LAST-GASP HERO LOWE HAS LIONS ON A HIGH
GUISELEY boss Adam Lockwood admitted to being ‘speechless’ after a last-minute equaliser from Danny Lowe ensured Guiseley a third season in the top flight.
Captain Lowe rose highest to head home a long, hopeful ball into the box to earn the Lions the precious point needed to fend off York City and stay above the drop zone.
Omari Sterling-James played party pooper on 26 minutes by putting Solihull Moors in front– after the visitors had earlier missed a penalty – thus setting up a tense afternoon at Nethermoor Park.
But even though Lockwood was disappointed with his side’s nervy display, the Lions chief was mightily relieved to get the job done.
“The game itself was very frustrating,” he said. “I was disappointed with our performance but you’ve got to keep believing in games like this and thankfully we managed to achieve what we wanted to achieve.
“This is a magnificent club from top to bottom and I want to thank everyone for what they have done this season.
“We now have to rebuild and make sure this does not happen again, we want not to be in this position again next campaign.”
Lockwood’s men entered the match with their destiny in their own hands, but the Lions suffered a blow pre-match when firstchoice goalkeeper Jonny Maxted had to miss out through injury, meaning a run out for former Leeds United keeper Dan Atkinson.
Guiseley, however, almost made a dream start when a Simon Walton free-kick found Derek Asamoah, who headed his effort off the crossbar. Atkinson then proved the early hero when Ash Palmer fouled Sterling in the area, Regan Charles-Cook stepped up to take the penalty but Atkinson made the crucial save. But, it wasn’t long before the visitors found a way through – Sterling-James beating Atkinson with a freekick into the top corner. With other results going against them, Guiseley upped the ante with Jake Lawlor and Walton both forcing smart saves from Nathan Baxter. But just when it appeared they had ran out of time, Lowe popped up to send the home fans wild. Solihull boss Liam McDonald said: “We had so many chances, we should have won it. I’m happy for Guiseley, but they scored with their best chance and that shouldn’t have been the case.”