Vanarama National League: Guiseley 1 Barrow 0

GUISELEY increased their points cushion over the clubs in the Vanarama National League drop zone to three with a hard-earned home victory over promotion-chasing Barrow.

Kevan Hurst’s 13th-minute strike was just enough as the Lions sent the Bluebirds home with nothing.

It was a positive move by Guiseley boss Adam Lockwood to include Hurst in the starting line-up, and the attack-minded change paid dividends early on.

Hurst drilled in a low shot that hit a post and gave the Bluebird’s keeper Jon Flatt no time to react.

The visitors had former Bantams striker Ross Hannah up front, and he put an effort just wide as Barrow looked for an immediate response.

The Lions were under pressure at times but it was quite an even game, with chances at both ends.

Home skipper Simon Walton saw his free-kick parried by Flatt, but the Lions’ keeper Jonny Maxted had to be alert to deny Richie Barrett in the first half.

After the interval, Maxted clawed one effort off his line and palmed a Hannah free-kick away soon after, but the home side fought fire with fire, and John Rooney forced Flatt into two smart saves in the same attack.

Jake Cassidy had a sniff of a chance following an error by the visitors’ defence midway through the second half, but the Bluebirds were still pushing to get back into the game, and Moussa Diarra headed inches over before another Hannah free-kick late on was saved by Maxted as the Lions banked what could be a crucial three points.

The rest of last night’s semi-pro football was washed out as Farsley Celtic’s short trip to Mossley, in Division One North of the Evo-Stik League, and Thackley’s home game against Wayne Benn’s Hemsworth Miners' Welfare in the top tier of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League were both shelved due to waterlogged pitches.

The three clubs in action tonight will be hoping that their games don’t suffer a similar fate.

Thackley’s NCE Premier Division rivals Liversedge are back in action after losing Saturday’s derby 2-1 at Dennyfield.

Sedge dropped down to ninth after that defeat and they are due to travel to 13th-placed Bottesford Town.

In Division One, both Campion and Eccleshill United have scheduled games.

James Bicknell’s Campion will be looking to bounce back from their weekend’s home loss to the Eagles in their derby clash.

Campion went down 3-1 but remained in eighth place and have the opportunity to get that defeat out of their system when they host Selby Town.

Eccleshill will be hoping Campion do them a favour as Selby are just two points worse off than the Eagles with a game in hand.

Eccleshill travel to Winterton Rangers as 11th takes on tenth in the table, with the Eagles looking to stay ahead of the two clubs snapping at their heels.