Guiseley 2 Cammell Laird 1

GUISELEY manager Terry Dolan's intentions were certainly clear when his side ran out for the UniBond League Chairman's Cup final against Cammell Laird on Tuesday night.

The Nethermoor boss rested Craig Hall, Mark Bett and Marc Smith who have been key players in recent games.

He obviously had an eye on his next league game at Matlock Town on Saturday and made no apologies for sending out a side containing teenagers Tony Vento and Brice Tiani - making their first starts - along with James Hanson.

Terry Dolan's men still have the County Cup final to look forward to as well as possible promotion via the play-offs.

They were set on their way in the final against the Division One promotion contenders by a James Hanson header midway through the first-half but it took substitute Marc Smith's last-minute goal to kill off the contest.

Even then Laird's found a reply deep in stoppage time when a header by Chris Nezyania following a free-kick deceived Steve Dickinson in the Guiseley goal but it was all over bar the shouting by then and the trophy already had the ribbons in Guiseley's colours fluttering from its handles.

With Gavin Knight up front Guiseley were always full of aggression ad inventiveness and he ran Lairds ragged in the final stages and being unlucky not to bag a goal himself.

Bruce Tiani was first to go close for Guiseley with a left foot shot in the first minute. Hanson had a one-on-one with the keeper saved in the third minute and Knight put an effort wide in the 21st minute. Hanson then opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from Richard Dunning's free-kick. Knight had another effort saved before the half-time whistle blew.

Knight continued to be a thorn in Laird's side with a shot blocked in the 62nd minute and another effort saved in the 72nd. Substitute Craig Hall went close with his first touch in the 87th minute with the keeper snatching the ball at the second attempt.

Fellow sub Marc Smith sealed victory in the 90th minute when Knight opened up the defence and laid his chance on a plate.

Laird then got their consolation with Nezyania floating his effort over Dickinson into the net to give the Laid supporters in the 308 strong crowd something to cheer.