Lions Roar Into The First Round Of The Isuzu FA Trophy

The Lions secured a place in the first round of the Isuzu FA Trophy with a convincing 3-1 win against Whitby Town writes Ivor Timmis.

There were three changes from the Warrington Rylands game with Nicky Walker, Kwame Boateng and new signing Ross Daly coming in for Adam Haw, Ethen Vaughan and John Johnston.

Whitby came into the game after an upturn in form after Nathan Haslam had taken sole charge of the team. It was the Lions, however, who dominated from the start, with Joe Ackroyd, played in one on one by Mohammad Qasim, having a shot smothered after only 30 seconds.

Qasim gave Soni Fergus a torrid time, knocking over two fine crosses and firing over the bar from 15 yards. After 15 minutes Whitby began to get a toehold in the game, with Kyle Trenerry having to head clear on the edge of the box and Aaron Haswell beginning to look a threat.

On 20 minutes, however, Qasim beat his man again, fired over a low cross which Ackroyd finished off at the near post (our earliest goal this season by a distance).

Lebrun Mbeka headed over a free kick and a Walker cross went behind everyone as the Lions continued to look bright. Just before half time Qasim cut inside and fired a shot which seemed destined for the far corner only for it to hit Ackroyd on the chest and go in at the near post. It was the least the Lions deserved.

The second half was more even, but the Lions soon added a third, a well crafted goal. The ball was won on the edge of our own box and played forward to Jake Cassidy who controlled neatly before laying the ball to Ackroyd just inside the Guiseley half. Ackroyd drove forward to the edge of the Whitby box before slipping in Qasim who finished confidently one on one for the goal his performance richly deserved.

Boateng made a great point blank block as Whitby began to threaten a little, but the Lions looked comfortable as they introduced Donald Chimalilo, Haw and James Cadman for Cassidy, Walker and Ackroyd.

On the 80th minute, however, Jorge Sikora was given an incredibly harsh second yellow for an innocuous challenge leaving the Lions with 10 men, the versatile Mbeka dropping back into defence.

From the resulting free kick, former Lion Jake Day, who had entered the fray on 60 minutes glanced home a fine header. There were few other alarms apart from a fine near post block by Trenerry at close range.

After the Warrington Rylands game, Danny Ellis said the team had not quite clicked. Today, for at least 80 minutes, it did, which promised well for Belper away when we renew acquaintance with Steve Kittrick for the next league fixture with comes after a clash with Horbury Town at Nethermoor on Tuesday night in the West Riding County Cup.

Guiseley 3-1 Whitby Town | Saturday 8th October 2022 | Nethermoor

Attendance: 412

Team: 1. Kyle Trenerry, 2. Kwame Boateng, 3. Jordan Emery, 4. Ross Daly, 5. Jorge Sikora, 6. Jameel Ible, 7. Mohammad Qasim, 8. Lebrun Mbeka, 9. Jake Cassidy (C) (73′ Haw), 10. Joe Ackroyd (76′ Cadman) and 11. Nicky Walker (73′ Chimalilo).
Subs: 12. Adam Haw, 13. Hagie Damba (GK), 14. James Cadman, 15. Donald Chimalilo, 16. Charlie Wood and 17. Ethen Vaughan.

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town