FC Halifax Town 0, Guiseley 1

The atmosphere at the Shay was tense for a tight derby tie but it will be Guiseley who are in the hat for tomorrow’s FA Trophy second-round draw after a narrow win over neighbours Halifax.

With so many players on both sides having links with the other club, the stage was set for an old boy to make himself a hero or villain.

Lions striker Alex Johnson, who began this season as a Halifax player but signed for Guiseley after a promising loan spell, stepped up to the plate.

Johnson struck the winning goal in first-half stoppage time, much to the chagrin of the vast majority of the almost 1,000-strong crowd.

The home side had put pressure on the visitors but lacked a killer instinct and the Lions smelt blood. They had to defend well at times but their pride was intact.

It was an end-to-end game, although clear openings were few and far between.

The Shaymen’s Josh Wilson, a former Lion, fired a 35-yard free-kick wide midway through the first half.

Minutes later Town centre back and former Guiseley skipper Simon Ainge picked up a yellow card for holding Johnson back. Wayne Brooksby curled the free-kick around the wall but into the side-netting.

The decisive goal came in the first of the two minutes of added time at the end of the first half. The Lions launched a breakaway and Gavin Rothery played a through ball for Johnson, who netted a wonderful shot past home keeper Matt Glennon.

The second half was just as nip and tuck, with players having personal contests against former team-mates all over the pitch.

Guiseley came closer to forcing a second goal than the Shaymen did to fashioning an equaliser, although both teams were denied by the woodwork.

Craig Hobson of Guiseley hit a shot that took a deflection and came back off the post into Glennon’s arms but Town’s Jon Worthington stooped for a stoppage-time header that Lions keeper Steve Drench tipped onto his crossbar.

Lions boss Mark Bower said: “It was a fantastic performance all round. In the first half we passed the ball well, although we may have got a touch of luck with the goal taking a slight deflection.

“It was always going to be a game with few chances because the players know so much about each other. They put us under pressure in the last ten to 15 minutes but you would expect that and everyone defended really well.

“We are looking forward to the draw. We are through and we have brought in a little bit of prize money for the club. Whatever we are dealt, we will live with.”