Guiseley giving it everything in promotion push as Worksop stunned on home soil

Second-placed Guiseley still have faint hopes of snatching the Northern Premier League Premier Division title from runaway leaders Macclesfield, after Mark Bower’s men earned a superb 4-1 win at promotion rivals Worksop Town.

The Lions’ goals came courtesy of John Lufudu, Jameel Ible, Lebrun Mbeka and Lewis Whitham, the latter scoring for the first time since returning from a horrific knee injury which kept him on the sidelines for 18 months.

Guiseley are 16 points behind Macclesfield, but do have two games in hand on them, while the leaders still have to visit Nethermoor in mid-April.

Saturday marked arguably their best performance of the season, given the quality in the home side’s ranks.

Guiseley came cross with a couple of good early crosses, before Liam Hughes headed over the bar for Worksop.

But the Lions took the lead after 19 minutes, when Lufudu took Ollie Brown’s neat pass into his stride, burst past the home defence, and slotted the ball home past home keeper Tommy Taylor.

John Lufudu wheels away after his superb goal put Guiseley in front on Saturday. (Image: The Yorkshire Photographer.)

Hughes then saw his header skim the crossbar, with former Guiseley marksman Aaron Martin next to go close for Worksop as he fired a shot wide.

Good defending from the Lions meant Josh Wilde’s effort was deflected effort and while Adriano Moke had a header well blocked by Luke Shiels at the other end, it was no surprise when Worksop levelled the game.

Joe Leesley scored with a beautifully placed free-kick, which beat Joe Cracknell and found the bottom corner.

Guiseley hit back right at the start of the second half though, Ible heading them back in front.

Luke Hall and Jordan Burrows both came close to finding a second equaliser for Worksop, while Guiseley missed a couple of great chances courtesy of young Bradford City loanee Harry Ibbitson.

But Mbeka’s goal, which slithered under a disappointed Taylor, gave the Lions breathing space, before Whitham finished off the hosts in the final few moments with a sweet curling effort into the net.

Guiseley return to action on Tuesday night, when they visit mid-table Morpeth Town.