Guiseley 2 Vauxhall Motors 1

Two headers from former Bantams defender Mark Bower saw Guiseley claim a victory which lifts them to second in the Blue Square Bet North.

The three points the Lions banked from their narrow win over Vauxhall Motors were significant, thanks to the efforts of one of their neighbouring rivals.

FC Halifax Town’s goalless draw at leaders Brackley Town meant Guiseley leapfrogged the southerners on goal difference.

The Lions had missed a chance to go top a fortnight back when they slumped to a shock defeat at struggling Solihull Moors but a win over Buxton, followed by Saturday’s victory, has put the Nethermoor outfit right back into the mix.

They set about Vauxhall early as Gavin Rothery fired wide in just the fourth minute.

Chances for James Wal-shaw soon followed. He headed wide from a Wayne Brooksby cross before the visitors’ keeper Zac Jones made two outstanding saves.

Jones saved his team twice in the space of three minutes midway through the first half when he dived to palm a Walshaw header round his post before an almost carbon-copy stop denied Danny Boshell.

The Lions did break the deadlock just before half-time.

Brooksby swung in a corner and Bower converted it with a header.

When the Lions were last beaten, at Solihull, they wasted a host of chances and this game could so easily have gone the same way.

Just before the hour-mark, a shot from Walshaw struck the visitors’ bar and then Josh Wilson found himself one on one with Jones. His shot from a tight angle had the Vauxhall stopper beaten but it went just past the post.

Wilson spooned an effort over the bar from three feet, although he was stretching to reach it, and later fired in a well-struck shot that came back off the bar.

Guiseley’s frustration was compounded when the visitors levelled in the 78th minute.

A free-kick was pumped into the area, a clearance was not forthcoming and Tom Rutter stabbed the ball in.

Thankfully, Bower came to the rescue two minutes from time when he got on the end of a Rhys Maynell cross to score the winner with a powerful header.