Guiseley were narrowly defeated 0-1 in a tight battle with Warrington Rylands on Tuesday night, writes David Bridson.
Ben Hardcastle’s 74th minute strike, which came courtesy of a defensive error, was enough to see the visitors emerge victorious.
Rylands began the game ferociously as Guy Hall’s fierce fifth minute effort was cast aside before the lively Alex Kiwomya netted but was ruled offside.
Leading scorer Jordan Thewlis, who has a couple of acrobatic goals to his name this season, saw a similar high-flying attempt sail wide nine minutes in.
Amir Berchil, ever the combative attacker, forced away goalkeeper Luke Pilling into a desperate sliding clearance in the 11th minute.
Moments later Conor Ferguson found Thewlis with pinpoint accuracy but the striker fired over the bar as the Lions mounted pressure on Warrington.
Lions goalkeeper Joe Cracknell poked George Waring’s header behind before Adam Caddick dragged a shot wide on the quarter-hour mark.
Jamie Spencer reacted well to block Hardcastle’s fiery 22nd minute shot which came after a sweet turn by the Rylands midfielder.
Emmett made a sterling run seconds later but couldn’t quite find Thewlis with his pass.
The game became a battle of midfield wits before Ferguson’s 35th minute header looped over the bar via Lucas Odunston’s cross.
Berchil’s boisterous strike was headed over deep into first half added time.
Rylands began the second stanza in the ascendancy as Hardcastle hit wide from the edge of the box on 48 minutes.
Two minutes later a wicked Hall cross seemed to be heading over Cracknell but the ‘keeper clung on to the ball well.
Hardcastle, a threat to the Lions all night, saw his cross slid over by Odunston in the 62nd minute.
Rylands subsitute Ryan Tioffo and Berchil collided heavily a minute later – a clash which saw the former booked.
A clever 67th minute Hardcastle flick couldn’t quite find a Rylands attacker before Will Longbottom’s long-range effort glided into Pilling’s grateful arms.
Berchil’s hazy 69th minute run sparked a fabulous ball to Thewlis but the latter was caught offside.
Odunston made a stunning block to deny Tioffo a minute later.
But it was ultimately the hard-working Hardcastle who seized all three points for the visitors in the 74th minute.
A defensive lapse allowed Hardcastle the freedom of the box to blast past a despairing Cracknell.
Longbottom’s vicious edge-of-the-box effort was frantically palmed away by Pilling with 11 minutes remaining.
Cracknell stopped Rylands doubling their advantage as he kept substitute Jake Burton out with six minutes to spare.
Hardcastle’s long-distance shot in the 89th minute was the final action of a poor night for the Lions.
Guiseley welcome Ilkeston Town to Nethermoor for more league action on Saturday 11th October with a 3pm kick-off.
Guiseley 0-1 Warrington Rylands | Tuesday 7th October 2025 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 598
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Connor Ferguson, 4. Jamie Spencer (78′ Knight), 5. Lebrun Mbeka (C), 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. Amir Berchil, 8. Harrison Hopper (80′ Silva), 9. Jordan Thewlis, 10. Jack Emmett (65′ Lufudu) and 11. Will Longbottom (85′ Buchan).
Subs: 12. Jay Buchan, 13. Spencer Booth (GK), 14. Joao Silva, 15. John Lufudu and 16. Lewis Knight.
