Bower eyes points against Barrow

Sponsored by The Moody Cow Steakhouse, Bar and Grill in Apperley Bridge and Ilkley

Guiseley return to Vanarama National League action this Saturday when they take on Barrow at Nethermoor.

A week on from the Lions’ last league outing – a much-needed 2-0 win over Welling United – Mark Bower’s men face another side around the lower reaches of the table.

Despite a midweek West Riding County Cup defeat to Silsden – where a youthful side bowed out at the first hurdle – confidence is somewhat restored at Nethermoor with Bower eager for his side to pick up where they left off last weekend.

A clean sheet and maximum points, made all the sweeter by two debut goals from Bury loanee Anthony Dudley, mean Bower is eager to build on that momentum against opponents his side have struggled against in recent seasons.

“I think we broke a duck earlier in the season when we got a point at their place,” he said, referring to the 1-1 draw at Holker Street in August.

“We never seem to get a result there but it would certainly be nice to get back to back home victories together like we did do earlier in the season, it can make a massive difference to you. They’re a team that are not too far away from us in the league and one we’d ideally like to reel in and climb above.”

A Nicky Boshell free-kick on the stroke of half time chalked off Jason Walker’s 36th-minute goal in the reverse fixture, although both sides have since had difficulties in adapting to the top tier of non-league football following promotion last term.

Barrow sit two places and two points ahead of Guiseley, with Bower adding: “After [Saturday] we’ve got Cheltenham, Eastleigh and Tranmere so they’re going to be tricky games.

“Both us and Barrow will look at it as an opportunity to get some points on board and if we can take a lot of the discipline and shape and determination the lads showed against Welling we’ve got every chance of getting the result.”

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