Guilsfield 1 Holyhead Hotspur 0

GUILSFIELD battled to a much needed win to send fellow early season strugglers Holyhead Hortspur home empty handed.

Manager Nathan Leonard was forced to ring the changes with James Parry and Jack Harris ruled out through injury while Chris Cathrall and Stuart Rogers were welcomed back into the starting team after missing the midweek drubbing at Airbus UK Broughton.

Both sides went into the game desperate for points to galvanise their fortunes following a miserable start to the new campaign.

Mel McGinness proved his customary nuisance early on with the diminutive playmaker firing wide before setting up Luke McGivern to test home goalkeeper Mike Jones.

However it was the Guils who led on 21 minutes when Callum Bromley was brought down in the area by Caio Hywel with Steve Blenkinsop stepping up to convert the resulting penalty.

Spurs ended the half on top with McGinness released by Dean Garmey only to fire wide while Kenleigh Owen, Jamie McDaid and Harry Galleotti went close.

Blenkinsop headed wide from close range as Guilsfield started the second-half on top.

Holyhead began to dominate possession but found a stoic Guils defence inpenetrable with Robbie James standing firm.

The visitors became increasingly desperate with McGinness seeing penalty appeals rejected.

Guilsfield were dealt a blow when Blenkinsop hobbled off injured with 15 minutes remaining.

However the Guils could have rubber stamped their victory only for Cathrall to head wide and allow Spurs to remain in the game.

Holyhead laid siege to the home goal but the Guils closed ranks and saw out eight minutes of injury-time to toast three hard fought and much needed points.

GUILSFIELD: Jones, Bromley, Richards, Rogers, Litchfield, James, Weetman, Ford, Blenkinsop (Clifton), Cathrall, Jenkins (Leonard).