Guiseley 2

Harrogate Town 1

A GOAL in the last minute of injury time gave Guiseley victory over promoted Harrogate Town who came to Nethermoor seeking the point to make them champions.

They went away empty handed and although some made claims that they had rested players for the West Riding County Cup final Guiseley too were without injured players.

Noone could take anything away from Guiseley who seem to enjoy being either awesome or awful - sometimes in the same game.

They went 1-0 up at Gretna on Saturday courtesy of a Ryan Senior goal - his 18th in 21 games - and then seemed to have thrown their chances of reaching the play-offs away as they went down 3-1.

Their second-half performance was abysmal.

They turned up on Monday night and from the outset it was obvious that they were not going to gift their neighbours the point they needed to seal the title.

An entertaining but goalless first-half was followed by a second in which Guiseley soon took the lead.

The combative midfielder Ben Thackwray's time on the pitch seemed to be limited when he got an early - bust most thought undeserved - booking but he was there at the end to provide the final flick on for the winning goal.

Guiseley had had an early penalty appeal turned down when Mark Stuart was tripped but he got his reward in the 47th minute.

With the crowd hardly having resettled after the interval Stuart latched on to a Dave Henry cross to open the scoring.

Henry has hit some of his best form of late and he was a constant threat to Harrogate. He shot wide in the 50th minute and then Nicky Hey had a header saved before Henry was in again but thwarted.

Stuart shot wide before former Guiseley reserve Matt Alberry, on as a substitute for Town, netted the equaliser.

His goal celebrations proved to be a little over the top as when the game moved into time added on Guiseley were awarded a corner.

Henry stepped up to drill a superb ball in and Thackwray flicked his header on - many thinking he had scored - only for it to be finally touched in by young substitute Kevin Newhouse.

The celebrations then were Guiseley's on a night when two of their most promising young stars - goalkeeper John Lamb and striker Ryan Senior - were watched by Derby County scout Bobby Davison - the former Guiseley manager who has teamed up with his old friend John Gregory at Derby.

Guiseley are now hoping other teams slip up and they can finish on a high starting with the home game against Stocksbridge on Saturday.

This is their last home game of the season and will be followed by away games at Stocksbridge on Tuesday, at Trafford the following Saturday and at Ashton United on Friday, May 3.

The Reserves drew 1-1 at Leigh RMI on Tuesday with Phil Atkinson netting direct from a corner.

The Reserves entertain Barrow tonight, Thursday (7.45pm), visit Ossett Town on Saturday and then have another home game on Sunday when they take on Colwyn Bay with a 3 pm kick-off.

Sunday final

The Wharfedale FA Sunday Cup final between Rawdon and Park Rangers takes place at Guiseley's Nethermoor Park ground on Thursday, April 25 (7.30 pm).