Josh Stones first senior goal was enough to give Guiseley a crucial victory in the relegation six-pointer at AFC Telford United this evening. Read how the Lions did it in our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
This potential six pointer began with the home side going close after just five minutes when Saul Shotton’s header skimmed off the top of the bar.
But having survived this early scare it was the Lions all the way after that as the home side struggled to get out of their own half for much of the rest of the opening 45.
Andy Kellett was the main driving force behind the Lions dominance but his early free kick on the edge of the area came to naught.
His second effort was blocked by the Telford defence and when he did provide the Lions first clear cut opening with a clever reverse pass to Stones, the striker’s class finish was ruled out by an offside flag.
Mbeka’s shot then lacked power to beat Ted Cann in the home goal as the Lions struggled to find a decisive finish despite their dominance.
Stones pulled another shot just wide on 34 minutes and Cann then denied Jamie Spencer before Prince Ekpolo’s ferocious shot from a wayward defensive clearance hit the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety
The second period began much like the first as Jason Oswell’s header from a corner flashed across Owen Mason’s goal.
But again it was a slow start to the half as both teams strived to create any meaningful openings.
Ollie Brown cleared from under his own bar on 64 minutes as Telford finally found some momentum and Zak Lilly fizzed a shot just the wrong side of the post from 25 yards out for the home side.
In an attempt to freshen things up Lewis Hey replaced Kellett on 67 minutes and ten minutes later Hamza Bencherif and Spencer both went close before Stones just failed to get the better of Cann in a one-on one with the keeper on 74 minutes.
Eleven minutes later though it was a different story as the young striker made amends by converting Spencer’s cross to the back post with a deft header to bag with his first senior goal.
With four minutes of added time the Lions bolstered their defensive capabilities with the addition of Brad Nicholson who replaced Regan Hutchinson on 90 minutes in order to see the game out.
The victory opens up a five point gap between Guiseley and the hosts, moving the Lions up to eighteenth place in the table while leaving Telford propping up the division going into Festive Period.
Team: 1.Owen Mason, 2. Ollie Brown, Jake Hull, 4. Prince Ekpolo, Hamza Bencherif, Lebrun Mbeka, Andy Hollins, 8 Jamie Spencer, 9 Josh Stones, 10 Andy Kellett (67’ Hey) and 11 Regan Hutchinson (90’ Nicholson)
Subs: 12 Brad Nicholson, 13 Declan Lambton, 14.Lewis Hey and 15. Adam Haw
