Wrexham 3 Guiseley 1

A DEFEAT in Wales left Guiseley in the National League relegation places yet despite losing to Wrexham the Lions are still just two points below the current safety mark with 16 games remaining.

The bottom end of the table is so tight that the picture can change in a weekend as just five points separate seven clubs – and Adam Lockwood's men still have a game in hand on the two rivals immediately above them.

Saturday's defeat was tough to take as Guiseley felt they deserved something from the close game.

It took a late brace from John Rooney, brother of England and Manchester United captain Wayne, and a goal by Ntumba Massanka – on loan from Premier League outfit Burnley – for the Welsh outfit to bank maximum points.

Jake Cassidy broke the deadlock for Guiseley in the 11th minute, after going close to converting Lions skipper's Simon Walton's corner moments earlier. It was from another flag-kick, forced by striker Michael Rankine's presence, that Cassidy headed the visitors in front.

The sides were level at the break though as Massanka netted a goal-of-the-season contender. The young Clarets forward, who began his career at Manchester United and has also had a loan spell at York City, converted a spectacular overhead kick.

Rooney began on the bench but was introduced just after the hour mark when he replaced Paul Rutherford.

Rooney, who names MLS outfits New York Red Bulls and Orlando City as well as Everton among his former clubs, edged the home side ahead with his first touch of the ball following a scramble in the area.

Rankine and Cassidy made way for Adam Boyes and Joel Logan in the last ten minutes as Lockwood freshened up his strikeforce.

The Lions were frustrated in the final minute when Boyes and Jordan Preston failed to snatch an equaliser in a packed area – and Rooney cemented Wrexham's win deep into stoppage time with a free-kick that crashed in off the underside of the bar.

Lockwood was disappointed with the result but not the efforts and desire of his players as he said: "The result definitely didn't reflect the performance or the character shown by our players.

"It was a tight game with nothing in it and fair play to their lad for that piece of individual skill and ability because it was a genius goal.

"That's what football is all about – lads with that talent – and I'm talking about someone else's player. You just have to admire that kind of finish.

"We played well and created chances, although I didn't think we defended well at times and they scored their second at a crucial time as our penalty appeal for a foul on Ranks (Rankine) went against us at a crucial time.

"I'm not too disappointed about it because we went there and gave it a really good go."