Guiseley 4 Solihull Moors 2

GUISELEY picked up their first National League win under Paul Cox with a battling display in an all-action encounter with fellow strugglers Solihull Moors.

The Lions are now in the relegation zone on goal difference only, while the result means the Moors have dropped to the foot of the table.

One stand-out moment of quality in the first half led to Guiseley taking the lead as Lee Molyneux curled a free-kick around the wall and into the top corner, leaving Moors keeper Nathan Vaughan static.

Solihull hit back just before the interval through Oladapo Afolayan, who was on a substitute, coming off the bench midway through the half for Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.

The Lions defence failed to clear a 43rd-minute long throw-in and Afolayan picked up possession before netting a low shot from the edge of the area.

Guiseley substitute Rowan Liburd edged the home side back in front minutes after replacing Kayode Odejayi on the hour mark.

It was a superb effort from the debutant as he seized possession just inside the Moors half and raced forward, beating defenders just inside the area before despatching a low shot.

It sparked a manic few minutes as the visitors grabbed a second equaliser 60 seconds later when Afolayan again beat home keeper Jonny Maxted, this time with good finish just inside the post.

But parity lasted only a minute as another attack from the hosts led to a foul just inside the visitors' half. Darren Holden lofted in the free-kick and Jake Lawlor, who was impeded as his marker had a fistful of his shirt, managed to stretch to steer the ball past Vaughan on the volley.

There was still time for another special moment as John Rooney, who had also started on the bench, lashed in a late free-kick to seal the victory.

Rooney replaced Mike Fondop eight minutes from time and snatched the ball when Simon Lenighan had been fouled four yards outside the area in a central position.

The three points came a week after Guiseley had progressed in the FA Cup with a 6-0 home win over lower-ranked Shildon, booking a first-round home tie against League Two outfit Accington.

A delighted Cox said: "It was a tough game but a big win, although not very good for the blood pressure. When their second equaliser went in, I was not best pleased.

"But we spoke about it in the dressing room after the game, about those moments in games when the concentration levels drop. It's a long-standing problem and we need to get it out of our game.

"It's good to get the win though. I'm pleased for the players and the club as a whole – but more so for the fans because you could see what it meant to them at the final whistle.

"We've had back-to-back wins now and scored ten goals, which is great because three weeks ago we couldn't even get into the opposition's box.

"But I know what people will say – 'you've beaten a side from leagues below in a cup tie and won against one of the sides down in the bottom four with you'.

"I'm trying to build something here though and get competition for places. We had Rowan and even Roons (Rooney) on the bench and they've both come on and scored great goals, so we now have that kind of quality.

"The option of having players that can come on and change a game for you, to win a game for you, is something we didn't have. We have now, even though we've got nine players in the treatment room."