Brooksby’s goal proves the difference

Wayne Brooksby’s strike saw the Lions through to the Third Qualifying Round as they avoided a potential banana skin at the Butcher’s Arms this afternoon.

Droylsden, who ply their trade two levels below Guiseley, came close to taking advantage of the Lions’ inability to impose themselves on the game and ensured a nervy last fifteen minutes for the visiting fans.

Manager Mark Bower was forced into two changes as Andy Holdsworth and Nicky Boshell replaced the suspended Danny Ellis and FC Halifax loanee Josh Wilson, refused permission to play by his parent club.

In a bright start, Adam Boyes had an effort blocked and Gavin Rothery’s follow-up was saved by keeper Russ Saunders.

The home side were just a whisker away from opening the scoring soon afterwards as a slip by Danny Lowe let in Kevin Leadbetter, who luckily put his shot the just the wrong side of the post.

Although Boyes and Rothery both had efforts saved, the home side were given a golden opportunity midway through the first half when Fernando Moke was deemed to have been fouled in the area, but Steven Drench easily saved Ciaran Kilheeney’s weak penalty.

Wayne Brooksby and Nicky Boshell combined well shortly afterwards only for keeper Saunders to save at the second attempt.

When the former won a tackle in midfield and advanced towards goal, decoy runs by Boyes and Nicky Boshell created space for the former North Ferriby man to place a left-footed shot across Saunders and into the corner of the net.

In a lively opening to the second half, Danny Boshell flashed a shot just wide from twenty yards and Moke did the same at the other end.

Moke then waltzed past three Lions defenders but was ultimately denied by Drench.

Boyes had a deflected shot saved by Saunders before a sustained period of pressure saw the home side going all-out for an equaliser, although the closest they came was an effort from the irrepressible Moke that looped just over the angle as the clock ticked down.

Bower’s charges will find out their Second Qualifying Round opposition on Monday lunchtime.

Mark Bower’s post-match inteview

Team:

1-Drench

2-Toulson

3-Parker

4-Lowe

5-Holdsworth

6-Lawlor

7-Brooksby 38

8-Danny Boshell

9-Boyes

10-Nicky Boshell (Forrest)

11-Rothery (O Johnson)

12-Marshall

14-Forrest

15-Stockdill

16-O Johnson

18-Dickinson

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Mickleover vs Guiseley