Whitley Bay Ladies FC 1 – 1 Guiseley AFC Ladies
For the second time in 3 weeks Guiseley AFC made the long trip to the North East coast, this time to visit Whitley Bay Ladies FC.
It was clear from the start of the game that the extreme weather conditions of gale force winds and torrential rain would make attractive passing football almost impossible.
Guiseley made the worst possible start to the game, conceding a soft goal when a 3rd minute corner was not cleared and a goalmouth scramble ended with the ball somehow finding its way into the Guiseley goal.
Guiseley responded but found it impossible to create many chances as the wind and rain made passing very difficult. The nearest Guiseley came to an equaliser came shortly before half-time when a strong shot on the turn by Nadine Bates was excellently turned over the crossbar by the Whitley Bay goalkeeper.
At half-time there was a strong belief that the 1-0 deficit could be reversed in the 2nd half although the players knew that the quality of their passing needed improvement.
Guiseley continued to be the more dominant team but were unable to find a way through the stubborn Whitley Bay defence whilst Guiseley goalkeeper Erin Boswell was a virtual spectator for the vast majority of the game as the Guiseley back four completely subdued the Whitley Bay forwards.
Guiseley introduced Amy Parker, Polly Fildes and Bethan Smith as substitutes in an attempt to salvage something from the game and all three became highly involved in the game but were unable to help achieve a breakthrough.
Guiseley continued to push forward and the game was being played entirely in the Whitley Bay half.
As normal time ran out captain Michelle Walsh won the ball in midfield and, seeing the Whitley Bay goalkeeper off her line, fired an instant shot from 30 yards over the keeper to equalise with her 3rd goal in 3 games.
In added time Guiseley continued to press forward in search of an equaliser and Bethan Smith was inches away from a dramatic winner when she headed narrowly wide.
Guiseley will be happy to salvage a point with a late goal but overall they dominated this game and on the balance of play this was probably 2 points dropped.
Team: Boswell, Lowden (Fildes), Zserdicky, Hunt,Hobson, Welham, Bates, Walsh, Newton (Smith), Hulme (Parker), Proud. Unused substitute : Burnham
