GUISELEY 0, ASHTON UNITED 1
A 53rd minute penalty from winger Alex Byrne was enough for Ashton United to take all three points on a sunny autumnal day at Nethermoor Park.
It was a second success on the road which lifted the Robins to sixth spot in Northern Premier League, premier.
Guiseley had recently parted company with ex-Ashton manager Paul Phillips and the Robins fielded a new face at left back, Bernardo Couto on loan from Oldham Athletic.
The opening action matched the bright weather with Marcus Cusani involved as Nathan Lowe’s backheel failed to make the most of the winger’s pass with Lowe then bringing a sharp save out of new keeper Ollie Battersby following Byrne’s right wing cross.
On the quarter hour a great Lowe pass gave Jason Gilchrist a clear sight of goal from where he dragged his effort past the left-hand post and Lowe himself fired wide of the same post after Byrne’s long ball had been laid off.
At the other end, Kallan Murphy’s twisting run led to him firing well over at the Railway End and Callum Chippendale just failed to latch on to a knock down from centre forward Tom Denton.
WIth the visitors getting ever closer, Brad Abbott’s deep cross saw Dan Cowan’s header cleared off the line and Byrne’s shot was deflected over only by the intervention of Daniel Devine after Cusani’s cross reached him.
Shortly after the resumption it was the Lions’ turn to see a clearance off the line as Joe Stacey’s corner reached Murphy with the rebound eventually ending in the arms of keeper Luke Simpson.
Seven minutes into the half and Reece Kendall’s clumsy challenge on Cusani saw referee Sam Parnaby point to the spot after some deliberation and Byrne duly did the honours despite Battersby’s best efforts.
Chippendale then placed his effort wide after substitute Gabriel Johnson had turned past Couto before Luke Burke’s right-wing cross was then fired off target by a combination of Gilchrist and Cusani.
WIth 10 minutes left, Byrne’s pass put Keilen Adams clear but the substitute could only scuff his attempt before Burke’s cross rolled right across the goalmouth and Lowe’s delivery then deflected up for Adams to head over the bar.
In added time a long throw in for the Lions saw Murphy’s flick on deflect wide off Denton.
Ashton United: Simpson, Cowan, Newton, Couto, Burke, Abbott, Byrne, Rose, Gilchrist (Adams 72), Lowe, Cusani (Caton 72). Subs (unused): Robbins, Bianga, Lonsdale.
Attendance: 599.
Report: David Robinson.