The Lions’ winning run in pre-season came to an end at Liversedge’s Clayborn Ground on Friday night, writes Adam Bridson.
The packed week of action started with successive victories over Bradford City and Avro but it was a goal just before the interval which settled this one in sweltering conditions.
The home trialist cut in from the left hand side and fired an unstoppable shot past Joe Cracknell in the Lions goal to break the deadlock.
The visitors had arguably had the better of the chances before the opener, Jordan Thewlis even had the ball in the net but the assistant referee had his flag up to rule goal out for offside.
Joe Ackroyd came close to scoring the first goal of his second spell with the club but the home Sedge stopper got down well to keep the low effort out, the number 10 then hit the side netting five minutes before the interval after Thewlis saw his strike saved.
With a minute left on the first half clock the Liversedge winger danced his way to the edge of the box before unleashing a wonderful strike to light up a cagey first half of football.
The second half had little flow with both sides making the custom friendly changes to get minutes into their players’ legs.
Jake Lawlor came the closest to levelling the match with nearly thirty second half minutes on the clock when his header from a free kick grazed the roof of the net on its way over.
Ackroyd again was looking dangers as we approached the final 10 minutes of the night, his effort from just outside the area flashed past the post.
It proved to be the last chance of a tight game as the Lions move their focus to successive home friendlies against Leeds United U21s on Saturday 27th July and a Barnsley X1 side on Tuesday 30th July.
Liversedge 1-0 Guiseley AFC | Friday 19th July 2024 | The Clayborn Ground
Attendance: TBC
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Ollie Brown, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Foley Nkem, 6. Jake Lawlor (C) (77′ Burrows), 7. Jordan Thewlis (69′ Valsau), 8. Adriano Moke (73′ Walters), 9. Trialist A, 10. Joe Ackroyd and 11. Trialist B (32′ Grzelak).
Subs: 12. Kyle Burrows, 13. Danny King (GK), 14. Sam Walters, 15. Miguel Valsau and 16. Oliwier Grzelak.