AFC Fylde 1 Guiseley 2

A SUPERB performance by Guiseley and a screamer from skipper Andy Holdsworth saw the Lions book their place in the Vanarama Conference North play-off final with a victory at AFC Fylde.

A draw at the west coast outfit’s Kellamergh Park would have been enough for Mark Bower’s men after taking a 1-0 lead in the two-legged semi-final at Nethermoor last Wednesday but Guiseley recovered from an early setback to post a victory and will now travel to Garry Flitcroft’s Chorley on Saturday.

That will be a one-off game which will see the victors promoted to the country’s fifth division, which in the coming campaign will be known as the Vanarama National.

A delighted Bower said: “I thought we were good value for it as over the two legs we have been the better side.

“We have had an up and down season with the stuff we have had to deal with but we have a one-off game now to finally get where we want to be. We knew they would come at us but to see the ball in our net after 20 or 25 seconds was disappointing.

“But I thought we dominated spells after that. Getting the goal before half-time was important and once we got the second I thought it was game over. I felt we would always go on to win it after that.”

The Lions were caught cold, conceding immediately after the kick-off. The Coasters had finished as runners-up in the league, missing out on the title and automatic promotion by two just points, and they looked determined to avenge Wednesday’s defeat at Nethermoor.

They worked the ball forward and as it bounced in Guiseley’s area, Richie Allen stooped to head past a stunned Steve Drench in the visitors’ goal.

It meant the tie was level on aggregate but instead of pressing while their opponents were reeling they gave the Lions time to lick their wounds. Both sides entered into a period of passing as they tried to adapt to playing on a wet surface in driving rain.

Wayne Brooksby sliced wide when well placed and Holdsworth came within inches of an equaliser minutes before the half-hour mark but his 20-yard free-kick fizzed just over the bar.

The leveller came from an unlikely source ten minutes before the break when Danny Boshell rose to head home a Danny Lowe cross.

Fylde attacked with purpose but the Lions defended well, with Drench having an excellent game and Jake Lawlor in immense form.

The cherry on the cake was Holdsworth’s 57th-minute winner as he rolled back the years to thump the ball past Coasters’ keeper Ben Hinchliffe from outside the area.

LIVERSEDGE’S final game of the season in the Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division ended in defeat on the road. Sedge went down 3-1 at Athersley Recreation in a dead rubber.

Jack Ripley opened the scoring in the tenth minute but that was the only goal of the first half. Athersley’s Joe Oliver doubled their lead on the hour and Daniel Joynes hit their third before Eli Hey netted Sedge’s consolation.