North Ferriby United 0 Guiseley 1

Guiseley win 3-0 on aggregate

The Lions roared into the Conference North play-off final with yet another victory over North Ferriby United.

Guiseley seem to hold the Indian sign over Ferriby, despite the East Yorkshire outfit finishing above them in the table.

Ferriby could have won the title on the last day of the regular season but had to settle for runners-up spot.

Mark Bower’s men did the double over them on their way to sneaking into the play-offs by bagging fifth place and they won home and away in the end-of-season extras to book their place in Saturday’s play-off final against Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham.

The Lions had a two-goal cushion from the first leg and it was just as well as the second clash was a tight affair.

Ferriby had the first chance of the game but a foul on Wayne Brooksby, a former Ferriby player, led to a free-kick which Adam Boyes headed wide.

It was very much nip and tuck as the nerves jangled. Boyes had another half-chance after Danny Boshell had put him through but Ferriby striker Anthony Wilson also tested the visitors’ defence in the goalless first half.

There was more defending needed from the Lions after the break and Steve Dickinson, who was again inbetween the sticks with supporters’ player of the season Steve Drench still suffering from illness, had to be on top form.

Brooksby hit the winning goal against his former club with a superb strike from outside the area.

Dickinson was tested time after time. Wilson, Nathan Jarman and Danny Emerton were all thwarted.

Bower said: “Six months ago if anyone had said we would be back here beating them for the fourth time this season to reach the play-off final I would have said they were crazy.

“We had to defend well but we stuck to our game-plan and when our chance came Wayne took it magnificently. I think that goal was the final nail in their coffin.

“It will be a fantastic final at Altrincham, with connections both ways in the squads. We will be going there as underdogs but we are looking forward to it.”