The Ladies hosted newly promoted Chester Le Street at home on Sunday for the first home game of the season. The girls were looking to continue their recent run of form and to push on from last week’s 4-1 win at Lepton.
From the off it was clear that Chester Le Street had made the long trip from Durham with winning intentions and immediately put the Guiseley defence under pressure. The early pressure paid off when the home side struggled to clear deep corner which saw the away side slot away across goal after 5 minutes. Chester with a flat four in midfield overloaded the midfield and looked to play the long ball tactics with their pacey forwards looking for gaps in the Guiseley defence. With little time to settle Chester Le Street were celebrating their second goal which saw their number 10 clean through with only the advancing Guiseley goalkeeper to beat, she neatly tipped the ball over the keeper to make it 0-2 within 10 minutes. After an early wake up goal Guiseley started to pick themselves up and play the kind of football we all know and love.
With the tempo of the game now picking up, right back Yasmin Ayub and right wing Julie Richardson were starting to link up play and using the support of central midfielder Alarna Fuller & holding midfield Katie Jesson to feed balls through to the two forwards Rachel White & Caroline Hulme. This counter attack paid off with great build up player by Guiseley, with Jesson and Fuller linking well leading to feeding the ball through for Hulme to take the keeper on, nick it round her and slot into the back of the net to pull the score to 1-2.
Guiseley were again building play from the back through left back Caroline Cropp & left winger Abi Garland again looking to feed the balls through for the Guiseley forwards. A quick switch of play to Fuller in the middle and a ball into the right corner for Richardson to match with her impressive pace saw a near perfect ball into rising Hulme to head the ball into the back of the net leaving their keeper with no chance.
With Chester Le Street starting the get frustrated this was noticeable in the play and discipline, with two instances in the first half. The first a challenge on the Guiseley keeper advancing to clear and ball taken clean out and a second a nasty challenge on Guiseley play-maker Julie Richardson which saw Richardson having to leave the field with a swollen ankle, being replaced by striker Lindsey Hopton on the right wing. Half time was then called with Guiseley just starting to dig their heels in!
HT: 2-2
With the half time break coming at a bad time for the home team, the girls came out having to build that fighting spirit all over again. The second half starting with a 20 minute patch of pressure for the home team with centre backs Laura Danskin& captain Katie Matthews having to deal with long through balls after another .With the home team missing Richardson’s breaks in play Chester Le Street continued to press the home side with Guiseley struggling to string passes together like they have in the past couple of games. With a full bench available, White was replaced by Amy Parker who switched with Garland and Hopton to see Hopton partner Hulme upfront and Garland on the right.
With Chester Le Street now taking advantage of their physical nature , there were two clear fouls on captain Katie Matthews that should have resulted in a yellow card at least. With one sending the player crashing into the advertising board and the second an arm round the neck aiming to restrict Matthews from reaching the free ball . With 15 minutes to go and the away team still putting Guiseley under pressure they launched a long ball deep into the box, goalkeeper Boswell jumped to punch the ball away only to be blasted in the ribs by the away striker, with the clear foul on the goalkeeper ignored the loose ball fell to the away side who smashed the ball deep into the corner to make the scores 3-2.
Sally Jones replaced Yasmin Ayub at right back for the final ten minutes, Guiseley again tried to feed balls through to their key forwards but were overhauled in midfield and struggled to deal with the away wingers pace.
Chester Le Street had once last chance in the final minutes which saw the midfielder pick up a lose headed ball the smash the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards, in all fairness an amazing goal leaving Boswell with no chance.
The game ended 2-4 to Chester Le Street with the Guiseley Player of the Match going to Katie Jesson for some fantastic hard work and great tackles.
Guiseley manager Liam Kelly added “It’s very early days, so one defeat isn’t going to dictate our season. But we need to be aware you can’t play like that and expect to win. We do have the talent and to go 2-0 down in 15 mins and come in at half time at 2-2 also shows we have the desire and bounce back ability, but we need to produce this over 90 minutes, not in little 20 minute patches and that’s what we need next week; bounce back ability”
The ladies head to Peterlee next week looking to take the positives from fighting back from conceding two early goals.
