Brackley Town 0, Guiseley 3

GUISELEY put their recent woes behind them to climb back up to fifth in the Vanarama Conference North table with a good win at struggling Brackley Town.

It was a solid team performance from the Lions, who had lost their previous two league games.

Brackley were fellow play-off contenders last season and were expected to make another tilt for promotion this term but their season has yet to get off the launch pad.

Guiseley were not prepared to allow Brackley to use their visit as a sabre-rattling confidence-booster. The Lions got at the hosts from the first whistle and with Josh Wilson back at the club, on loan from FC Halifax Town, they created chances.

Adam Boyes tested the home keeper, who tipped the effort for a corner, and then saved Ben Parker's header from the resulting flag-kick.

Jake Lawlor volleyed wide and Wayne Brooksby was also denied by the Brackley stopper.

The visitors finally made the breakthrough midway through the first half and Wilson was involved. The striker's free-kick was deflected into the path of Boyes and he slid the ball in.

Brackley had periods of possession but created few clear chances and Guiseley took their slender advantage into the break, before doubling their lead after forcing a 59th-minute corner.

Brooksby delivered the set-piece, Gavin Rothery put the ball back into the danger area and Lawlor chipped the keeper.

A handful of other chances came and went but substitute Oli Johnson put the gloss on the win with a goal in the last minute. He took a neat through-ball from Boyes and rounded the keeper before slotting into the net.

Lions boss Mark Bower was relived to see his side hit back from two defeats on the spin. He said: "It had been a tough week after we spoke a few home truths in the dressing room last Saturday.

"But we put the two defeats into context and, with players coming back from injury, we had an excellent week of training.

"Josh is a good presence, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room as well. I was pleased with the contribution from everyone though.

"Jake Lawlor's strike – was it lucky or was it meant? I know what he'll say. But either way it doesn't matter because we were due something like that.

"We put pressure on ourselves to get a result at Brackley and we got it. People took responsibility and stood up to move us forward and that was the pleasing thing."