Classic game of two halves sees Lions extend home form

Once again the teamsheet showed a raft of changes for this afternoons clash with seventh placed Boreham Wood at Nethermoor and after a tepid first period second half goals from Rob Atkinson, Will Hatfield and Jake Cassidy extended the Lions home record to four games unbeaten.

There was an early scare for the home side as Maxted’s parry from Angelo Balanta was cleared by Danny Lowe and Daniel Uchechi was then a whisker away from converting a cross before Jordan Preston’s attempt from 18 yards was collected by Grant Smith.

Jamie Lucas headed over from a good position for Wood and then it took some agile goalkeeping from Smith to prevent Simon Walton’s shot sneaking in after it had taken a couple of deflections to wrong foot the vistiting custodian.

In complete contrast to ther dull first perod the second half began in sensational fashion as Rob Atkinson forced his way between two defenders to head home Walton’s corner from the left and put the Lions ahead.

Three minutes later Will Hatfield doubled the home side’s advantage as lax defence by the visitors allowed Cassidy to pounce however he was unable to create space for himself and Hatfield picked up the ball, slipped a defender and then smashed the ball past Smith for the second.

Danny East’s powerful header then brought a diving save from Smith before Kenny Davis halved the deficit with a far post header on 69 minutes.

And just as the home fans were anticipating another late setback Cassidy won a header in the far corner which was picked up by Preston who fed Hatfield and when the midfielders shot was parried,  Cassidy slammed home the loose ball to put the game beyond Boreham with ten minutes remaining.

The win  moves the Lions off the foot of the table up to 22nd courtesy of  North Ferriby losing at Solihull Moors who coincidentally were the last team to lose to Tuesday’s opponents York City. That was back in early September since when the Minstermen have not won a game in sixteen outings and as a result now sit one place below Guiseley.

Team:

26 Maxted

25 Atkinson

23 East

8 Hatfield (Logan 90+1)

2 Brown

15 Palmer

3 Lowe

22 Purver

24 Walton

19 Preston

29 Cassidy (Rankine 88)

Subs:

9 Boyes

11 Rankine

17 Atkinson

20 Williams

32 Logan

Post match interviews:

Adam Lockwood

Jonathan Maxted

Alex Purver

 

 

 

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town