Lions return to action with a win

On a cold but clear evening, the Lions finally got to start a League game against a Brackley side that are up amongst the frontrunners again.

The returning Kevin Holsgrove started up front with Adam Boyes, with the two Johnsons – Oli and Alex – on the bench together with Jack Rea, Danny Forrest and Steve Dickinson.

Brackley were first to threaten, but their attack made little impact on a well-drilled Lions defence and it was the visitors who went closer early on when Billy Turley fumbled a corner and was thankful to the covering full-back for clearing Town’s lines.

Shortly afterwards, Holsgrove beat Turley with a low shot only to see the covering defender clear the ball from the six-yard box.

The pressure did eventually pay, though, as Andy Holdsworth’s corner from the left was flicked past Turley by Jake Lawlor for the opener on 19 minutes, a lead that the Lions held on to comfortably until the interval.

Steven Drench pulled off two good stops as the home side went in search of an equaliser, but the nearest they came was a shot that rebounded off the top of the bar.

Oli Johnson came off the bench to replace the impressive Holsgrove midway through the second period and he made an immediate impact on 87 minutes when he took a through-ball under pressure, turned his marker and fired an unstoppable shot past Turley to seal the win.

Although Town scored a late consolation though Brett Solkhon on 90 minutes, it could not detract from a superb Guiseley team performance which, with a little steadier finishing, could have seen the margin of victory increased.

Mark Bower’s post-match interview

Team:

1-Drench

2-Holdsworth

3-Meynell

4-Parker

5-Ellis

6-Lawlor 19

7-Brooksby

8-Boshell (Rea)

9-Holsgrove (O Johnson)

10-Boyes

11-Rothery

Subs (unused)

12 – Dickinson

14 – Forrest

15 – A Johnson

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Leek Town vs Guiseley