Saturday’s hard fought yet unfortunate loss to Gateshead FC marked the final fixture of the Lions’ pre-season football as they now ready themselves for the start of what is sure to be a tough campaign.
Jon Shaw’s mid-second half goal at the weekend secured a fairly balanced outcome from Guiseley’s pre season fixtures with Steve Kittrick’s side winning three and losing three.
Consolation, however, can be taken from these losses given the fact that two of the opponents, Bradford City and Gateshead FC, regularly compete at a higher level of football. Not an excuse the team will be looking for but a fact none the less.
Throughout the six friendlies played, the Lions have acquired a goal ratio of just above two, conceding only five goals and netting an impressive twelve. Eleven of which came from different individual members of the current squad, with Gavin Rothery being the only multiple goal scorer of pre season.
Victories such as the massive 5-0 against Harrogate Railway and performances as enthusiastic as the Lions narrow loss to League 2 side Bradford City show the full extent of the character and determination Kittrick’s recently improved side is capable of.
On the flip side, however, a slightly troubling factor for Guiseley fans is the lack of goals and results acquired at home during pre-season. These figures will definitely aimed to be improved upon and must be if Guiseley hope to gain that all-important promotion at the end of the competitive season.
Lions manager said: “We start our league a home to Hinckley United and we have a stronger squad than last season. But that doesn’t mean that we are saying that we will gain automatic promotion. The minimum aim is, as it was last season, getting to the play-offs.”
Guiseley face Hinckley United at Nethermoor on Saturday 13th August with a 3pm kick-off.
