Lions into last 16

Image courtesy of John Rhodes

Guiseley exacted revenge on Bradford Park Avenue for their FA Cup defeat earlier this season, registering a comfortable victory on Saturday against an Avenue side they had beaten by the same scoreline in the Skrill North earlier this week.

Having taken an early lead through Ben Parker’s ninth-minute strike, the Lions failed to capitalize on their dominance and it was left to stoppage-time goals from Gavin Rothery and Alex Johnson  to put the gloss on what should have been a more emphatic victory.

Right from the off, Wayne Brooksby had a goal-bound header blocked by Adam Clayton and then he played a short corner in to Rothery, who crossed for Parker to emerge from a clutch of players and beat Lamb.

After the home side lost Danny Forrest to injury, his replacement Craig Hobson nearly doubled the Lions’ advantage twice, but he saw his first header cleared off the line while his second was kept out by Lamb’s instinctive reaction.

Danny Hall crashed a shot against the visitors’ bar as a rampant Lions side looked to press home their advantage, but they were thankful to goalkeeper Steve Drench for keeping out Alex Davidson’s low shot midway through the second period.

Johnson, Rothery, Brooksby and Danny Boshell all went close before Avenue were  reduced to ten men when. After strong appeals for an Avenue penalty were waved away, the ball was played out to Johnson down the left channel where he was pulled back by Richard Marshall, who received a red card for his second caution.

Guiseley then took full advantage of the visitors’ depletion, Rothery latching on to  Boshell’s slide-rule pass to finish with aplomb before Johnson held off two defenders on the edge of the area to shoot beyond Lamb and ensure the final scoreline reflected the game overall.

Mark Bower’s post-match interview

Star Man: Gavin Rothery (Guiseley)

Entertainment Value: ****

Teams: Guiseley: Drench; Holdsworth (Capt), Parker; Potts, Lawlor, Hall; Brooksby, Boshell (D), Johnson, Forrest (Hobson, 35), Rothery.  Subs not used: Harrison, Whitfield, Swain, Dickinson.

Bradford: Lamb; Howarth, Price (Hume, 80); Marshall, Clayton (Maxfield, 63), St Juste; Chilaka (Corner, 60), Boshell (N), Davidson (Capt), Deacy, Walker. Subs not used: Grayson, McMurray.

Scorers:  Guiseley- Parker 9, Rothery 90, Johnson 90

H/T 1-0

Att: 476

Referee: Ian Hussin

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town