Drench heroics cap dogged defensive display

Guiseley showed their play-off pedigree to become the first team to do the double over league leaders North Ferriby in a tense and exciting game.

The victory was all the sweeter as the Lions were reduced to ten men for virtually the last 24 minutes after Ben Parker had been shown the mandatory red card as the last defender after upending Nathan Jarman in the area.

The game started at a cracking pace and visiting keeper Antoni Pecora did well to punch the ball off Adam Boyes’ head before the home side went ahead on ten minutes.

The lively Wayne Brooksby created the opportunity, cutting in from the left to feed Gavin Rothery, who side stepped his marker to deliver a crisp low shot into the far corner beyond Pecora.

Boyes was then denied by the keeper’s legs after he had robbed the static Mark Gray.

Jarman had a free kick superbly saved by Steven Drench at the other end and Kevin Holsgrove was a whisker away from doubling Guiseley’s advantage but was forced just too wide and his effort was cleared by Danny Hone.

And Jarman had a goal cancelled out by an offside flag as a breathless first half came to a close.

Drench made another telling save just after the restart as Ferriby sought an equaliser but when they were presented with a golden opportunity following Parker’s dismissal, Jarman’s spot kick was superbly saved by Drench.

Guiseley replaced striker Kevin Holsgrove with defender Rhys Meynell and mounted a stubborn rearguard action for much of the remainder of the game, and although Drench needed to pull off another two key saves the visitors never really looked like squaring matters.

Mark Bower’s post-match interview

Entertainment value: ****

Star Man: Steven Drench (Guiseley)

Teams: Guiseley: Drench, Holdsworth, Parker, Hall, Ellis, Lawlor, Brooksby, Boshell, Boyes, Holsgrove (Meynell 68), Rothery. Subs not used: Forrest, Potts, Johnson (A), Dickinson.

North Ferriby United: Pecora, Robson (Kendall 90), Wilde, King, Gray, Hone, Clarke, Fry, Wilson (A), Jarman, Emerton (Yates 43). Subs not used: McMahon, Peat, Ramsden.

Goal: Guiseley – Rothery, 10.

H/T 1-0

Att: 554

Referee:  Mr Mark Ackerman

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town