Leek Towns unbeaten run of five games came to an end at Guiseley as they conceded a 90th minute goal to lose 1-0 on a miserable, grey and rainy afternoon in Yorkshire.

It was a disappointing way to eventually lose the game but, on the balance of play and chances created, an under par Blues could have no complaints with the home side deserving their 3points.

The Leek starting eleven only showed a single change from the impressive win at Stockton, with Liam Edwards returning to the centre of defence replacing midweek stand-in Carl Dickinson, but they were on the back foot straight from their own kick off as the home side won the ball and struck the bar inside the first 30 seconds through Amir Berchils scooped effort.

It set the tone for the opening period off the game with Leek being fortunate to escape unscathed as the Lions completely dominated the play.

Jordan Thewlis had already lifted a decent chance over Dino Vissers bar when well placed before the striker fired the ball home following Vissers magnificent save from close range when Will Longbottom looked certain to score, with the Blues relieved to see the flag raised for offside.

Further desperate defending saw Edwards block a Thewlis shot with his body and then Olly Haywood get in the way of another effort to put it behind for the first corner of the game which was headed across the face of the goal and wide.

Leek somehow survived this pummelling and managed their first foray into the Guiseley half with Connor Heath turning neatly on the edge of the area to get a shot away but had the sting taken out of it by a defensive challenge and goalkeeper Joe Cracknell was able to gather.

As the persistent rain started to fall even heavier the game level dropped and became more of an even contest with neither side particularly troubling each other, with lots of balls being knocked forward skidding on the wet surface and running through to the keepers, giving players no chance of reaching it.

There was a worry for Leek on the half hour mark when Visser unexpectedly went down following a gather and quick throw out of the ball and needing lengthy spell of treatment. The Blues captain was able to continue and, not long afterwards, saved a long range effort from Thewlis intended to test him.

Leek then put together a decent 5min spell which included a run from Tunde Owolabi who cleverly won a corner with little support available around him. This was delivered to the far post where Heath climbed highest but could only direct his downward header wide of the post.

Then a rare passing move down the left ended with Alex Hursts cross being half cleared to Owolabi who squared the ball to Adam Porter and his low curling effort aiming for just inside the post produced a good save from Cracknell diving to his left.

Just when it started to look comfortable for Leek the Lions came roaring back and finished the half as strongly as they had began it.

A quick break forward saw white shirts flooding into the Leek penalty area but the cross from the left was managed to be cut out by Tom Curl with a timely interception before the Blues had another lucky escape. For once Guiseley managed to break the offside trap to get in down the right. The ball was pulled back and although a couple of white shirts were unable to get onto it the ball eventually reached Berchil but his goal bound strike was somehow blocked by Liam Buckley from a couple of yards out.

The last action of the first half actually saw another Porter effort for Leek as a Hurst cross was only cleared as far as the edge of the area where Porter was lurking, but even with time to shape himself his volley flew high and wide.

GUISELEY AFC 0 - LEEK TOWN 0 HT

The second half began in much the same fashion as the first with the Lions on top and doing most of the pressing. Jack Emmett drove a sharp effort that Visser saved in his mid-riff before Connor Fergusson came close with a sweetly hit left foot volley that flew wide of the post after latching on to a headed clearance from Buckley.

Then Longbottom had 2 great chances to open the scoring. The first came when Curl failed to cut out a pass to the striker but his low shot across Visser was just wide of the far post whilst his second came a minute later when Thewlis weaved his way into the area and danced around a couple of challenges before finding Longbottom who could only sidefoot a weak effort wide.

As with the first half Leek just about managed to survive the onslaught and slowly crept back into the game and, once again, had a little spell themselves.

Owolabi’s run won another corner from which Edwards header at the near post was blocked before a Hurst run and cross created an opening for Porter who chose to tee up Buckley but his driven effort was blocked with the ball spinning behind for a corner.

Although this was cleared the next opportunity also came the way of the Blues on the hour mark following a burst out of defence from Curl who carried the ball a long way before finding Heath with the pass. He turned inside his man and slid it on to Owolabi running into the area who looked as if he just had Cracknell to beat until Calum Hudson just managed to get something in the way of Owolabis shot to send it wide for another Leek corner which came to nothing.

Both sides made a flurry of substitutions for the last 30mins but despite the energy and effort being exerted both teams were cancelling each other out.

Leek were getting into some good positions but failing to put in any balls of quality to trouble the Lions defence. Within the space of a couple of minutes Buckley failed to beat the first man with his cross whilst Callum Leigh ‘sand wedged’ his attempt behind and then Haywood was even higher and wider with his sliced cross.

Guiseley were delivering their balls a lot better but the Blues were defending well and soaking up the pressure and it looked as though the game would finish goalless and they would earn an unlikely point.

However in the 90th minute the home side were rewarded for their perseverance when the ball was worked down the right channel and when it was fired low across the face of thee goal Longbottom was unmarked and able to slide it home to make amends for his earlier misses.

Leek tried to respond in the time added on by throwing men forward, including Visser for one corner that was won, but it was too little too late. Ferguson demonstrated great defensive work at the far post when it looked as though Buckley would get on the end of a cross before, with virtually the last kick of the game, the ball fell for Haywood inside the area but it was on his weaker right foot and the full back hit it high and wide to finally end Leeks hopes.

GUISELEY AFC 1 - LEEK TOWN 0 FT

MATCH REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

So a full week to prepare for the big Isuzu FA Trophy tie against Southport FC to be played on Saturday 13 December with a 3pm kick off. If you can get to the game please try and support the Blues.

Match Highlights can be viewed COMING SOON