Guiseley..................1

WITTON ALBION.......1

GUISELEY finally managed to end their run of six consecutive league defeats with a

scrappy 1-0 win at home to Witton Albion.

In truth the game was a dire affair with both sides failing to produce any fluent football. But for Guiseley manager Neil Parsley the result was all important, having seen his side play much better for no reward, and optimists will be hoping the win will signal an upturn in the side's fortunes.

Parsley rang the changes, bringing in midfielder David Donaldson on loan from First Division leaders Bradford Park Avenue, and he showed enthusiasm and some nice touches but little penetrating play, and Guiseley started the game with a three man defence.

However, it was 30 minutes before the home side troubled Witton's keeper and Guiseley can count themselves lucky their opponents were also bereft of creativity. The first real chance of note coming for the visitors when Andy Williams uncharacteristically failed to deal with a speculative long ball and the Witton attacker should have done more to trouble 'keeper James Shutt.

With Guiseley's three at the back becoming five at the first sign of pressure, the side reverted to banging long balls up the middle when they gained possession, but Gareth Pritchard and Paul Burke failed to break with conviction as they have in previous games.

"The ball is as deflated as we are," commented one of the Guiseley comics as the

referee called for a replacement.

In the second-half Guiseley began brighter, exerting some midfield control, while Witton continued their annoying habit of playing back passes to their own 'keeper from inside the opponent's half. The Guiseley forward's didn't press, the spectators moaned, it was raining and cold. You get the picture.

On 55 minutes Pritchard hobbled off injured and David Cooke come on and injected some enthusiasm and pace, with Witton's 'keeper Dean Greygoose finally getting a chance to warm his hands, as well as his kicking foot, as Guiseley pressed.

On 65 minutes Burke was unlucky when a contested header he bravely won almost on the goal-line defied physics and went side-ways, but bad luck had nothing to do with James Nettleton's sending off minutes later.

The Guiseley defender was yellow-carded for kicking the ball away after a free-kick had been conceded and minutes later a mis-timed challenge saw him heading into the changing rooms. No-one could really argue with the

referee's decision, making a change from many of his others in the rest of the afternoon.

Minutes later, all the footballing 'ten men' cliches came true when a speculative long ball forward was skilfully knocked over the back line by Cooke and Burke ran through to score.

Guiseley never looked likely to lose their first league clean sheet since the start of October and the three points were won.

While a draw may have been a fairer result, it is to be hoped this win will signal a reversal in the club's fortunes which some say started on October 30 against Forest Green - 14 months ago in the last millennium.

Parsley has vowed to bring in more new players, to the chagrin of those in the reserve side, but who knows, a year from now people could say this was the game when the corner was turned.

Gainsborough............2

Guiseley......................0

AT a wet and windy Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday Guiseley again struggled to put the finishing touch to their work when facing Premier Division opposition in their League Cup grouping.

Possession was fairly equal in the opening stages but Benn Gallagher, James Nettleton and Paul Burke all put chances over the bar in the first-half.

The second-half followed much the same pattern with the weather getting worse by the minute.

In the 71st minute Gainsborough substitute Holmes pulled Guiseley defender Colin Hogarth down but was allowed to go on and score. There were few direct chances from either side but Gainsborough sealed their win with a harmless looking 89th minute shot which sneaked through 'keeper James Shutt's legs.

l On Saturday Guiseley travel to Ashton United while the Reserves entertain Bamber Bridge (3 pm). Tonight's West Riding County Cup game against Eccleshill has been postponed and will hopefully be played on Tuesday (7.30 pm).