Chorley 2, Guiseley 3

GUISELEY are celebrating promotion after second-half goals from substitutes Liam Dickinson and Nicky Boshell helped them overturn a two-goal deficit.

The Lions overcame a travel nightmare as well as a 2-0 interval scoreline to win their final game of the season as they took their place in the top tier of non-League football at the fifth time of asking.

Mark Bower's men had ended the regular Vanarama Conference North season in fifth place but dispatched runners-up AFC Fylde in the play-off semi-finals – after coming from a goal down – and then accounted for the club that finished the campaign immediately above them.

Guiseley trailed after a sluggish first-half display but Bower felt that was due to problems encountered on their journey to Chorley's Victory Park ground.

Bower said: "There was an incident on the M62 and we got held up in traffic. We didn't get to the ground until ten past two and the referee wouldn't delay the kick-off, so that didn't help us.

"Chorley made the most of that and came at us right from the start backed by a big home crowd, although I have to say they weren't that vocal. But they were able to capitalise.

"We lacked a spark in that first half, when we were a bit flat, but I think that was down to the circumstances."

Chorley took just five minutes to open the scoring as centre back and skipper Andy Teague headed home Dale Whitham's corner.

Garry Flitcroft's men thought thy had doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Teague again headed past Lions keeper Steve Drench from a deep free- kick but an offside flag curtailed their celebrations.

Yet the Magpies were not delayed for long as Paul Jarvis beat Drench with a 23rd-minute deflected shot after skipping past a couple of challenges, the chance coming from a lightning counter-attack after Guiseley had wasted a corner.

Guiseley had a few half-chances after that but the hosts reached the break comfortably with their lead intact.

But both teams looked completely different after the break, with Chorley appearing nervous while the Lions dominated midfield and looked dangerous on every attack.

There was not one turning point but a series of key moments as Bower was forced to replace the unwell Oli Johnson in the first half, Dickinson taking his place, while the Magpies lost Teague to injury just two minutes after the interval and were forced into another substitution later and also had to change their keeper.

The comeback began in the 56th minute as Adam Boyes stabbed a shot past keeper Sam Ashton. The Lions made their second change soon after the hour mark when Gavin Rothery was replaced by Boshell and – crucially for the home side – they had to replace Ashton with second-choice keeper Aaron Grundy.

It was their last available substitution, which would have been a concern as the game could have gone to extra time and penalties.

The Lions levelled the tie with 17 minutes remaining when Dickinson headed in after Drench had sent a free-kick from just inside his own half deep into the Chorley area.

And the winner came ten minutes from time when Boshell showed great control and composure to slot into the net.

There was controversy on the cusp of the six minutes of added time when Magpies substitute Matt Flynn's header crashed down off the bar and bounced just in front of the goal-line.

But after Guiseley had held on for their history-making victory, Bower said: "We may have ridden our luck, had the rub of the green at times, but they say things even themselves out over a season.

"If we've been fortunate in this game with our changes and their (Chorley's) injuries and the header that came down off the bar, then so be it. I'll still sleep soundly because I can live with that.

"Andy Holdsworth and Danny Boshell were tremendous and Liam Dickinson did a fantastic job after coming off the bench to lead our attack.

"Danny Hall was doing well in the air for us but Liam has another four or five inches, so he gives us a presence.

"In both boxes he won crucial headers and I'm pleased for him because he had a difficult start with us, scoring an own goal and – in my opinion – getting a harsh red card. But he showed his true qualities when it counted."