Injury hit Harrogate Town’s slim play off hopes finally evaporated with a battling 2-0 defeat at Nethermoor.
Guiseley were quickly out of the blocks and Craig MacGillivray had to save an early free kick and then punch clear after Matt Bloomer had given away a corner.
The Lions took the lead on nine minutes when Craig Nelthorpe committed a foul and Jake Lawlor rose high at the far post to head home Wayne Brooksby’s free kick.
Town gradually began to get into the game, but although playing some pretty football in midfield, they were unable to provide the cutting edge needed to penetrate the well organised Guiseley defence.
Dan Boshell was booked for a heavy tackle on Michael Woods and Referee Alf Greenwood did well to wave away Guiseley appeals for a penalty after an excellent defensive tackle by Dwayne Samuels.
A brace of corners by Town’s Dan Clayton amounted to nothing,but a break by Ashley Worsfold created a chance for Liam Hardy,who shot well over the bar.
On 44 minutes,Dan Forrest replaced Brooksby, and the move paid immediate dividends when he passed to Boshell who crossed for Adam Boyes to head home for Guiseley’s second.
Dominic Rowe and Anton Brown replaced Nelthorpe and Woods at the break and Town began to hit back.
After Guiseley’s Danny Ellis had foraged forward to hook a deep cross wide of the post,Town began to apply the pressure.
Rhys Meynell’s foul on Rowe enabled Clayton to proved a searching free kick which the Lions managed to clear,and minutes later he repeated the dose but Hardy’s header rebounded of the crossbar.
Worsfold shot over as Town continued to press,but Boyes squandered a chance to put the result beyond doubt when he headed Meynell’s cross wide of the upright when left unmarked.
With two minutes left,Alex Metcalfe replaced Clayton, and Samuels and Hardy then combined to send him through the middle and it took a full length diving save by Steve Drench to deny Town a last gasp consolation goal.
Town
1 MacGillivray, 2 Samuels, 3 Merris, 4 Bolder, 5 Bloomer, 6 Heath (c), 7 Hardy, 8 Nelthorpe (Rowe 45), 9 Worsfold, 10 Woods (Brown 45), 11 Clayton ( Metcalfe 88).
Unused subs,15 Mallory, 18 Crook. Bookings Samuels,Nelthorpe. Att 815
By John Harrison
