Guiseley 0 Braintree Town 0

GUISELEY finally picked up their first point of the new National League season at the eighth time of asking but they are still seeking their first win after a goalless draw against fellow strugglers Braintree Town.

The visitors remain in the relegation places while the Lions are still rooted to the foot of the table, three points adrift. However, it was Guiseley’s first clean sheet of the season and caretaker manager Adam Lockwood is taking that positive from the game.

It was Lockwood’s third game in caretaker charge since the sacking of Mark Bower and he said: “The first thing is that I saw yet more improvement from where we were in terms of attitude and desire. I thought we showed that we are moving in the right direction.

“We almost got our first clean sheet at half-time last Monday at leaders Tranmere Rovers. Now we have our first clean sheet and it’s brought our first point so we have to build on that.”

It was a tentative shut-out as the Lions appeared to be running the clock down in the last five minutes, and three of time added on, which didn’t go down well with many of the supporters.

The fans filed out muttering about witnessing a game between two struggling teams but to Lockwood’s credit, his side did the most to try to win it.

He added: “I thought we had just done enough to deserve the three points because we created more. There weren’t too many chances in the game but we had the one when their keeper touched it on to the post and a couple more that were very close.

“I’ve just said that to the lads in the dressing room. Those are the kind of things that start going for you if you keep creating them, so it is important that we keep doing what we’re doing and the wins will come.”

Fortunately there was no controversy in this season’s meeting, unlike the corresponding fixture last term when the Lions netted a hugely contentious equaliser.

Oliver Norburn volleyed the ball into the net from 40 yards following Nicky Boshell’s throw-in, which had restarted the game after Braintree had kicked the ball out for one of their players to receive treatment.

The Iron supporters have neither forgiven nor forgotten that. They jeered and ironically cheered on the two occasions when Guiseley passed back to their keeper after having to restart from a dropped ball.