The Lions progressed to the next round of the FA Trophy with an ultimately convincing 4-2 win against Bamber Bridge, writes Ivor Timmis.
As is so often the case, the Lions started at a high tempo and nearly scored after three minutes when Cam Wilson’s free kick from the corner of the area was dropped by Brig keeper Charlie Brier, who then redeemed himself by clawing the ball away when Kallan Murphy looked set to score.
This sparked a period of Lions pressure and an excellent run by Murphy took him to the byline but his clever, dinked cross found no takers.
However, the pressure finally told on 16 minutes when Charlie Staniland’s surging run took him to the byline and his low cross was half cleared only to hit Ollie Brown and ricochet into the net.
There was an element of fortune, but it was reward for Brown’s frequent forays into the box.
The Brig almost responded immediately when Jack Hall was forced to parry a fierce shot from Billy Bould into the air, and the rebound was headed over by Tyler Mansbridge.
The Lions staged something of an onslaught on the Brig’s goal. Lucas Odunston and Staniland combined down the right several times, and when Odunston was brought down on the edge of the box, Brier in the Brig goal was forced to tip Cam Wilson’s fizzing free kick over the bar.
A deserved second goal duly arrived when Amir Berchil robbed the full back before coolly rounding the keeper and slotting home.
However, just when you thought it was safe, a lob over the top of the defence was met by an unmarked Bould who drilled in an excellent half volley from an angle. 2-1 at half-time was no reflection of the balance of play but the complexion of the game had changed.
Worse was to follow a minute into the second half when an unmarked Archie Lang latched onto a weak clearance and hit a brilliant curling shot into the far corner from left hand edge of the area.
For a while the match was much more evenly contested until the Lions began to reassert authority. Berchil won the ball 30 yards from his own goal before making an incredible 70-yard run culminating in a low cross which was eventually cleared.
It was evidence the Lions were regaining confidence as Odunston performed a pirouette turn which has become a feature of his repertoire this season.
Brown put Murphy through 1 v 1 with a brilliantly weighted pass after winning the ball on the touchline with a crunching tackle. The angle was tight, however, and Brig keeper Brier blocked Murphy’s shot.
25 minutes into the half, Wilson found Jack Tinker in the area, who was brought down as he surged towards the byline. CWilson moved forward to take the penalty, without the need for rock, paper and scissors, and coolly sent Brier the wrong way from the spot.
It was all Guiseley now and five minutes later a Berchil cross found Kallan Murphy at the back post – after controlling the ball neatly on his thigh, he lifted the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
There followed a raft of substitutions which included a welcome return to action for Jay Rollins who almost scored after an excellent through ball from fellow sub, Jack Emmett.
There was also further game time for Frankie Sinfield and Derren Boyle.
The victory was especially commendable as it was secured in the absence of Lebrun Mbeka, Kyle White, Adam Lund, Jordan Thewlis, Aaron Martin and Will Longbottom.
It was good to see Will Longbottom taking part in the warm-up after a long absence. The win sets up the Lions well for the Tuesday night league match at Alfreton and the mouthwatering FA Cup tie against Bradford (Park Avenue) on Saturday.
The game saw the Lions score four goals in three successive competitive games for the first time in over 46 years.
Guiseley AFC 4-2 Bamber Bridge | Saturday 26th September 2026 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 552
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Lucas Odunston (70′ Emmett), 3. Jack Tinker, 4. Harrison Hopper, 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Paul Iggulden, 7. Ollie Brown (C), 8. Charlie Staniland (85′ Boyle), 9. Kallan Murphy (70′ Rollins), 10. Cam Wilson (77′ Sinfield) 11. Amir Berchil.
Subs: 12. Jack Emmett, 13. Michael Roxburgh (GK), 14. Derren Boyle, 15. Frankie Sinfield and 16. Jay Rollins.
