Read how Guiseley battled their way to an goalless draw in an absorbing match at Worksop Town this evening in this match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
Fielding a starting line-up that included eight trialists the Lions struggled to put their stamp on the game in a first half on the newly laid 4G surface where Worksop had most of the possession but couldn’t break down a resolute Guiseley defence with Will Thornton at its heart and Declan Lambton between the sticks.
Nathan Newall made up the trio of the three regulars and it was his cross midway through the half that nearly created the visitors first chance but the home defence managed to put the ball behind before any of the trialists could take advantage.
With most attempts on the Guiseley goal either being fielded by Lambton or sailing wide or over the bar the custodian was thankful to Trialist number two for his timely clearance off the line before the rangy number nine fired in the visitors first attempt on goal which finished up in the car park five minutes before the break.
Spurred on by this Matty Gillam brought a fine fingertip save from the home keeper on the halftime whistle.
There were no changes at the break and whatever had been said in the Guiseley dressing room clearly had an impact with an immediate increase in tempo that signalled to the home side that it was game on.
Number nine put one over the bar but the Lions’ best spell came after the introduction of Hamza Bencherif, Dan Cowan, Mark Howarth, Prince Ekpolo, Kaine Felix and Gabriel Johnson.
Especially when the latter chased down a ball that seemed to be going dead and crossed it for number nine to direct his downward header into the bottom corner but the home keeper was equal to it and pulled off a good save. He then put a cheeky half volley with the outside of his foot just over the bar as the Lions upped the tempo.
Several attacks came and went without really troubling the Tigers defence and the home side applied some serious pressure as the clock ticked down but the Lions held out for a well-earned draw from their second pre-season outing.
The Lions now travel to Nuneaton Borough on Saturday 5th September for a 3pm kick-off with a trip Mickleover FC next Tuesday 08 September (7:30 pm ko) to come, by which time they will know who their early season opponents will be as the league fixtures are due to be released at 1pm on the same day.
Lions team:
- Declan Lambton (66′ Damba), 2. Trialist (65′ Cowan), 3. Trialist, 4. Trialist (65′ Howarth), 5. Trialist (37′ Cantrill), 6. Will Thornton (C) (65′ Bencherif), 7. Matty Gillam (77′ Thornton), 8. Trialist (65′ Ekpolo), 9. Trialist, 10. Trialist (65′ Felix) and 11. Nathan Newall (65′ Johnson).
Subs:
12. George Cantrill, 13. Hagie Damba, 14. Mark Howarth, 15. Dan Cowan, 16. Hamza Bencherif, 17. Kaine Felix, 18. Prince Ekpolo and 22 Gabriel Johnson.
