Guiseley Ladies looked to their first league game in 2 weeks after a frustrating defeat to Barnsley in the League Cup Qtr. Final and a two week absence due to weather.
The ladies hosted league newcomers Lepton Highlanders down at Otley Town with the Nethermoor turf engaged due to a national cup fixture. Guiseley took on Lepton in their first league game of the season, walking away with a 1-4 away win and were looking to gain some well needed points. Guiseley welcomed back Rachel Landricombe, Amy Parker, Abi Garland and Erin Boswell who had all been absent over the past month due to injury and holidays.
The Ladies also reverted to an attacking formation of 4-3-3 to utilise the attacking talents within the team, the back four consited of Abi Barker, Katie Matthews, Laura Danskin and Caroline Cropp.
Alarna Fuller took up the role of holding midfielder with Amy Parker and Rachel White infront as the attacking force, with Julie Richardson & Rachel Landricombe to the right and left with Caz Hulme upfront.
Guiseley started brightly from the off with some good early chances almost converting into goals with Caroline Hulme and Rachael White with some great instinctive runs. Guiseley’s attacking formation showed some great passing play, using Rachel Landricombe and Julie Richardson’s pace on the wings. Guiseley took the lead on around 8 minutes with some good build up play through Parker and White which saw Caroline Hulme run clear and take on the keeper 1 on 1 to smash it over the keeper – 1-0 to Guiseley.
The second goal came quickly as some great pressure in the Lepton final third, with the keeper having a lot of work to do. The shot from Richardson was saved but only to fall to Rachael White to at full stretch tapped in goal 2.
Lepton struggled to get into the game with no clear chances in the first half, Guiseley however capitalised on their possession and Leptons frustrations. Guiseley scored their third goal through a free kick just on the edge of the area, Abi Barker stepped up with a dipping cross which saw Amy Parker meet the ball with a fine header into the far corner leaving the keeper stranded. 3-0
The fourth goal came from top goalscorer Caroline Hulme who took her league goal tally to 15 in 12 games, with a total of 22 for the season in all competitions.
HT 4-0
The second half saw Guiseley continue to dominate play, the back four of Barker, Matthews, Danskin and Cropp were strong with Danskin and Matthews yet again throwing themselves at everything that came in their way with both making cracking tackles giving goalkeeper Boswell little to do. White and Parker both continued to be strong in midfield with Alarna Fuller sitting just in front of the back four letting little get through. White & Parker’s height dominating the midfield and working well with the wingers and Hulme creating lots of chances. Richardson made way for Faye Shipman who switched sides with Rachel Landricombe who took the right wing. Abi Garland also came on for Rachael White after suffering a nasty whack in the cheek, Garland returning after a couple of months out with a knee injury. Guiseley continued to press, infuriating Lepton who were beginning to show their frustration. Lepton did start to make more of the game with some pressure down the wings and a couple of corners which were easily dealt with by Guiseley. Jamie Lee Smith came on at right back for Abi Barker, Smith linking well with Landricombe and Fuller who worked tirelessly to support both the defence and forwards. Lepton had their first real chance of the game late on when their right winger broke free to take on Boswell one on one with the Lepton players shot into bottom right hand corner tipped around the post. Lepton continued to work till the death and were awarded a penalty in the dying seconds after Boswell took down former Guiseley player Heather Wilshaw, after initially saving the shot Wilshaw was caught in a scrambled for the loose ball. The Lepton captain converted the penalty with minutes left.
Full time 4-1 to Guiseley with the player of the match Rachel Landricombe
Goals from Hulme x2, Parker & White.
Manager Liam Kelly said after the game
‘When you think of the conditions, the pitch and the lack of games lately; Today we only had two objectives, to win and not pick up injuries due to the surface. It’s pleasing to have attained both of them. I thought we were terrific in the first half. Dictated the tempo, controlled the ball and direction of play and got the goals we deserved from it.
We actually played better football in the second half, in terms of possession, passages of play, combinations, individual skill just didn’t get the goals from it.
‘Today was a good day, we have our consistent performers within the team, but now the likes of Rachel White and Rachel Landricombe are improving and producing at a good time of the season. I thought the midfield was terrific, controlled it well, passing combinations, disciplined. You look at the likes of Fuller and Parker and think how do we make them better, how do we take a top performer and improve them and bit by bit were adding the finer detail to there game and they are getting better and better”
“Also the players need a big congratulations, this season was
about transition with progress and today we got to16 points which is 2 points more than was achieved last season with 8 games to go. The players know what our expectations are for this season and we are in a good place, the challenge now is to get the momentum to reach them goals”
Next week the ladies host Barnsley at home in the league down at Nethermoor. Kick off 2pm
Follow all the latest news from the ladies on Twitter @GuiseleyLadies
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