Tamworth 1, Guiseley 0

GUISELEY ran into a Tamworth side with a full head of steam and came off second best as the two promotion-chasing clubs clashed at the Lamb Ground.

The Lions retain third spot in the Conference North table following their narrow defeat but are now above their fourth-placed hosts on goal difference only as Tamworth's tenth victory on the spin took them level on points with Mark Bower's men.

Lambs player-boss Andy Morrell picked up the manager and player of the month awards for December in front of the 904 crowd before the game and he was still in celebratory mood afterwards.

The home side had the first sight of goal but failed to trouble Lions keeper Steve Drench from a free-kick in a dangerous area. The visitors' first effort came from Nicky Boshell but he volleyed Gavin Rothery's cross over the bar.

Guiseley suffered an early injury and in a way that led to Tamworth netting the only goal of the game midway through the first half.

The Lambs broke away and Andy Holdsworth went down with a hamstring injury. The attack led to a corner and before it was taken, Bower sent Shane Killock on into a reorganised defence.

When the flag-kick was delivered, it was headed down and no-one reacted to the second ball, allowing Dave Hibbert to net from close range.

A Boshell free-kick was headed wide and, from the resulting corner, Jake Lawlor's header was well saved by Lambs keeper James Belshaw as Guiseley tried to respond. But Drench was also tested as Hibbert put a spectacular overhead kick on target.

The strong breeze was in Guiseley's favour after the break and they used it well as they stormed forward. Boshell forced Belshaw into a save but also shot wide as he was in the thick of the action.

Tamworth remained dangerous on the break, with Brendon Daniels forcing Drench into a good save. But Belshaw was not to be outshone and he pulled off a magnificent stop to deny Alex Johnson.

Bower said: "I'm very disappointed with the result. Away against a team on a run like they are, in terrible conditions, was always going to be difficult but I thought we started well and had the better chances in the first 20 minutes.

"The one thing they tell you never to do is make changes when you are defending a set-piece – but we had no choice with Andy's injury. It was a poor goal to concede as no-one took it by the scruff of the neck.

"I thought we dominated the second half but just couldn't find that all-important equaliser. I think if we had done, we would have gone on to win the game."