Mark Bower’s Lions side sealed back to back pre-season victories at Avro’s Vestacare Stadium last night against their 10 men hosts, writes Adam Bridson.
The Lions boss opted to shuffle his pack, with another friendly on Friday night at Liversedge to come, with seven changes to the starting 11 after the victory over Bradford City on home ground.
It was one of those who was drafted into start who sealed the night’s only goal and his first for the club, Will Longbottom slotted past Grant Shenton in the home net midway through the first half from the spot.
Oliwier Grzelak also went close with a couple of attempts in the early stages and Joe Cracknell had to make a good stop to deny Avro from breaching the backline.
Longbottom had a shot from range as the Lions looked to take the lead in Manchester but Shenton watched the effort drift wide of the mark.
It was that man Longbottom though who took the penalty 23 minutes in after a handball on the line from a home defender. A scramble in the box, which also saw Longbottom strike the post from close range, ended when a bouncing shot was grasped out of the top corner by the home side’s number five.
As a result his evening ended early leaving the hosts playing the remaining 70 minutes with a one man disadvantage.
As a cagey first 45 came to an end Bower made a double substitution with goalscorer Longbottom and Jake Lawlor being replaced by Adriano Moke and Foley Nkem.
The second half had limited openings for both sides and it wasn’t until the closing stages that either keeper had a save to make with Shenton denying Grzelak late on.
Bower made full use of his eight strong bench with substitute goalkeeper Danny King being the only one to have a watching brief of the action.
The night did end on a sour note for Jake Wright who suffered an injury in the closing seconds of the game.
The Lions have a quick return to action with a trip to Liversedge’s Clayborn Stadium on Friday night ahead of home games against Leeds United U21s and a Barnsley X1 side to come.
Avro 0-1 Guiseley AFC | Wednesday 17th July 2024 | The Vestacare Stadium
Attendance: TBC
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Lucas Odunston (70′ Wright), 3. Trialist A, 4. Prince Ekpolo (80′ Walters), 5. Jameel Ible, 6. Jake Lawlor (C) (46′ Nkem), 7. Miguel Valsau (70′ Thewlis), 8. Oliwier Grzelak (81′ Burrows), 9. Trialist B (46′ Longbottom), 10. Joe Ackroyd (65′ Trialist C) and 11. Will Longbottom (46′ Moke).
Subs: 12. Sam Walters, 13. Danny King (GK), 14. Foley Nkem, 15. Kyle Burrows, 16. Trialist C, 17. Adriano Moke, 18. Jordan Thewlis and 19. Jake Wright.
