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Another hugely
disappointing performance against a team who prior to this game were
second bottom and had won just nine matches all season. The travelling
support might be forgiven for expecting a win given the superb display
at Witton on Saturday but this was yet another let down in what
has been a Jekyll and Hyde season.
The only saving grace
is that Buxton were thumped 4-0 at home by Gateshead and Eastwood were
held to a 1-1 draw by Worksop Town, who interestingly host Guiseley this
coming Saturday. All of which means that the Lions still have a glimmer
of hope of reaching the play-offs but are now reliant on Buxton and
Eastwood dropping points and, depending on which team turns up against
Worksop and Kendal, the Lions securing maximum points from their two
remaining games.
The visitors suffered
a blow before the start when leading scorer James Hanson was ruled out
with a dead leg and Gavin Knight took his place in the starting line-up.
On an uneven and bumpy pitch Jonathan Fernandez was first to test Steve
Hodgson as the home custodian did well to tip the powerful rising shot
over the bar. However, it was Leek who scored what proved to be the only
goal of the game when Anthony Danylyk lashed an unstoppable shot into
the top corner on eighteen minutes.
Simon Study was
unlucky with a header from a corner that bounced over the bar and Aron
Wilford beat Hodgson to a through ball but his goal attempt was cleared
by by the covering Nick Ward. Despite having the lions share of
possession Guiseley only had one more attempt of note when Sean
Taylforth' second half effort flashed across Hodgson's goal but just
wide of the mark.
The aggression that
the visitors had been lacking manifested itself briefly midway through
the second period when Damien Dunne was fouled and retaliated by pushing
his aggressor to the ground, an action that usually merits a straight
red, but amazingly the midfield man only received a yellow for his
troubles which perhaps says something about the standard of officialdom
on the night.
In the final analysis
it was the team striving to avoid the drop that showed a greater
appetite for the three points that proved to be the difference between
the two sides. and the three points dropped tonight plus those against
Frickley, Buxton, Stamford and Hednesford might just prove to be
Guiseley's undoing.
Star man: The travelling support (Guiseley)
Entertainment value: **
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