Guiseley slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Nethermoor to a physical Ilkeston Town, writes Edward Robertson.
Mark Bower was disappointed with how his charges handled challenging opposition, a game that ultimately resulted in his exit.
“We gift wrapped them some of their goals, it was a combination of us letting them through for their goals and also the chances that we missed. We had to try and dominate the game and we just didn’t do that after the first couple of minutes.”
The Lions did began brightly. Following a deflected free kick, Will Longbottom whipped an accurate cross into the path of Leo Farrell. The returning striker chested the ball to Jordan Thewlis, whose effort was scrambled off the line.
Longbottom had another opportunity from a set piece twenty minutes later, but his effort flew over the crossbar.
With the game approaching the half an hour mark, Sam Essien broke away from the Guiseley back line. He was stopped effectively in his tracks by the defensive play of Lucas Odunston.
However the subsequent corner was pounced on by the visitors. Sam Parker’s header slammed against the crossbar, only into the path of Harvey Kirby-Moore who poked the ball past Joe Cracknell.
Things went from bad to worse in the second half for the Lions. A defensive error released Dylan Youmbi, who coolly slotted the ball down the middle to double Ilkeston’s lead.
As the clock ticked past sixty minutes, the hosts saw a flash of hope. Farrell’s ball into the box was headed over the bar by Thewlis.
The visitors had another chance moments later as Seth Okyere’s powerful run and effort was poked away by the foot of Cracknell.
Another chance to make it three passed the visitors by as Youmbi’s effort richocheted off the post, before being stabbed away from danger once again by Cracknell.
With twenty minutes left, the Robins had their third. Jake Lawlor lost possession on the edge of the box and Essien pounced on the slip. The midfielder charged forward and slashed the ball home.
Guiseley had one last chance to work their way into the game minutes later, as substitute John Lufudu looped the ball into the path of Farrell. The striker’s tap towards goal rolled narrowly wide of the far post.
With the game in its dying embers, Ilkeston grabbed a fourth. Youmbi picked out Marty Thornhill on the edge of the box. The defensive midfielder’s effort was saved by Cracknell, but the rebound rifled into the bottom corner.
Guiseley managed a late consolation with only minutes left on the clock, when Farrell wriggled away from his marker and accurately snuck a shot beneath the diving frame of the goalkeeper.
It was a disappointing game for the Lions after a difficult week. Successive defeats meant that the hosts were under pressure for a result away at Warrington Town to set their form back on track.
Guiseley 1-4 Ilkeston Town | Saturday 11th October 2025 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 1,078
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Ollie Brown, 4. Jack Emmett (67′ Silva), 5. Lebrun Mbeka (C), 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. Amir Berchil, 8. Harrison Hopper (57′ Spencer), 9. Leo Farrell, 10. Jordan Thewlis (82′ Buchan) and 11. Will Longbottom (57′ Lufudu).
Subs: 12. Connor Ferguson, 14. Joao Silva, 15. Jay Buchan, 16. Jamie Spencer and 17. John Lufudu.
