ALTRINCHAM 1

Guiseley 0

FOR a second successive game Guiseley fell to a late goal but there was no shame in this defeat as they took new UniBond Premier Division leaders Altrincham all the way.

It was a closely fought game decided only by a controversial 86th minute goal from central defender Paul Ellender. Goalkeeper Steve Dickinson went up to punch a cross clear and was clattered to the ground.

As his team mates appealed for a foul on the 'keeper Dickinson could not get clean contact on the ball and only succeeded in knocking the ball up against his own crossbar.

The rebound fell invitingly for the big centre-half and he swept the ball in from close range.

Guiseley have now dropped to sixth place but still have games in hand but as manager Bobby Davison points out these have to be won if Guiseley are to remain in contention.

It was a bitter pill for Guiseley to swallow after giving an improved performance and then having the game snatched away from them.

The best first-half chance fell to former

Bradford City reserve player Stewart Airdrie, back in the side after injury.

He got behind the Altrinchan defence and despite being forced to shoot from a tight angle he managed to get in a shot which hit the bar from ten yards out.

Altrincham gained a bigger share of the possession but they had little effect in the final third of the pitch with the Guiseley defence of fit again Peter Atkinson, Simon Phillips, Steve Hook and Colin Hogarth in control.

Guiseley almost broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when leading scorer Simon Parke hit a left foot shot that was finger-tipped onto the angle of the post and bar by a 'keeper at full stretch.

Guiseley.- Dickinson; Atkinson, Phillips, Hook, Hogarth; Airdrie, Williams, Hazel, Hunter; Parke, Morrell. Subs not used - Gallagher, Nettleton, Proctor.

l On Saturday Guiseley take on bottom side Accrington Stanley at Nethermoor with a 3 pm kick-off. They will be hoping to regain their best form before travelling to Chorley the following week for the FA Umbro Trophy tie.

Guiseley Reserves 8

Ashton United 1

Ashton provided the early pressure in this Bolton Alliance League Cup game forcing 'keeper Nigel Muttick into a late diving save as he pushed the ball round the post. The resultant corner was cleared by Richard Machell.

Ashton opened the scoring in the 25th minute but stung into action Guiseley replied two minutes later when goal hero Michael Jordan netted the first of his four goals. He produced a low diving header from a Julian Wilkes cross.

Guiseley increased their lead when centre-back Matt Daly headed in Chris Jeng's corner for his first goal for the Reserves.

Then Michael Jordan produced a carbon copy of his first goal when Craig Bower fed Wilkes who crossed for the diving Jordan to head home.

Midfeilder Lee Poole was suffering the effects of 'flu and he was replaced just before the break by Mark Flanagan.

Jordan added two second-half goals while Richard Machell produced a good strike from the edge of the area, Craig Bower made a good break and shot past the outcoming 'keeper and Julian Wilkes produced a classy strike.

The Reserves playing record is now: played 11, won 10, drawn one, for 53, against 17.

Scorers have been: Craig Bower 12, Julian Wilkes 11, Michael Jordan 9, Andy Carlton 5, Chris Jeng 3, Richard Dyson, Andy Myhill, Richard Beckram, Richard Machell 2, Dave Cooke, Stewart Airdrie, Phil Atkinson, Matt Daly, own goals 1.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.