Solihull Moors 0 Guiseley 1

A WAYNE Brooksby penalty nine minutes from time saw Guiseley record a hard-earned away victory as both teams ended a tight contest with ten men.

The Lions had been reduced in numbers before the 81st-minute penalty incident which led to the home side also having a man sent off. The win keeps Guiseley three points clear of sixth-placed Boston United, so could prove crucial at the end of the season.

Guiseley boss Mark Bower was delighted with the result. He said: “I’m more pleased with the way we won because we didn’t play them off the pitch as we did against Boston and Fylde.

“We ground this one out and we haven’t done that this season. Especially going down to ten men we showed real determination to not let Solihull through and then Boyesy goes through on goal and their man gets sent off, so that evened things up.

“Boyesy was down to take the penalties but he had run himself into the ground so, fair play to Wayne, he stepped up and took a great penalty – it was a terrific away win for us.”

It was a bright start for the Lions and Adam Boyes shot wide early on. Brooksby was the next to threaten but his shot across the face of goal went wide.

Solihull had chances of their own and Guiseley keeper Steve Drench did well to thwart Omar Bogle following a free-kick.

The same striker had an even better chance just before the break but dragged his shot wide of the target.

Into the second half Brooksby forced the home keeper into a save but it looked like a game-changer when Liam Dickinson was dismissed. He was shown a straight red card after a challenge on Michael Nottingham that the home side claimed was studs up.

However, numerical parity was restored when Boyes took Brooksby’s through ball, only to be fouled in the area by Dominic Langdon. After the home defender departed, Brooksby tucked the penalty away.

Bower added: “I thought Liam’s sending off was harsh. He went in with one foot and clearly played the ball. When you slide in, it seems to get a reaction these days.

“One of their men went in, in a similar fashion, on Jake Lawlor in the first half and there was not the same furore over that one and not even a free-kick was given. I’m struggling to see any difference in the two challenges.”