 1, while Nostell MW stayed above the Robins on goal difference thanks to a 3-0 win at Parkgate.

Emley won 2-1 at Armthorpe, while Glasshoughton Welfare fell 4-1 at East Yorks Carnegie.