Gainsborough Trinity 1 Guiseley 2

FIRST-half goals from strikers Adam Boyes and Oli Johnson fired Guiseley to a victory which took them up to this place in Vanarama Conference North at Northolme on Tuesday.

The result avenged the 3-1 defeat that Gainsborough had inflicted on the Lions at Nethermoor earlier in the season.

And now Mark Bower’s men will go in pursuit of further revenge at Gloucester City on Saturday when they will try to erase the memory of the 4-1 home defeat – their biggest loss of the season – as they look to strengthen their promotion challenge.

Once again Guiseley had on-loan defender Shane Killock at the heart of the defence alongside Danny Ellis.

They played their part in ensuring Guiseley secured the three points when Gainsborough stepped up the pressure in the second half in a bid to save the game.

Guiseley were determined to stamp their authority on the game in the early stage and after former Lions striker Darryn Stamp had fired in the first shot of the game, Guiseley went ahead.

Oli Johnson, whose pace was a source of irritation to the home defence, sent a perfect through ball to strike partner Boyes who finished well.

Stamp had a couple of half chances before Johnson gave a clear indication of the threat he carries by outpacing the defence and firing in a shot which Jan Budtz saved.

Johnson wasn't going to be denied. He pierced the defence with a clever run before placing his shot in the corner of the net.

Gainsborough were stunned to find themselves 2-0 down and Steve Drench was forced to make his first save when he turned a clever free kick from Simon Russell before Stamp sent a diving header wide of the target after a strong run from Liam Davies.

If Gainsborough were to get back into the game they knew they had to strike early in the second half and that was exactly what they did.

Charlie Binns let fly from long range and his shot took a nasty deflection and flew over Drench’s head into the top corner of the net.

Boyes shot straight at Budtz as Guiseley looked to take the heat out of the home side’s revival.

Gainsborough’s Curtis Bateson started to make his presence felt and he tested Drench with a fierce shot which fell to Dominic Roma whose cross was headed wide by Stamp.

Bower introduced live-wire striker Alex Johnson for Oli Johnson and later replaced Boyes with the experienced Andy Holdsworth in a bid to close out victory.

Drench had to be alert to keep out a curling shot from Davies before Bower made his final substitution by replacing Wayne Brooksby with Danny Forrest.

Guiseley played out the closing minutes without undue alarm and pocketed another important away win.