Lions Devour Spartans In The Sunshine

Guiseley put the disappointment of Saturday’s home defeat behind them as they scored four at Croft Park against bottom side Blyth Spartans.

They were put to the sword with the opener coming from Lee Shaw with Aaron Martin adding a brace – one from the spot – and an own goal from Robert Dale who ironically grabbed what proved to be a consolation for the Spartans.

In a game that could have seen a glut of goals it was the visitors who took the lead when a Blyth corner was cleared up field where Shaw took the ball down the channel before cutting in to fire a shot past Nathan Harker on 38 minutes.

Nathan Harker is beaten all ends up by Lee Shaw’s opener
Shaw takes the plaudits

This after both sides had traded blows with Spartans belying their position at the foot of the table with some neat play as they mounted several forays into enemy territory without really testing George Sykes-Kenworthy.

Indeed, it was Martin who had come closest during this first half hour to breaking the deadlock but his first time shot from Brad Nicholson’s long throw flew over the bar.

The ex-Brighouse Town striker also went close again just before half time but this time his effort went just the wrong side of the upright.

Aaron Martin goes oh-so close
Aaron Martin goes oh-so close

Joe Robson sliding at the far post nearly squared matters for the home side shortly after the restart but it was a basic defensive error at the other end that led to the visitors doubling their advantage just before the hour after a neat interchange between Aram Soleman and Nicholson had forced a corner that the latter floated to the far post where the unmarked Martin headed home.

Aaron Martin (out of shot) heads home the Lions second

Nine minutes later the Lions grabbed their third goal in bizarre circumstances as Martin’s shot on the turn brought a good save from Harker at full stretch, only for the striker to pick up the loose ball and fire it across the six yard box where it glanced off Simon Garner before hitting Shaw and then rebounding off the unfortunate Robert Dale and into the net.

 

Dale was quick to make amends a minute later though when a cross-field pass found him down the righthand channel and his clinical strike across Sykes Kenworthy flew into the far corner.

Stung by the Spartans reply the visitors defence wobbled a couple of times before regaining their composure for Martin to complete his brace from the penalty spot after Nicholson had been pulled back in the area with three minutes of normal time remaining.

 

Attendance: 891

Team:

1 George Sykes-Kenworthy
2 Reiss McNally
3 Brad Nicholson
4 Dylan Barkers
5 Hamza Bencherif
6 Scott Garner
7 Lee Shaw (Sam Scrivens 87)
8 Jamie Spencer
9 Aaron Martin
10 Aram Soleman
11 Gabriel Johnson

Subs:

12 Paul Clayton
13 Lloyd Allinson
14 Alex Starcenko
15 Kennedy Digie
16 Sam Scrivens

 

 

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Prescot Cables vs Guiseley