Radcliffe’s unbeaten away record in 2024 came to a dramatic end as Guiseley grabbed a dramatic injury time winner to seal a 1-0 win, writes Kieran Wilson.

Two changes were made to the starting side that defeated Ilkeston Town a fortnight ago, Scott Duxbury and Matt Sargent both returned to the team to replace Willem Tomlinson and Lois Maynard, the latter dropped to the bench but would later make a short cameo.

On the hunt for a win that would put them in the play-off places, Guiseley, nicknamed the Lions, began the fixture the brighter of the two teams with a handful of dangerous crosses from both open play and set pieces, testing Radcliffe’s aerial prowess in the opening exchanges.

Kofi Moore attempted to wriggle beyond Scott Duxbury to fashion their first real opportunity after being played through on goal via a counter attack, but he could only poke wide after sustained pressure from the defender.

There was a chance apiece for both outfits after the 20-minute mark, but the deadlock remained intact. The ball broke kindly for Liam Tongue on the left side of the box and he tried his luck with a low attempt which Mateusz Hewelt collected with ease, before Duxbury’s long ball picked out the run of Jordan Hulme at the other end of the pitch, his touch eventually made its way into the arms of Ollie Battersby.

With the best opportunity of the match at that stage, Ollie Brown made himself a hero as Nicky Adams’ in-swinging corner was nodded towards the net by Olly Thornley with a towering, goal-bound header, but the former Alfreton Town man headed away from beneath the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Minutes before the break, Gabriel Johnson couldn’t make the most of a gilt-edged chance only yards away from the net as he fired over with a first-time shot on the stretch from Reece Kendall’s accurate delivery, keeping the scoreline at 0-0 going into the interval.

There were huge shouts for a Radcliffe penalty six minutes after the restart as Jude Oyibo was deemed to have been brought to the ground by Brown on the left side of the box, the winger was instead brandished with a yellow card for simulation, sparing Guiseley’s blushes.

The Boro began to up the ante in order to gain a second-half lead and stamp their authority on the game, Matt Sargent and Oyibo exchanged passes down the left channel in the 62nd minute, then opting to play it inside for Josh Hancock who saw his effort gathered at the second attempt by Battersby.

Anthony Dudley came inches away from recreating his winning goal against Ilkeston Town last time out, touching down and cutting onto his left foot from Adams’ forward ball but he couldn’t guide his curled shot on target.

As the time ticked on, Radcliffe introduced Luca Navarro, Ewan Bange and Lois Maynard to the fray with a last roll of the dice in an effort to find a winner. During the four additional minutes however, the Lions would be the ones to roar as they sealed victory at the death.

Michael Afuye’s knock on from a long ball evaded Rick Smith who attempted to clear with a diving header, landing at the feet of Johnson before turning on a sixpence and slotting beyond Hewelt from 12 yards out, sending the home support into raptures.

The final few moments of added time weren’t enough for Radcliffe to create a good opportunity for a late leveller, leaving us empty handed in West Yorkshire.

Boro will be looking to bounce back when they return to ation at Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

Guiseley: Battersby, Brown, Kendall (Nsaka 81’), Whelan, Walker, Ible, Tongue (Denton 89’), Ekpolo, Moore (Afuye 70’), Johnson, Mariette

Unused subs: Damba, Ashman

Radcliffe: Hewelt, Oyibo (Navarro 75’), Duxbury, Sargent, Thornley, Smith, Hancock (Maynard 84’) Adams, Hulme, Dudley (Bange 76’), Jackson

Unused Subs: Morgan, Modi