The ladies travelled to Scunthorpe with 10 players on Sunday after having the withdraw from the previous weeks game away to Whitley Bay after struggling to raise a full team. After the Ladies losing narrowly in a 2-3 defeat at home earlier in the season the Ladies were not going to give up without a fight.
Despite starting the game with a player down the girls game firing out of the blocks with some good early possession to put the wind up Scunthorpe. With some good early chances in the first few minutes, Guiseley were intent on making their team spirit the 11th player.
Scunthorpe had a flurry of chances missed with what felt like a 10 minute block of corners, however Guiseley defended well and put their bodies on the line to defend their goal. Polly Fildes & Abi Barker were working tirelessly to make runs and feed balls through to Amy Parker and Caroline Hulme, both who had a couple of early shots saved well by the Scunthorpe keeper. Frustratingly some offsides decisions not going Guiseleys way leaving Caroline Hulme unfortunate not to add to her great goal tally for the season. However Guiseley continued to cause great bouts of pressure creating Scunthorpes players to get increasing frustrated with Guiseleys fantastic defensive three made up of Caroline Cropp, Captain Katie Matthews and Laura Danskin. At one point Scunthrope’s attacking players were like ‘puppets on strings’ with the defensive line stepping up and leaving goalkeeper Boswell with little to do. Guiseley took the lead on around 25 minutes with a spectacular piece of skill and power from fans favourite Amy Parker. After intercepting a pass around 40 yards out, Parker took a neat touch out of her feet and let off a ‘rocket of a shot’ leaving the keeper no chance. The goal was Parker’s first since her 8 goal ‘smash and grab’ against Rothwell Town in the County Cup before Christmas. Guiseley continued to dominate with some great passing play, leading from the back with Fildes and Barker giving great options and causing Scunthrope all kinds of nightmares with their pace and great passing play. Alarna Fuller and Rachael White both putting up the fences and giving 100% to stop Scunthorpe breaking through and intercepting their play. Alarna Fuller put through some amazing balls for Caroline Hulme to be frustrating pulled for offside.
HT 0-1 to Guiseley
The second half came at a good time for Guiseley to get a well earned rest and refuel for what was going to be an extremely tough 45 minutes in soaring heat with 10 players. Scunthorpe had more of the ball in the second half, but their counter attacks were easily dealt with by the back three who rarely needed to call upon the keeper. Scunthorpe equalised after a flukey goal by their captain. After being awarded a free kick, the Scunthorpe midfielder whipped the ball to the left hand side of the goal which looked to be going wide or an easy ball for Boswell to deal with only for the Scunthorpe captain to lose her marker and cut across goal to head the ball back acrross goal into opposite corner leaving Boswell stranded.
With the girls knowing they didn’t deserve to conceed, they were not giving up the fight. They continued to press and attack running deep and creating some great chances from open play and corners. Fuller narrowly scoring from a freekick. The breakthrough of the game came with around 15 minutes to play when Cropp headed the ball down for Parker to put a textbook ball through for Hulme to calmly take the keeper one on one and neatly finish to make it 1-2 to Guiseley!
Both teams had chances in the later stages but Guiseley stood their ground and defended up until the last kick of the ball.
Final score 1-2 – Goals from Parker & Hulme
Captain Katie Matthews said after the game :
So proud of all the girls today, what a performance! Scunthorpe FC have always proved a difficult opposition for Guiseley, even with a full squad of players. To arrive at the ground with 10 players and not only win, but win convincingly is something every player should be proud of. The re-shuffle in formation and positions didn’t faze anyone and each and every one of the 10 players played with heart, determination and a no fear attitude. Some great inter play right from defence to attack, and two good goals, in particular Amy Parker’s stunning strike from 40 yards. Proud to captain the team today and proud to say I was a part of it. Well Done girls!
The Ladies have just two games remaining this season, next week hosting Hessle and then Castleford White Rose on the 19th May both games down at Otley Town.
Details to be confirmed but follow all the latest news from the girls on Twitter
