Dave Currie’s Young Lions slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Otley Town this afternoon to FCV International Football Academy in the Champion of Champions competition.
After going behind to a fourth minute goal by a very big and physical AV International Football Academy Guiseley Academy hit back to dominate the second-half. They forced an equaliser before succumbing to two late goals in this knock-out game.
After levelling through Adam Haw in the 77th minute Guiseley appeared to switch off defensively as if awaiting extra-time.
The Stamford side were certainly a big outfit and posed a big challenge for Guiseley on their first step in the National League Under-19 Alliance knockout competition for all the divisional league winners Guiseley set out to try and emulate their performance in this competition last season when they reached the final. Dave Currie’s side was lacking a number of players who have played in his title winning side this season.
Some like Akram Aliyu had to play out of position but the smallest player on the field proved that he had a big heart by sticking to his task against a much bigger opponent.
Guiseley had few chances in the first-half as the Lincolnshire side dominated but they came out in the second-half to force their way into the game with left-back Nathan Newall to the fore as they pressed time and time again down the left but failed to make their chances pay.
Haw had a couple of chances, Mustapha Coker put his cross too close to,the ‘keeper before Tabish Hussain put Newall in but he rushed his shot and put it wide.
Rafael Marques Ferreira then hit the bar with his header after a good cross from Haw.
It was all Guiseley at this stage and Haw saw the ball bobble before connecting and his effort went over the bar.
In the 77th minute Haw atoned when he glanced his header low into the far corner from a cross by substitute Robbie Fox.
The visitors shot wide in front of an open goal before Fox had a couple of chances with his head, one chance being headed down and bouncing up over the bar.
In the dying minutes the Guiseley defence lacked concentration and left space for the visitors to hammer in twice from close range to seal a 3-1 win.
Nevertheless it has been another excellent season for Guiseley Academy winning the divisional title and perhaps more telling seeing Tabish Hussain, Nathan Newall, Luke Hogg, Jake Young and Aleks Starcenko making it into the first team squad and Jake Young signing for Sheffield United.