Guiseley snatch defeat from jaws of victory

6:29pm Sunday 1st February 2009

By Ian Whiting

FC United 2 Guiseley 1

Guiseley suffered the same fate as Bradford City at Gigg Lane but it was late in the day when they succumbed to defeat against tenants FC United.

Guiseley spokesman Stuart Allen said: “I can’t believe it all went wrong in the last few minutes but they had been knocking on the door.

“We had a lot of defending to do in the second half but when you are 1-0 up with three minutes to go you start believing you have done enough.”

Guiseley striker James Hanson came close to breaking the deadlock, heading a free-kick from Jez Fitzgerald back across the face of goal, before an own goal opened the scoring. A wayward header by Jerome Wright, who was part of the wall for a free-kick, looped over the United keeper.

Simeon Bambrook and Steve Bolder went close to increasing the visitors’ lead before the first half ended.

Adam Muller and recent signing Michael Roddy were on the end of the few chances in the second half.

The relentless attacking by the home side finally led to a breakthrough in the 87th minute and it was Wright who atoned. He cancelled out his own goal with a well-placed shot that found its way in despite Guiseley keeper Piotr Skiba getting a hand to it.

Just over a minute later a ball to the back post hit United’s Tommy Turner and ran over the line for the winner.