Guiseley boss Steve Kittrick feels his side learned from last season’s concerted promotion push and hopes they can go that one step further this term.

Last week’s win at struggling Hinckley United filled the manager with renewed optimism but he is also aware of the pitfalls after finishing the last campaign as Blue Square Bet North runners-up.

“We had to go to Hinckley last week and be professional and that’s what we were,” said Kittrick.

“Last season we struggled against teams halfway down the table and below. Those were the results that came back to haunt us and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen again this season. It will be the same when Histon come to us tomorrow.”

Histon are second from bottom, just above Hinckley in the table. Guiseley are second at the moment and although Kittrick is bullish about the club’s prospects in the league and FA Trophy, he is too experienced to get carried away.

“I spoke to Neil Young (Chester FC’s manager) last week and he said we were in good form but I told him that was down to us getting beaten 4-0 at Chester,” he said.

“That was back in September and you could call it a bad day at the office but it is the only time we have been hammered this season and it spurred us on.

“We didn’t like that and we don’t want it to happen again, so we dig deep. We have to do that because this is a tough league. I know it’s trotted out a lot but there are no easy games!

“We have to be relentless in our pursuit of points if we are serious about our chances of winning this league.

“Chester, Brackley, Halifax, teams like that, they won’t ease off. I think the key will be the games between the top clubs – and I include Avenue, Harrogate, Gainsborough, Altrincham and few others in that bracket.

“We have Avenue twice over Christmas and New Year and they will be great games for the locals but difficult for the players.”