The Lions will play for the second time in just three days tomorrow afternoon, as they face Bradford (Park Avenue) on Bank Holiday Monday at Nethermoor Park in a 3pm kick-off, writes Harry Ware.
Match sponsored by: Vertu Jaguar Land Rover Guiseley
Tickets will be on sale on the day at the turnstiles with payment by cash or card.
It is cash payments only inside the ground for programmes and 50/50 cash draw tickets. Food and drink from The Lions’ Diner and clubhouse food servery can be paid for by cash or card and the clubhouse accepts and prefers payment by card.
Tickets are priced at £12 adults, £8 concessions/students/registered disabled, U18’s £5 and accompanied U11’s £1.
Previous Meetings
Guiseley and Bradford (Park Avenue) have had several battles down the years, having spent many years together in the Vanarama National League North.
However, after Bradford’s relegation from Step Two last season, this will be the first time the two have met since the end of the 2021/22 season.
On that occasion, it ended in a stalemate between the two sides, with a similar outcome at Nethermoor.
A last-minute equaliser from Regan Hutchinson meant the Lions claimed a point in the home fixture.
If Paul Phillips’ side are to claim all three points tomorrow afternoon, they will have to overcome a common theme in recent meetings between the two sides which will favour the visitors tomorrow.
In six of the last nine meetings between the two sides, the visiting team has gone onto win the game, with Guiseley without a win at Nethermoor in those meetings.
The Lions’ Form Book
After going two-nil up at Lancaster yesterday, it looked as though the Lions were set to claim their second league win of the season.
Leigh Whelan put Guiseley ahead before Tom Pratt doubled the advantage just before half-time, putting the Lions in control at the break.
However, Sam Bailey scored to put the hosts back in the game inside the first ten minutes of the second half.
This was followed by an equalising goal from Charlie Bailey to give Lancaster City a point.
It means the Lions find themselves at the wrong end of the table. Just two points separate themselves and Marske United in the relegation zone.
A Look At Bradford (Park Avenue)
Tomorrow’s visitors, BPA, will be looking to put last season’s relegation behind them this campaign as they bid to bounce straight back to the Vanarama National League North.
A disappointing start for the Green Army was followed by a draw and back-to-back wins against Morpeth Town and Ilkeston Town.
William Longbottom scored a brace last time out against the latter in a 4-1 win for Bradford, adding to the goal he scored in a 1-1 draw against Bamber Bridge just over a week ago.
Former Guiseley man Mark Bower is in charge of the visitors, and will be looking to lead Bradford to their first away win of the campaign and brings former Lions George Sykes-Kenworthy, Jamie Spencer, Jordan Preston and Oli Johnson with him to Nethermoor.
A Look At The Lions
The Lions go into the Bank Holiday Monday derby missing the services of a few key players.
Captain Liam Tongue and Prince Ekpolo are both out through injury whilst Brad Wade continues his short break away from the game for personal reasons.
Gabriel Johnson is likely to return though after he missed the trip to Lancaster for personal reasons.
Courtney Meppen-Walters has featured on the bench in the last two away trips and Jack Dyche made his first appearance of the season as a second half substitute at Lancaster.
Reece Kendall will be eligible to face BPA following his red card at Gainsborough and Danny Devine and Ollie Battersby are both in line to make their home debuts.
What Are They Saying?
Paul Phillips spoke to us after the draw against Lancaster City:
“There’s no conviction in what we’re doing. We should be four-nil up at halftime. Two-nil up away from home you have got to manage it. I’m disappointed.
“We look vulnerable in what we do because we’re not on the front foot enough.”
“There are a lot of tired bodies, so we need as much support as we can.” – Paul Phillips
On the first half, Phillips said “I thought we played well, but the game is over 90 minutes.
“Collectively we have got to be better.
“We need to concentrate on what we’re doing. If you asked me before if I would have taken a point, a lot of people probably would have said yes, but we’ve now got to win our game on Monday.”
Phillips also sent a message to the fans ahead of tomorrow’s game at Nethermoor.
“It was a great turnout today. We’ve not given them a lot to shout about over the last couple of weeks.
“We need people to get behind us on Monday. There are a lot of tired bodies, so we need as much support as we can.”
Tickets for the game with Bradford (Park Avenue) can only be purchased at the turnstiles on the day. Don’t forget to pick up a matchday programme for just £3, it is packed full with exclusive content with what you will find inside detailed here.
