Recent games involving Oxford have produced a surfeit of goals, and this top five clash at Nethermoor proved no exception as the hosts raced into a first-half 3-0 lead courtesy of a brace from Adam Boyes and an own goal, virtually ending the game as contest before the break.
City started strongly, Claudio Hoban forcing Steven Drench into a save, while at the other end Josh Wilson put a header just over Mark Scott’s bar.
Danny Boshell’s ball across the six-yard box found no takers as the home side began to take a grip on the game and Adrian Santiago did well to stop Boshell’s through ball finding Wilson.
The energetic Adi Yussuf put a header just over for the visitors before Santiago came to his side’s rescue again, clearing Gavin Rothery’s cross with Boyes waiting to pounce.
Boyes was not to be denied, however, getting on the end of Ben Parker’s inviting cross from the right to plant a firm header past Scott for the opener on 20 minutes.
The striker nearly bagged a second when he kept going as City’s defence stood waiting for the offside flag only to see his shot clip the post.
The second was not long in coming, though, as Boshell’s ball over the top found Boyes in acres of space, where he brought the ball down before shooting under Scott.
Keen to capitalize on their supremacy, the Lions were looking to increase their lead and they should have done when Wilson inexplicably scooped a Brooksby cross over the bar from six yards.
However, when the winger delivered another telling cross into the area, Wilson’s shot was parried by Scott only for Stonehouse to put the ball into his own net under pressure from Boyes.
After the interval, Scott pulled off spectacular stops to deny Boyes and Wilson but he was helpless when Santiago diverted Brooksby’s free kick into the net for Guiseley’s fourth on 78 minutes.
The win sets up the Lions nicely for Saturday’s trip to Droyslden in the FA Cup.
Mark Bower’s thoughts on today’s win
Entertainment value****
Star man: Ben Parker (Guiseley)
Teams – Guiseley (4-4-2): Drench 7; Toulson 7, Ellis 8, Lowe 8, Parker 7; Brooksby 8, Boshell (D) 8 (Holdsworth 79, 6), Lawlor 7, Rothery 8; Boyes 9 (Boshell (N) 81, 5), Wilson 9 (Johnson (O) 64, 6), Rothery 8, Subs not used: Forrest, Dickinson.
Oxford City (4-4-1-1) – Scott 8, Benjamin 5, Stonehouse 4, (Winters 45, 6,) Pond 5, Lapojabe 6, Santiago 6, Hoban 5 (Mullings 63, 5) Del Alamo 5, Yussuf 8, Rodriguez 5 (Barcelos 63, 5), Kynan. Subs not used: Winters, Wilson, Green
Goalscorers: Guiseley: Boyes 20 & 26, Stonehouse og 43, Santiago og 78
H/T 3-0
Att: 486
Referee: Neil Sharp 7/10
