Guiseley were heavily defeated 4-0 away at the F.Ball Community Stadium by an in-form Leek Town side, writes Edward Robertson.
Mark Bower was not happy with his side’s performance on the road. “I’d like to apologise for everyone connected with the club who’d come down here today, only for us to put in a performance that I’m embarrassed by. They didn’t have loads of chances, but when they did get the goals they didn’t have to do much, which is really disappointing.”
The hosts began the game as they intended to go on with an early chance. Alex Hurst’s low cross was met by Will Russ. The striker’s flick towards goal clipped the post and rebounded clear.
However, it was the Lions who looked more likely to break the deadlock with twenty minutes gone. Jay Buchan’s free kick floated into the path of the onrushing Jake Lawlor. His diving header was impressively saved by Dino Visser.
One minute later, Guiseley threatened the Blues again. A tricky solo run from Jordan Thewlis opened up an opportunity for a close range effort, but his shot was deflected over the bar.
The visitor’s purple patch ended spectacularly moments later. The referee signalled for a Leek spot kick after Jamie Spencer’s mistimed challenge brought Jack Griffiths tumbling to the floor in the box. Hurst stepped up to take the penalty. His shot rather fortuitously crept beneath the diving frame of Joe Cracknell and rolled into the net to open the scoring.
Four minutes later, Leek threatened to double their lead. Following some neat interplay spearheaded by Griffiths, Jordan Hodkin found space on the edge of the Lions’ box. He hammered an effort towards goal, which bounced clear.
With half time approaching, the hosts made it two. An accurate ball across the face of goal from Griffiths ricocheted into the path of Lucas Weir. The rangy forward slotted the ball past the reaching palm of Cracknell.
For Guiseley, things went from bad to worse in the last action of the half as Leek notched a third. The ball soared into the clutches of Liam Edwards in the box following a precise free kick. The defender tapped home from close range, much to the disappointment of the travelling supporters.
The beginning of the second half saw no improvement from the Lions as they conceded the fourth. Some tidy play in the midfield released Jordan Hodkin. The striker surged past the Guiseley back line and towards the goal, before coolly rolling the ball into the bottom left corner.
Leek Town began to sit back as the second half wore on, as the Lions struggled to surmount a credible challenge to a sizeable lead.
In the dying moments of the game, the visitors registered a shot on target. Connor Ferguson’s cross was latched onto by the diving head of substitute Taylor Bowen, but his effort could only hit the post.
The home side could have had a fifth moments later. Oliver Shenton’s corner was met by Russ, but his header shaved the crossbar.
Guiseley had a chance for a consolation deep into stoppage time. A defensive mishap was latched onto by Amir Berchil, but his shot only rifled the side netting.
It was a hugely disappointing afternoon for a Guiseley side that had showed such promise at Warrington Rylands the previous week. Bower was keen for his side to string together some consistency as they host Prescot Cables on Tuesday.
“We didn’t see that performance coming after last week. We’ve gone from one extreme to the other from last week to this week, and we need to find an answer to that and stop it happening because we need to be doing better.”
Leek Town 4-0 Guiseley | Saturday 6th September 2025 | The F.Ball Community Stadium
Attendance: 528
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2.Ollie Brown, 3. Connor Ferguson, 4. Jamie Spencer (55′ Emmett), 5. Lebrun Mbeka, 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. Jay Buchan (46′ Lufudu), 8. Harrison Hopper, 9. Jordan Thewlis (69′ Bentley), 10. Amir Berchil and 11. Will Longbottom (55′ Bowen).
Subs: 12. Lucas Odunston, 14. Jack Emmett, 15. Sam Bentley, 16. Taylor Bowen and 17. John Lufudu.
