Match Sponsored by Lighthouse Risk Services LLP

Segregation is in place for this fixture with York City supporters allocated the Railway End of the ground and entering via turnstiles 5-8.

The Lions are hoping for successive wins on home soil when York City visit Nethermoor on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off. 

Alex Purver scored the only goal of the game in a crucial midweek win against Curzon Ashton whilst The Minstermen fought back from 3-1 down with 10 men at FC United to draw 3-3.

It was the first win at home since 13th October in the league and the first three points since New Year’s Day.

York City meanwhile have rejuvenated under the management of Steve Watson who left Gateshead to join the North Yorkshire side.

Their away form in particular has been impressive with 10 points picked up on the road out of the last 12 available.

York were 4-2 victors at Bootham Crescent back in September but the last time they visited Nethermoor a crazy game, that included the floodlights going off, saw us win 6-1 in a memorable fixture during our three year tenure in The National League.

Ahead of the fixture Colin Robertson from Guiseley AFC Radio spoke to Russ O’Neill who gave us his thoughts on the midweek victory.

“It was a really pleasing performance, a clean sheet and three points were much needed and well deserved.”

“It was a very similar game to the first one, we dominated a lot of it and could have put it to bed in the first half. We were edgy tonight we have had four 1-0 reversals where we have just been on the wrong side of it. Tonight I am just glad we got three points for everybody at the football club.”

Speaking of the goal and the boost it gave his side the Joint Manager said “Confidence is everything in football, once we scored the relief around everybody made us loosen up and look as if we could score another, a clean sheet is massive for us, we have not kept too many of them this season.”

Home debutant Lewis Archer went down with a suspected hamstring injury and O’Neill said “You have seen the speed of him (Archer) he is lightening quick, he had got in there and fancied himself to get a shot in, when he went down it looked like he had been shot, I am hoping he is not in as much pain as a real tear could be. We will only be able to tell over the next couple of days.”

Looking ahead to the game Russ stated “It is a massive game, we have cup finals all the way to the end of the season now, it has an edge to it with it being a local derby, we are looking forward to it on the back of a good result and we can go in to it with a lot more confidence.”

Match winner Alex Purver caught up with Tom Feaheny and the central midfielder couldn’t have been more pleased with his night’s work.

“It was pleasing, it has been a tough time since New Year’s Day, I am more pleased about the result than the personal performance and the  goal, it was an important game and a very important win.”

“Everyone in the dressing room knew that tonight it really, really had to be a win, that makes it all the more pleasing when it comes together. Everyone worked really, really hard and dug in. We dominated the game throughout and deserved the win.”

Speaking of his goal and the celebrations that followed Purver said “That was probably the most excited I had been scoring a goal, Russ always gets on at me about getting on second balls especially on crosses, corners and throws, I think he will be more pleased with that than me!”

Alex had some fond memories of the last time The Minstermen were at Nethermoor “It was fun that last game against York, that was by far the craziest game I had ever played in with the lights going off and thinking it was going to get abandoned! I scored my first goal for Guiseley as well, it is a really important game they all are now on this run. I am looking forward to training on Thursday then this game on Saturday where hopefully we can have a repeat of this performance and result of tonight.”

West Riding County Cup final tickets will be on sale in the Club Shop for just £8 adults and £4 concessions, it is recommended supporters purchase their tickets in advance for this fixture.