GUISELEY 1, ASHTON UNITED 0
Fourth-placed Guiseley swapped places with Ashton United to move up to third in Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier after an ultimately disappointing encounter at Nethermoor Park.
The Robins restored Remi Effunuga in midfield as the action got underway on a surface which was slippery on top and five minutes in Darius Osei picked up a loose pass before sending a swinging effort wide from 20 yards.
Gabriel Johnson’s shot following a throw in was then blocked at the other end before Prince Ekpolo’s volley was easily held as the game got off to a quiet start.
Osei was then fouled 22 yards out by Lucas Odunston with Sean Newton putting the free kick over the bar.
The decisive moment arrived on the half hour just after Sam Baird had been forced of with an injury as his replacement Dan Cowan conceded a corner which saw Adriano Moko’s delivery forced home at the far post by centre back Jake Lawlor.
Five minutes before the break, left winger Lewis Whitham collected Odunston’s pass before cutting inside and slicing wide on his right foot. Effunuga then caught Ekpolo 25 yards out with Lebrun Mbeka’s effort needing to be watched over by keeper Jordan Eastham.
In added time, Matty Waters’ lofted pass put James Hardy into the area from where he blazed over at the near post and a good block was needed to keep out Louis White’s effort from Luke Burke’s deep cross.
The second period had little to recommend, and it was midway through the half before ex-Robin John Lufudu saw his cross cleared at the near post as Newton conceded a corner and a quick break then saw Jason Gilchrist’s intended pass to Luke Burke cut out.
Five minutes over the 90, Ashton had their first shot on goal of the half as substitute Donald Chimalilo’s snapshot from Tom Denton’s knockdown brought a good save out of the under employed Joe Cracknell.
Home substitute Jamie Spencer then made a break looking suspiciously offside before setting up fellow replacement Ollie Brown who side-footed wide of an open goal.
Ashton United: Eastham, Rose, Doherty, Newton, Burke, Effunuga (Chimalilo 82), Baird (Cowan 29), White (Byrne 46), Hardy (Gilchrist 68), Osei, Waters (Denton 68).
Attendance: 821.
Report: David Robinson.