In a scintillating display the Lions were convincing three nil winners against a Stockton team who have been difficult opponents for us in the last couple of years, writes Ivor Timmis.
There was one change from the away win at Curzon Ashton: Jordan Thewlis replaced Kallan Murphy, who dropped to the bench.
The Lions started with real intensity and a high tempo which they sustained throughout the match. The first chance arrived after barely a minute: Adam Lund’s long throw was returned to him before his far post cross found Thewlis who sent the ball back across goal, but Lebrun Mbeka was just unable to force the ball home at close range.
The Lions were impressive in attack though occasionally guilty of trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle on the edge of the box.
Quality crosses from wide rained into the Stockton area, but the redoubtable Adam Nicholson and his fellow defenders stood firm.
On 26 minutes, Cam Wilson was pulled down on the edge of the box, and his well struck curling free kick was tipped wide by Stockton keeper, Nathan Harker.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 34th minute. A neat move down the left found Wilson on the edge of the box. He dribbled forward before opening his body to curl a precise low shot into the far corner. It was a goal of real quality. The Lions continued to press and dominate until half time. The only concern was that the Lions’ dominance had not produced more than one goal.
That was soon rectified, in slightly bizarre fashion, in the 46th minute.
Stockton keeper, Harker, opted to take a free kick right on the halfway line, a move you might expect in the 96th minute but not the 46th. His kick went directly into Jack Hall’s hands.
Hall showed great presence of mind to launch a flat drop kick into the path of Amir Berchil who drove forward before rounding the retreating keeper and rolling the ball into an empty net. A richly deserved reward for Berchill and his blend of high energy and skill.
Stockton carried a threat from set pieces and Hall was forced to palm a Nicholson header over.
Lund was prominent whenever the Lions were forced to defend and the back four kept a tight rein on opposition danger men, Frank Nouble and Stephen Thompson.
Just before the hour, Kyle White, who made a several dangerous runs forward from left back, found Thewlis just inside the area, but his left foot volley was charged down.
It was not long, however, before the third goal arrived. White took a right-wing corner which was cleared directly back to him. This time he opted to drive in a low near post cross which was turned in by Eliot Owen, a predatory finish any striker would have been proud of.
Murphy replaced Aaron Martin and soon produced a lung busting run and left wing cross which Nicholson had to turn over his own bar.
The Lions’ defence was relatively untroubled although Thomas Coulthard headed a corner wide at the far post.
Ian Richards made three further changes in the last 15 minutes: Jack Emmett replaced Thewlis; Paul Iggulden came on for Wilson while Derren Boyle replaced Charlie Staniland.
The Lions could easily have added to their tally but had to be satisfied with three.
The team has produced good spells in all matches this season, but this performance, full of skill, energy and purpose, was hugely impressive for the full 90 minutes.
The Lions go into the weekend fixtures against Lancaster City at Nethermoor on Friday and Emley away on Monday on the back of three consecutive wins and will be determined to build on that run.
Guiseley 3-0 Stockton Town | Tuesday 25th August 2026 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 601
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Charlie Staniland (90′ Boyle), 3. Kyle White, 4. Adam Lund, 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Lebrun Mbeka (C), 7. Jordan Thewlis (79′ Emmett), 8. Harrison Hopper (74′ Brown), 9. Aaron Martin (71′ Murphy), 10. Cam Wilson (86′ Iggulden) and 11. Amir Berchil.
Subs: 12. Paul Iggulden, 14. Ollie Brown, 15. Jack Emmett, 16. Kallan Murphy and 17. Derren Boyle.
