With league champions officially confirmed, it’s time for Guiseley to secure a play-off place. They will be hoping for a third successive win too when Matlock Town visit Nethermoor on Saturday, writes Scott Kelly.

Match sponsored by: Wetherby Whaler | Match Ball sponsored by: SMH BCL Accountants

Past Meetings

The sides met just three weeks ago, with the Lions drawing 0-0 in Derbyshire in a rearranged fixture on March 8th.

Matlock have only won one of their nine games at Nethermoor this century, winning a Northern Premier League fixture 4-2 back in 2004, with Guiseley winning all of the last four games on home turf.

The last fixture on home soil was a 4-0 victory in November 2023, with current players Gabriel Johnson and Prince Ekpolo among the scorers.

Last Time Out

Hebburn Town 0-1 Guiseley

The Lions picked up another three points on their way towards securing a play-off place with a 1-0 victory at Hebburn Town.

Guiseley started on the front foot and in the ninth minute Lewis Whitham’s shot bounced into the net off Lebrun Mbeka, but the latter was flagged offside.

Just over 10 minutes later and the Lions had the lead. John Lufudu latched onto a through ball from Jack Emmett. He was through on goal, and he fired an effort beyond goalkeeper Dan Cameron.

Based on chances created, the Lions should’ve added more goals, but they secured a solitary goal victory and their fourth clean sheet on the bounce.

Post-Match With The Gaffer

“The only thing missing was that finishing touch on one or two occasions to make it a bit easier for us”

Boss Mark Bower felt the side should’ve won by more and was delighted to secure yet another clean sheet.

“We were disciplined out of possession. Made good decisions we won a lot of first contacts. We have defended well and got ourselves back into a decent run of form”.

Alluding to those clean sheets, Bower was full of praise for his defence and goalkeeper Joe Cracknell who had little to do. Cracknell proudly told Bower before the game he had kept 17 clean sheets, with the 18th coming here.

“Just keep going. Don’t concentrate on anyone else. If we get ourselves into those play offs sooner rather than later, we can make sure that we are hitting those play offs in the best possible shape”.

A play off place could be confirmed as early as this Saturday, with victory over Matlock and an Ilkeston defeat against Warrington Rylands enough to put the Lions in the end of season lottery.

The Lions’ Team News

The sides recent good form is making selection a bit easier for Bower. 19 goal forward Will Longbottom got 20 minutes off the bench at Hebburn and will be pushing to play.

As will Gabriel Johnson. He was replaced by match winner John Lufudu for the Hebburn game. Sam Bentley and Jamie Spencer will also be hoping to make the starting XI, but Lucas Odunston is likely to miss out once again.

Matlock Town

Interim Manager: Adam Clayton
Stadium: Causeway Lane
Nickname: The Gladiators
23/24 League Position: 15th

The Gladiators have seen huge changes on and off the pitch since the sides last met. Ryan Cresswell left his role as manager on March 16th, just eight days after he met the Lions in a league clash.

The following week, they lost 3-0 to Bamber Bridge and the board felt they needed to act with the club winless in 11 games.

Former Leeds United and current Gladiators midfielder Adam Clayton has since been appointed as interim manager until the end of the season and made an immediate impact last weekend. They won for the first time since January 14th, beating Blyth Spartans 2-0 thus condemning their opponents to a second successive relegation.

Montel Gibson’s brace has put them to within a point of safety but they are however winless away from home since November when they coincidentally won 4-0 at Blyth.

Clayton has added two new signings since his appointment. Ellis Litherland has joined the club on loan from Bolton Wanderers, with the goalkeeper having kept a clean sheet last weekend. Forward Terry Bondo also joined on loan from Blackpool. The 18-year-old has made six first team appearances for the club, with the game against Guiseley likely to be his debut.

The rest of the squad largely remains from Cresswell’s time in charge, with Gibson the club’s leading goalscorer with 17 goals.

Bob Jeffray 1940-2025

Sadly, we heard the news our Life Member and former Wednesday Gang volunteer and Kit Manager Bob Jeffray had passed away aged 84 on Sunday 23rd March.

Before the game on Saturday, we will hold a minute’s applause to pay tribute.

Tickets and Matchday Information

Tickets will be available to purchase from our turnstiles on Saturday priced at:

• Adults: £13
• Concessions (Over 66s/Students/Registered Disabled): £9
• 11-18 Year-Olds: £5
• Accompanied Under-11s: £1

Payment can be made via cash at all our turnstiles and card at turnstiles 1 & 2. ‘The Lions’ matchday programme will be on sale for £3 from sellers near each turnstile and our Club Shop.

It is cash payments only inside the ground for programmes and 50/50 cash draw tickets. Food and drink from The Lions’ Diner can be paid for by cash or card and the clubhouse accepts and prefers payment by card.