AJ brace sinks Oxford

Two first half goals from Alex Johnson proved to be difference as Guiseley extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a 2-0 win over Oxford City.

Guiseley were first to threaten as Danny Forrest’s shot looked destined for the top corner before Lee Henderson got in the way.

On fifteen minutes however a sweeping move downfield ended with Forrest finding Wayne Brooksby on the opposite flank for the winger skip past Paul Stonehouse and put the ball across where Johnson beat Victor Francoz with a stooping header for the opener.

The home side doubled their lead ten minutes later when a quick bout of interplay on the edge of the eighteen yard box saw Johnson in possession, back to goal, sidestep his marker before twisting a beating Francoz with a sublime shot into the far corner.

In between times City’s Darren Pond had hit a piledriver, which Steven Drench did well to parry, but it and Michael Pook put a glancing header just wide before the break.

But these proved to be the only resistance Oxford could summon as they struggled to cope with the pace of Brooksby and Forrest down the flanks whilst lone striker Johnson was proving a real handful for Henderson and Chris Willmott.

Johnson nearly completed his hattrick on the restart but was just short of converting another another inviting cross from Forrest.

Brooksby then robbed Stonehouse and came inside to create space for himself but his effort lacked the composure of the first period and sailed over the bar.

Oxford were marginally better in the second half but never really troubled Drench in the home goal.

Pushing forward, they also left gaps at the back and should have been punished when Craig Hobson got the better of a defender on the right and laid the ball back to the unmarked Michael Potts only to see the midfielders effort gratefully smothered by Francoz.

Mark Bower’s post-match interview

Match sponsors: Grosvenor Casinos

Entertainment value: ****

Star man: Alex Johnson (Guiseley)

Teams:  Guiseley – Drench, Holdsworth, Meynell, Rea , Lockwood, Hall, Brooksby, Boshell, Johnson (Hobson 79), Forrest, Rothery (Potts 67) Subs not used: Lawlor, Swain, Dickinson

Oxford City – Francoz, Ballard, Stonehouse, Malone, Henderson, Willmott, Jackson, Pook (Benjamin 76), Symonds (Robinson 69), Pond, Winters Subs not used: Palmer, Learoyd, McEachan

Goalscorers: Guiseley – Johnson 15, 25.

H/T 2-0

Att: 409

Referee: Billy Khatib

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