National League
Gusieley 1-0 Barrow
Action from Guiseley 1-0 Barrow. Picture: alexdanielphotos.co.uk
Relegation-threatened Guiseley gained another important three points after beating play-off hopefuls Barrow, thanks to a Kevan Hurst strike.
After both sides suffered disappointing losses at the weekend with the Bluebirds losing to Tranmere in the FA Trophy and Guiseley were defeated by the then bottom of the table North Ferriby United, so both needed victory to bounce back for different reasons.
A heavy downpour left the pitch slick with plenty of early passing being helped by the surface, but by the end of the match it became more difficult for the ball to move along the ground.
Barrow created the first chance with ten minutes gone when a pass forward found Ross Hannah, he was denied by Guiseley goalkeeper Jonny Maxted who was now out of position when the rebound fell to Richie Bennett, he fired towards goal but Jake Lawlor was in the way to turn it away for a corner.
That encouraging start for the visitors though disappeared, when the hosts winger Kevan Hurst hit an effort that skid across the turf and with Jon Flatt beaten it, hit the inside of the post and went in.
The home side could have doubled their advantage when a Simon Walton free-kick from thirty yards looked to be going in, but Jon Flatt read the direction of the ball well and made the save.
Guiseley pressed forward looking for a second but were nearly caught out, when a clever clearance by Shaun Beeley found Bennett who cleared on the angle, he could not direct it on target and it went narrowly wide.
Moussa Diarra was then somehow denied by Maxted with his header from six yards out looking bound to go in, the keeper going in the wrong direction clawed a hand onto the ball and tipped it away and Guiseley held on for the win.
The Team
Guiseley: Maxted, Brown, Green, Lawlor, Williams, Hatfield, Preston (Rankine 86) Walton Asamoah Cassidy, Hurst (Asamoah 80). Subs unused: Vidal, Boyes, Palmer.