This match was a reflection of Guiseley’s season in microcosm as they went down five nil to promotion chasing Brackley Town at Nethermoor this evening, the only saving grace being that it wasn’t an even heavier defeat. Read how in our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
In reaction to the 3-0 defeat at York last time out management made three changes leaving defenders, Ollie Brown and Andy Hollins, on the bench while Hamza Bencherif, Andy Kellett and Regan Hutchinson all started.
England Schoolboys Under 18’s captain Josh Stones and the returning Kaine Felix were on the bench and it was only when these two were introduced with twenty minutes remaining that the Lions finally offered any sort of threat up front.
Brackley were quick out of the blocks and forced a second minute corner which resulted in a free header that was superbly saved by Owen Mason but having not heeded the warning, a second corner a minute later was headed home unchallenged by Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.
Eight minutes later and Mason climbed to punch a cross away from the head of Jaanai Gordon with the Brackley player went to ground. Referee James Westgate deemed the challenge to be a foul and James Armson doubled the visitors lead from the resultant penalty despite home protestations.
Unable to build any momentum the home side struggled to put any meaningful moves together and were constantly giving the ball away or losing out to a physically stronger Town side but there was no excuse when a long throw in from the left evaded everyone in the Guiseley penalty are and inexplicably finished up in the back of the net.
Then one stray pass too many gifted Matt Lowe an easy chance which he took to put Brackley 4-0 with just 21 minutes on the clock.
It took a further twenty five minutes before the Lions fans were given some hope as a double change saw James Gale and Andy Kellett make way for Josh Stones and Kane Felix and the effect was almost immediate as Stones forced defenders into conceding two throw ins and a superb clearance from Mason set Felix off down the right hand channel but his shot across Danny Lewis was just wide of the far post.
Dom Tear put a couple of efforts just wide of the mark and Stones forced Lewis to his knees as the Lions at last offered some resistance, all of which was undone on 82 minutes as they conceded another penalty allowing Lowe to complete his hattrick and compound a misearble night for a home side who looked disorganised, lacking in leadership and without a viable game plan.
Constant changes to the starting line-ups and a myriad of loan signings have hampered the continuity that comes from a settled side and as a result the Lions have amassed just 23 points from a possible 81. The only saving grace being that only one side will be relegated from the National League North this season and Guiseley have two or three games in hand on their rivals in the relegation scrap. But any more performances like this evenings and Nethermoor will be hosting Northern Premier League football next season.
Attendance: 415
Team: 1. Owen Mason, 2. George Cantrill, 3. Thierry Latty-Fairweather, 4. Jason Sraha, 5. Hamza Bencherif (C), 6. Lebrun Mbeka, 7. Dom Tear, 8. Scott McLean, 9. James Gale(70′ Stones), 10. Andy Kellett (70′ Felix) and 11. Regan Hutchinson.
Subs: 12. Ollie Brown, 14. Andy Hollins, 15. Kaine Felix, 16. Adam Haw and 17. Josh Stones.
