Sunday 6^th April 2008 Match Report

Guiseley Ladies  6   York City Ladies 1

Guiseley Ladies made a good start to a congested fixture schedule planned for April. The ladies are due to play six games in four weeks due to a stop start season which has seen them miss weeks of fixtures due to the unpredictable weather. This was a must win game for the home side. Doncaster Parkland withdrew from the North East Premier league last week, leaving the ladies third bottom, albeit with games in hand. With Lumley Ladies already relegated, every game is important to Guiseley to ensure they finish well above the relegation places. The home side took an early lead when striker Sarah Dunn pounced on a York City defensive error and tapped the ball calmly passed a stranded York ‘keeper. This settled the nerves and Guiseley played some good football similar to how they started the season. The home sides’ strong defence kept the away side at bay, and a bit of composure on the ball, which has been missing previous games, allowed Guiseley to pick their pass and look more of an attacking force going forward. A player of the Match performance by midfielder Rachel Dainty provided an assist for Clare Jenkins who scored on the 25^th minute mark. York attached in numbers and at times showed why they are third place in the league,, but the ladies held on to keep the score at 2-0 by the interval.

The second half saw Guiseley start nervously, but a missed chance by Dunn gave the home side confidence to push forward again. Some strong defensive play by the ladies soon led to attack, when a twisting run down the left by Dainty was finished by an unstoppable strike by the midfielder which put the home side 3-0 up on 50 minutes. A lapse in concentration by the Guiseley defence immediately after the re-start gave York a life-line and made the score 3-1 with 35 minutes to go. Guiseley coach, Stephen Grimes brought substitute Vicky Winters into the action. Winters made an instant impact and got the first of her two goals on the 65^th minute mark, when she tucked a cross from Clare Jenkins neatly into the back of the net. York City continued to attack in numbers but apart from the earlier lapse in concentration the back line were strong throughout the game, led well by in-form goal-keeper. Jo Farquhar. Dainty and Winters both scored their second goals of the game to take the final score to 6-1, and move the ladies up to seventh in the table.

Guiseley next travel to Morley Spurs, who are top of the league on Tuesday 8^th April, and play Darlington RA at Nethermoor on Sunday 13^th April, kick-off 1.30pm.