SOLID work throughout the season threatened to unravel but, after ending the regular campaign with back-to-back defeats, Guiseley earned promotion with three straight victories.

The Lions' play-off final success has made them founder members of the newly-named National League. The country's fifth division has previously been known, under various sponsors, as the Conference or Conference Premier.

It was the Nethermoor outfit's fifth consecutive play-off finish as current boss Mark Bower continued the excellent work begun by Steve Kittrick.

Bower had his side nicely tucked in third place in mid-March with eight games to go but they gathered just eight more points. There were just two victories during that run – but the second of those was crucial.

They beat play-off rivals Chorley 2-1 at Nethermoor to book their place in the end-of-season extras with two games to spare, other results that day also confirming Chorley's play-off place.

Former Bantams captain Bower then took the biggest gamble of his footballing career. Instead of patching up his battle-weary squad to maintain the momentum, he rested key players who were carrying niggling injuries.

Chorley climbed above the Lions in the final table as defeats for Bower's men to FA Trophy winners North Ferriby United and Oxford City left them in the fifth and final qualifying place.

That meant, as the lowest finishers, they had to play the runners-up in the two-legged play-off semi-final – and were they to get through that, they would be away from home in the final.

Yet none of that mattered as the rejuvenated squad marched to three consecutive victories.

It surprised many onlookers but not anyone in the Guiseley camp as Bower had masterminded victories over the top sides throughout the season.

The semi-final pitched them against AFC Fylde, who had missed out on automatic promotion by just two points.

The Coasters had banked 15 points more than Guiseley over the campaign but the Lions had taken four points off their rivals with a home win and away draw.

They improved on that impressive statistic with a 1-0 home win in the opening leg, Jake Lawlor's first-half strike proving the difference, and overcame a disastrous start to take the second leg 2-1.

Fylde took a first-minute lead but assistant manager Danny Boshell headed the Lions level in the 35th minute. Skipper Andy Holdsworth then rattled in a top-drawer special in the second half to win the tie.

Guiseley had to travel to Chorley for the final at Victory Park .

The Lions had lost 1-0 there on the last day of March in a rearranged fixture before gaining revenge with that 2-1 victory in the crucial reverse fixture.

The teams knew each other well and the play-off final was packed with drama.

Guiseley were 2-0 behind at half-time and looking down and out – but a spirited second-half display, along with a couple of unfortunate injuries for the home side, helped the Lions overturn the deficit to win 3-2.

The fightback began when Adam Boyes netted in the 53rd minute before the substitutes weighed in. Liam Dickinson levelled the game and Nicky Boshell scored the winner 12 minutes from time.

Vanarama Conference North – Fifth

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