Bishop’s Stortford 2, Guiseley 5

Three late goals saw Guiseley comfortably home against Bishop’s Stortford in a game that was far from a stroll at Woodside Park.

It was how they banked the three points that mattered as the Lions closed the gap on leaders Chester FC in Blue Square Bet North.

Stortford are struggling at the other end of the table but did boast a recent good record over second-placed Guiseley.

The visitors made a superb start after their draining journey to Hertfordshire. Andy Holdsworth picked up a through ball from Andy Pearson in the seventh minute and fired in the opening goal.

It took Steve Kittrick’s men a while to add their second but Josh Wilson finished off a quick counter attack just after the half-hour mark.

Minutes later the home side were back in it after a good move started by Harry Baker was finished off by Matt Johnson.

Bishop’s were buoyed by that late first-half strike and they were up for the battle as the second period got underway. But despite their spell of pressure, they could not unlock the visitors’ defence and were made to pay the price.

Andy McWilliams netted to make it 3-1 in the 70th minute and that blow devastated the hosts. As they were still reeling, Wayne Brooksby rounded several defenders and beat the home keeper to score the Lions’ fourth.

And they went nap when Wilson netted from close range following a McWilliams free-kick, before Steve Cawley fired in a last-minute consolation.

Lions boss Kittrick said: “I thought we just about deserved it. We were under the cosh for periods but we changed things around and broke their resolve.

“The three late goals won us the game because up until then it still could have gone either way.

“Our centre backs were solid, Danny Ellis was immense and Andy Pearson was fantastic.

“If we are serious about winning this league, we have to come to places like this and take three points. They play a difficult game and I thought they did it really well.”

Kittrick predicted that neighbours Bradford Park Avenue would take points off some of Guiseley’s title rivals following two tough battles with them over the holiday period.

Avenue did just that by holding Chester to a goalless draw, thereby giving Guiseley a chink of light as they hunt top spot.