Guiseley 3 Whitley Bay 1

A rapid start to the game laid the foundations for the ladies to see off what were expected to be tricky opponents from the north east.

With five minutes gone a cross from the left found Nadine Bates who converted from close range. Within two minutes an old fashioned up and under found Tanya Rich who was able to double the advantage.

The security of the two goal lead saw Guiseley take a foot off the gas, and the visitors enjoyed a spell of dominance. With 25 minutes on the clock they were right back in the game, as a shot from the edge of the box was fired high in to the Guiseley net. Guiseley came back in to life, and before half time the two goal cushion was restored. Whitley failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Tanya Rich who struck from 30 yards out.

The second half saw Guiseley largely in the ascendancy. The visitors defence, though well organised, and dominant in the air, were picked apart by some incisive passing, and were not helped by their more advanced players being unable to stop the ball coming straight back at them. Only some wasteful finishing prevented Guiseley from adding to their lead. Having scored from more difficult chances Tanya Rich was unable to complete her hat trick, though as the half wore in she hit the bar and went close with a lob following a weak clearance from the visiting keeper. At the other end Danni Maslin was largely a spectator, as the Guiseley defence did a good job of keeping a lively centre forward away from goal.

Late on the game threatened to spill over. A tussle near the touchline saw the referee take on the unenviable task of putting substitute Kerrie Zserdicky’s name in his notebook, though her opponent was lucky to escape with a yellow card after aiming an elbow to the Guiseley player’s midriff.

The result saw the ladies move up the third in the league. They complete the league programme with a home game against Peterlee next Sunday.