Eastwood 2

Guiseley 2

ONLY a last minute strike from skipper James Nettleton gave Guiseley a share of the spoils in a game they should have had won by the interval.

Guiseley had started well against the sixth placed side but if they are to further their aspirations of reaching the promotion play-offs then they will have to hammer home their superiority when they have the chance.

After Ryan Senior had fluffed an early chance Andy Shuttleworth gave them an 11th minute lead.The pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Mark Stuart's free kick was cleared straight back to him. He clipped the ball in again and Andy Shuttleworth headed past the hopelessly exposed Danny Bryant.

As Eastwood settled Phil Bagnalls lack of match practice denied him an equaliser when his touch deserted him. Seven minutes into the second half Eastwood equalised when David Davies timed his run from midfield to perfection and drilled a low shot past John Lamb.

Now well on top the home side went further ahead five minutes later when Ritchie Butler crashed a shot against the bar and Rocky White pounced on the rebound.

With time running out what looked like a bad tackle on James Hutchinson was ignored by Stoke referee Paul Gerrard who signalled a throw-in to the visitors. The ball was worked back to skipper James Nettleton and his spectacular long range shot raged past Bryant for a fortuitous but deserved equaliser.

Guiseley had a lion's share of the possession and created a string of further chances but their old failing of not being able to finish clinically rose to the surface.

Nicky Hey saw his 26th minute effort deflected wide, Senior shot over and David Cooke had two chances in quick succession thwarted, one being cleared off the line.

In the second-half Senior had a shot cleared before Eastwood hit Guiseley with two goals in quick succession. David Davies levelled in the 54th minute and then Rocky White gave them a 57th minute lead.

Guiseley hit back and had plenty of possession producing chances for Stuart, Senior, Clive Freeman and Ian McLean but all came to nothing.

Ben Thackwray, making his seasonal debut in midfield for broken rib victim Dave Henry, had a splendid game but was edged out for the Man-of-the-Match award when Nettleton produced a superb goal to give his side a share of the points. The skipper netted from all of 20 yards.

Guiseley still had a chance to clinch victory but Stuart shot wide.

l On Saturday Guiseley entertain Trafford with a 3 pm kick-off. Fixtures for the next month are:

l January 26 Leek Town (League Cup QF) away 3 pm

l February 2 Ossett Town home 3 pm

l February 5 Harrogate Town (County Cup) away

7.45pm

l February 9 Witton Albion home 3 pm

l February 16 Radcliffe Borough home 3pm

l February 23 Stocksbridge away 3 pm

MANAGER Neil Parsley will be back in charge on Saturday when his side take on Trafford at Nethermoor in a vital game.

Parsley said: "Anyone looking at the league table does not have to be Einstein to realise that the three points will make a big difference to either side.

"Dave Henry trained this week so will be back in contention for a place but Matt Daly is still away ski-ing. We will be looking to build on the draw at Eastwood last week.

"My assistant Phil Sharpe was in charge of the team in my absence with a throat infection and he was happy with their performance. They showed character to come back from 2-1 down and share the points. However, we must cut out the crosses and improve our concentration. Lapses in concentration are costing us at the moment. We need to be able to move on from going a goal up and build on that. Teams are scoring too easily against us."

Parsley said that he felt that the club was in good shape at the moment with a number of young players in the first team and others pressing hard from the Reserves for inclusion.

"When you look at people like Lee Reilly who has a phenomenal scoring rate with 14 goals in eight league games and the performances of central defender Mark Whiteley the future looks rosy for this club.