The Lions continued their unbeaten run against Bradford (Park Avenue) that stretches back over seven years, writes Ivor Timmis.
The match was preceded by a perfectly observed minute’s silence to mark the sad passing of our former player, Courtney Meppen Walter.
The Lions secured progression to the fourth round qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup with a deserved 1-0 win but only after surviving a late scare.
Lebrun Mbeka returned to the defence with Paul Iggulden dropping to the bench.
The opening exchanges set the tone for the first half: high intensity but scruffy with neither side able to establish a pattern or rhythm in possession. There was a threat from the Lions on five minutes when Kallan Murphy tricked his way to the byline, but his low cross was blocked.
A fast break after a BPA corner almost brought the breakthrough: Amir Berchil slipped in Jay Rollins, but Rollins’ fierce shot went over the bar.
Disaster almost struck for the Lions when Jack Hall hit his clearance against an onrushing BPA forward, but the rebound fell kindly and Hall was able to retrieve the situation.
A superbly struck shot from distance by Charlie Staniland was blocked on the edge of the area, the thwack of ball on flesh reverberating around the ground.
The game was frequently punctuated by fouls though Murphy managed another strong run into the area before being crowded out.
The breakthrough came after 38 minutes. Berchil hit a low cross towards the near post; Murphy got across BPA keeper Declan Lambton unsighting him so that he could only push the ball into the path of Elliot Owen who rolled home from a couple of yards.
As I heard someone say recently, ‘You don’t make your own luck, but you have to be in a position where luck can find you’.
The Lions weren’t far from a second when Jay Rollins broke through, but his cross went over everyone.
The story of the second half, until the last 15 minutes, was the Lions dominating possession and territory but failing to extend their narrow lead.
In a rare BPA break, Owen pulled off a great last-ditch tackle on Robbie Fox as he advanced on goal.
Soon after, Amir Berchil tricked his way to the byline and Lambton had to be alert to tip his shot from a narrow angle round the post.
With 20 minutes to go, the Lions missed a golden chance to put the game to bed. Lucas Odunston and Rollins worked a clever one two to set Odunston free into the area. Murphy looked to have a far post tap in from the resulting cross, but the ball ricocheted off one leg to the other and agonisingly wide. A pity as it would have been just reward for Kallan’s efforts in the match.
Berchil then hit the side netting from an angle before BPA began to throw caution to the winds and press for an equaliser. This led to a couple of chances on the break for the Lions: Berchil was put through by a great ball from Murphy, but Lambton saved well 1 v 1.
Berchil then slightly overhit his pass when there was a chance to put Jack Emmett through on goal.
Then the game’s defining moment: a lob over the top sent Bailey Thompson into the area with only Hall to beat. His shot was powerful and cleanly struck, and I was pencilling in the replay for Tuesday only for Jack Hall to make a quite brilliant save. And breathe …
The win was all the more creditable when you consider the array of injured talent sitting together in the stand: Aron Martin, Adam Lund, Kyle White, Jordan Thewlis and Ivor Timmis.
Guiseley 1-0 Bradford (Park Avenue) | Saturday 3rd October 2026 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 1,574
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Ollie Brown, 4. Harrison Hopper, 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Lebrun Mbeka, 7. Jay Rollins (77′ Emmett), 8. Charlie Staniland, 9. Kallan Murphy, 10. Cam Wilson (85′ Iggulden) and 11. Amir Berchil (90′ Tinker).
Subs: 12. Paul Iggulden, 13. Michael Roxburgh (GK), 14. Jack Tinker, 15. Jack Emmett, 16. Derren Boyle, 17. Frankie Sinfield and 18. Will Longbottom.
