Guiseley........................1

HARROGATE TOWN.......0

THIS result was far more significant than a 1-0 scoreline suggests. For Guiseley it was a morale boostingt victory - their first win of the season. It also gave them confidence for the FA Cup tie at Skelmersdale on Saturday at the same time as proving to Harrogate that Guiseley don't intend to surrender their tag as the region's best team so easily.

Harrogate bristled with aggresison with a number of former Guiseley players in their ranks keen to prove a point. However, it was Bobby Davison's men who triumphed after they had played out a dour half typical of these derby games. They came into their own and finished the game strongly playing some excellent football.

In what was often a bruising encounter Guiseley withstood the pressure to come back and produce a purple patch in which the likes of Tony Agana, Des Hazel and Simon Ireland showed their class.

But it took the substitution of young Andy Shuttleworth to really turn the game. It surprised some when the Greek wide midfielder Kim Evangelatos was replaced but the doubters were soon silenced when Shuttleworth, just as he did on Saturday, came on and headed home from a perfectly placed Simon Ireland corner.

Guiseley's new signing Paul Burke, the former Sheffield United and Rotherham striker, limped off to be replaced by David Cooke. Guiseley then survived a scare when Colin Hogarth headed off the line but they hit back with David Cooke shooting just wide.

A delightful move involving Cooke, Agana and finally Shuttleworth ended with Guiseley being awarded a penalty as Shuttleworth was brought down but Paul Allen made a fine save from Des Hazel's spot kick.

In the early stages of the game Burke had looked quite lively and he was brought down a number of times with Chris Hudson at the centre of some tough challenges.

Hudson was also involved in a clash of heads with Tony Agana early in the second-half. The Guiseley man had to leave the field and have his head glued at Otley hospital.

There have been an alarming number of head injuries this season with three Guiseley players needing treatment for head injuries in four games.

This win followed a depressing 3-1 defeat at Congleton Town on Saturday when two first-half mistakes saw Guiseley 2-0 down at the break.

In what was a poor game at Booth Street Guiseley went behind when 'keeper James Shutt pulled down an attacker and conceded a 12th minute penalty. Graham Dodd scored from the spot and things turned from bad to worse for Guiseley when there was not enough pace on Colin Hogarth's back pass and Rod Thornley nipped in to score.

Thornley was on the scoresheet again in the 65th minute putting his side 3-0 up. It was in injury time when Guiseley netted a consolation goal when Andy Shuttleworth headed home.

Guiseley will now be looking to add to this win and settle down to harvesting some points in Division One.

Following Saturday's FA Cup tie Guiseley will then entertain Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday night (7.30 pm).

This should be an excellent derb y game with Avenue currently one of the form sides in the league.

Guiseley Res...............1

Southport Res.............1

Guiseley Reserves continued their good form when they gained a draw with last season's Lancashire League champions Southport. It was an excellent performance with the superb tackling of Ben Thackwray once again a feature.

Gough and James Nettleton played well in defence holding a good Southport attack which included David Beckham's cousin Michael Beckham. It was Beckham who netted Southport's opening goal but.Guiseley hit back when Simon Gough's free-kick was deflected in.

Steve Daykin again held the line well for Guiseley using all his power, pace and vision to keep Southport stretched while Andy Yates also played well in patches.

Guiseley welcomed back midfielder Phil Atkinson after his summer in America and he replaced the quicksilver David Hunter in the second-half.

Thackwray and Phil Metcalfe were uncompromising in midfield putting pressure on Southport in what was a good game.

l On Saturday the Reserves entertain Ashton United (3 pm).