Guiseley 2, Boston United 1

Andy Holdsworth proved his powers are not on the wane with a match-winning performance as he scored both goals in Guiseley’s victory over Boston United at Nethermoor.

The former Huddersfield Town skipper drilled in two fierce strikes to cap a fine display. But the plaudits should be equally shared because it was a solid team effort with four or five man of the match candidates.

Guiseley did most of the attacking in an entertaining and enthralling first half. Even though they lost some of their urgency after the break, they still deserved the three points which keep them third in Blue Square Bet North.

Yet it could have been so different as mid-table rivals Boston made an early breakthrough, with a little help from the home defence.

The Lions had forced a corner and skipper Simon Ainge headed just wide, which sparked a breakaway from the Pilgrims.

Seconds later their leading scorer Marc Newsham was racing away from his marker before netting a shot from the left-hand side of the area across Steve Drench.

The Guiseley keeper had to be alert in the ninth minute as the visitors threatened to double their lead. A weak backpass gave Newsham the sniff of another goal but Drench rushed out of his area to clear the danger.

The hosts forced several corners in the following few minutes but it was a free-kick in the 17th minute that brought them level.

Boston’s Ian Ross was yellow-carded for a foul just two yards outside the area, Holdsworth lashed it in low and it beat keeper Paul Bastock after taking a deflection off one his defenders.

The rest of the first half belonged to the Lions and they also began the second period well, with livewire forward Chris Senior causing the Boston defence all kinds of problems.

However, there was then an extended lull in the match and the atmosphere on the terraces also died down.

Ross attempted to emulate injured Guiseley striker Danny Forrest’s internet wonder goal with a shot from the centre circle in the 76th minute. That seemed to spark his side back into action and a minute later they had the game won.

Having forced yet another set-piece, the ball was launched into the Boston area but a missed header led to it dropping in the six-yard box. A hurried clearance only went as far as Holdsworth and he fired in from the edge of the area.