Following a slump in form Guiseley AFC are seeking a little help from other quarters.

Canon Ralph Crowe is a regular on the Guiseley terraces and when it came time for him to retire from his Bradford church his colleagues decided to buy him a season ticket for his favourite club.

Ralph received his ticket, lasting for the next 18 months along with a Guiseley AFC shirt before Tuesday's defeat by Frickley Athletic but I am sure that he does not feel that things are so bad that he needs to go back to donning a Guiseley shirt for real.

Ralph was a full-back with the Guiseley club in his younger days.

He may however feel that they need a little help from his friends as they struggle to regain their form in the UniBond League's Premier Division.

Guiseley have slipped down the table alarmingly and now hover on the fringes of the relegation zone but there are 18 games remaining in which to redeem themselves.

Bobby Davison's side has been decimated by injuries this season with as many as eight first team players out at a time.

Confidence has been hit with a string of poor results recently but they - and those in the crowd now deriding them or staying away - should remember the two brilliant performances that disposed of Conference leaders Nuneaton Borough in two FA competitions.

Davison obviously has a tough job to restore confidence but he has players of quality such as Simon Parke, one of the league's leading scorers, and midfield maestro Andy Williams who continue to produce good displays however much pressure they are under.

If some of the other players just try to take a lead from Williams then they can battle their way out of this situation which after all has only seen them go eight games without a win.

They have drawn three of those games but lost out on a penalty shoot out to Emley in one.

Obviously when your luck is out it is really out and that was the case on Tuesday when in terrible conditions an own goal gave visiting Frickley victory.

Frickley had arrived at Nethermoor without any substitutes, manager Ian Thompson naming himself on the bench.

They survived Guiseley hitting the woodwork and escaped with the points when the unfortunate Rudi Coleano only succeeded in putting the ball in his own net as he slid in to tackle.

There was an unsavoury incident during the game when Simon Parke appeared to have lost his head and flew at his opponent but only yellow cards were shown, the referee having overhead what Parke said after the game were racist remarks made to him by the Frickley man.

Guiseley had a number of chances with a Williams free-kick being cleared off the line and a long range effort from Parke being hit from the centre circle.

Steve Hook, playing in a striking role, showed why is usually at centre-back when he blasted wide after being put through by Des Hazel.

Benn Gallagher produced a 30 yard free-kick which had Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Derek O'Connor stretching to keep the ball out at the far post. Hazel put Hook through again but his shot was blocked.

Simpon Ireland tried to weave some magic on the left wing and he fed Parke who hit the side netting.

Parke then got a cross in which was met by Hook but the 'keeper blocked his effort.

A good effort by Rob Hanby flashed wide of Nigel Muttick's post and football was at a premium as the crowd dashed for shelter leaving the players to battle it out in a hailstorm as half-time approached.

Guiseley had produced virtually all the chances but Frickley took the lead with an own goal to demonstrate that when your luck is out it is really out.

The 51st minute goal was eventually to take the points for Frickley but Guiseley had deserved more from this match and it shows just how cruel this game can be.

A brilliant effort by Parke rattled the post and Simon Ireland's shot from the rebound was brilliantly blocked by the 'keeper.

The high wind was causing problems and Muttick came to the rescue when the wind carried a Frickley ball through at great pace. He smothered the ball at the feet of Andy Hayward. Muttick then made a brilliant save from Scott Collins after Benn Gallagher had slipped.

This defeat came hot on the heels of Saturday's disastrous 3-0 reverse at Droylsden in which Muttick made his seasonal debut in place of the injured James Shutt.

Young Academy and reserve team player James Elliott was also called in for his debut playing at right-back in place of Steve Sanders.

Player-manager Davison was unlucky not to give his side the lead with a first minute shot from a pin-point pass by Andy Shuttleworth.

Battling against a gale Guiseley found it tough against a side who were quicker to the ball.

Wes Kinney put Droylesden ahead in the 24th minute with Simon Parke going close for Guiseley just a minute later when his header from an Andy Williams free-kick was pushed round the post by Paul Phillips.

In the 52nd minute Droylesden went further ahead when full-back Aoen Lattie scored his first goal of the season as he met a corner with a glancing header.

Guiseley hit back and Benn Gallagher's shot whistled just over. In the 79th minute Parke headed down a Lee Poole corner but there was so much power behind it that the ball bounced up over the bar.

A third goal was conceded in the last minute when Kinney latched onto a diagonal cross to flick in a header.

l Guiseley will be looking to put things to rights on Saturday when they entertain Barrow who are in mid-table.

Barrow usually have a big following so Guiseley will need plenty of local and vocal support to help them return to glory.

The match kicks-off at 3 pm.

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