Jordan Thewlis’ neat finish helped Guiseley to victory against the threatening Gainsborough Trinity at a foggy Northolme, writes David Bridson.
The striker cooly slotted home a 74th minute winner following substitute Jack Emmett’s sweet pass.
Jake Lawlor gave the Lions the lead on the stroke of half time; his shot slipping past home goalkeeper Dylan Wharton after Adriano Moke’s slick ball in.
The home side began brightly with Guiseley preventing an early attack spearheaded by the lively Declan Howe.
The Lions also had to be alert to prevent Javelle Clarke finding Howe with ten minutes gone. Two quick crosses were also cleared by a resolute Guiseley back-line in the 18th minute.
A shirt pull on Leo Farrell by a Trinity defender two minutes later left management duo Mark Bower and Danny Boshell fuming.
Lebrun Mbeka’s pinpoint header was cleared off the line in the 24th minute following Will Longbottom’s clever free kick.
Howe fired well over just two minutes later as both sides battled for supremacy.
Makeshift midfielder Ollie Brown’s cross was hit straight at Wharton on the half hour mark.
Five minutes later Gainsborough’s Ashley Jackson saw his cross blocked before team mate Will Lancaster shot far wide.
A speedy Guiseley counter attack concluded with Leo Farrell dragging his opportunity just off target.
The 37th minute saw Mbeka’s header rattle the post, Thewlis have a shot blocked by Wharton then see a strike crash against the bar all in the space of mere seconds.
Prince Ekpolo found the grateful arms of Wharton three minutes shy of the half time whistle before Trinity’s Lewis Butroid headed just wide sixty seconds later.
Lawlor pounced on a tricky Moke cross to give the away side the lead just prior to the referee’s half-time whistle.
Farrell blasted over the bar in the 50th minute before Howe tried to lob away goalkeeper Joe Cracknell.
Brown’s determined run and superb pass found Farrell in the 62nd minute but the Lions attacker blazed over.
Cracknell made a splendid save to deny Butroid an equaliser in the 71st minute.
Thewlis’ fine finish gave Guiseley all three points following three successive draws.
The game became somewhat bad tempered as Longbottom and Dylan Cogill clashed going for a ball in the air before Jake Lawlor was booked for a crunching tackle in the 81st minute.
Guiseley not only won the game but kept their first clean sheet since the win over Hebburn Town in mid-November.
The Lions next face Bamber Bridge at Nethermoor on New Year’s Day with a 3pm kick-off.
Gainsborough Trinity 0-2 Guiseley AFC | Thursday 26th December 2024 | Northolme
Attendance: 811
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Jameel Ible (C), 3. Liam Ridehalgh, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Lebrun Mbeka, 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. Ollie Brown, 8. Adriano Moke, 9. Leo Farrell (72′ Farrell), 10. Jordan Thewlis (84′ Ackroyd) and 11. Will Longbottom.
Subs: 12. Sam Bentley, 14. Joe Ackroyd, 15. Gabriel Johnson, 16. Jack Emmett and 17. Lewis Whitham.
