Guiseley 1 Leamington 0

GUISELEY consolidated their third place in the Vanarama Conference North with a narrow but convincing win over Leamington, who are slipping closer to the relegation zone.

The Lions had dropped out of the top two last weekend when they were sidetracked by the FA Trophy but a solid display saw them keep their promotion push on track.

Mark Bower’s men are four points off the summit and four points clear of fourth-placed Solihull Moors.

They began well against their struggling visitors with a low Oli Johnson cross being scooped over the bar by a desperate defender.

Skipper Ben Parker drilled a 20-yard free-kick into the wall before Leamington had a glimpse of the Guiseley goal, however Jordan Goddard fired over.

Guiseley piled the pressure on and midway through the first half Johnson snapped up a half-clearance but drilled a low shot at Brakes keeper Ross Atkins. Minutes later, Adam Boyes headed into Johnson’s path but his shot on the run was again at Atkins.

The Brakes countered and forced a corner but the home side were soon back on the attack and Wayne Brooksby opened up the visitors’ defence, only for his low cross to fizz through the six-yard box untouched.

When Johnson was brought down 20 yards from goal, Andy Holdsworth lined the free-kick up but his effort cannoned back off the bar with Atkins floundering. Johnson and Boyes combined again to feed Jake Lawlor but Atkins pulled off a superb save to deny him.

With the interval approaching, Parker picked out Johnson but his shot was cleared off the line, and a later Gavin Rothery shot, after he had twisted and turned to make room for it, was straight at Atkins.

Rothery may have been denied before the break but just four minutes into the second half he netted the all-important goal. Holdsworth did exceptionally well near the corner flag on the right flank and delivered a low centre that Rothery swept in from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Lions dropped off the pace for a while but did mount a late onslaught on the Brakes’ goal and Holdsworth was again inches away with a free-kick, his 80th minute effort dipping just over the bar.

Bower said: “It was a very important three points and good to put a decent performance in and bounce back from last Saturday (2-0 home defeat to Chorley in the Trophy).

“The conditions were tricky with the strong wind and wet surface so it was never going to be a classic game with lots of passing football but we could have been at least two up by half-time. Andy (Holsdsworth) was very unlucky with the free-kick.

“We started brightly in the second half as well but I think we got a bit sloppy once we were in the lead. We defended what they had to throw at us and stood solid.

“Sometimes you have to do that, just see the game out and win ugly. We are picking up results and that is the most important thing at this time of year.”