Marske striker Adam Boyes departed Nethermoor with the match ball and all the Boxing Day points after bagging a hat trick against his former club, writes Colin Robertson.

However, it was an underwhelming Guiseley performance that was manager Andy Welsh’s focus.

“We were everything we have not been since I came in,” he said after the match. “For everyone today I’m just bitterly disappointed. It was out of character for us, we were second or third to every ball. As a minimum we have to out-work our opponents. Then you have to try and affect the other team when you are at home, and we just didn’t do that today.”

Markse arrived in West Yorkshire fighting against relegation and for their club’s survival with the Seasiders needing to raise £120,000 just to see out the season.

The opening stages suggested a good afternoon was on the cards for the Lions.

Guiseley started the game well. Two early free kicks gave Liam Tongue the opportunity to test his range, but the midfielder could not find a way past Marske goalkeeper Jaan Yaqub.

Tom Denton then flashed a header just wide following Reece Kendall’s cross after only 4 minutes as the Lions continued to pile on the early pressure.

However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 20 minutes. The Lions failed to clear their lines inside the box and the ball fell to Boyes who neatly finished into the bottom corner of the net.

The Lions responded immediately. A Leigh Whelan corner curled beautifully onto the head of Kendall who had shrugged off his marker on the edge of the six-yard box. His header thumped into the back of the net to level the scores on 22 minutes.

Marske fought back once more, and after 31 minutes Ollie Battersby produced a fine save to deny former Guiseley man Donald Chimallilo. Battersby became increasingly occupied as the first half headed to its conclusion and was again on hand to prevent Boyes from adding to his tally just before the break.

The second period started brightly for Guiseley with a series of corners, however Marske continued to look dangerous on the counterattack. Boyes poked the ball just wide following a quick break on 51 minutes.

As the half progressed the match become more attritional, resulting in a series of yellow cards, freekicks, and stoppages as both teams struggled to break the other down.

However, as the game entered the last ten minutes, the match exploded into life.

The visitors capitalised when Kevin Burgess headed the ball towards Boyes on the edge of the area. Aiden Walker tumbled to the ground under pressure from the Marske frontman who then stabbed the ball past Battersby restore the visitor’s advantage on 79 minutes. The Lions protests for a foul on Walker were waved away by referee Jamie Rhodes.

It went from bad to worse for Guiseley three minutes later.

A pass back to Battersby bobbled awkwardly in the box and Boyes, who had pressed the goalkeeper all afternoon, capitalised on a miskick to slot the ball home into the open net.

Guiseley rolled the dice and made attacking changes including Tom Pratt on for defender Walker. The gamble almost paid off.

Prince Ekpolo, fired home from inside the penalty area on 87 minutes to continue his fine recent goalscoring form and give the Lions hope.

In stoppage time Guiseley might have secured a point when Denton flicked the ball onto Pratt who lashed the ball past Yaqub. However, referee Rhodes had previously whistled for a foul on Denton and so play was brought back for a free kick. In the aftermath Pratt received a second yellow card for dissent and the Lions were reduced to ten.

At the final whistle the visitors celebrated a crucial on field victory while Guiseley’s squad huddled in the centre circle to reflect on the narrow defeat.

“We will be training on Saturday,” concluded Welsh after the match. “We need to be prepared for the big derby that is coming, it’s important that we bounce back.”

Guiseley 2-3 Marske United | Tuesday 26th December 2023 | Nethermoor

Attendance: 756

Team: 1. Ollie Battersby, 2. Ollie Brown, 3. Reece Kendall, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Aiden Walker (86′ Chippendale), 6. Jameel Ible, 7. Leigh Whelan, 8. Liam Tongue (C) (65′ Miller), 9. Tom Denton, 10. Gabriel Johnson and 11. Kallan Murphy (83′ Pratt).

Subs: 12. K’Marni Miller, 14. Tom Pratt, 15. Jack Mason, 16. Callum Chippendale and 17. Foley Nkem.