Paul Phillips’ side earned another win but it was all about players getting game time at Thackley on Tuesday night writes Adam Bridson.
After two postponements due to frozen pitches Phillips was keen for his side to prepare for Saturday’s clash with Hyde United at Nethermoor with a friendly match which saw former player, assistant manager and manger Danny Forrest take charge of Thackley for the first time alongside former Lions striker Tom Greaves.
The returning Nat Crofts and Lewis Hey both played their minutes in a Guiseley shirt for a few months with the latter finding the target late on in the game.
Hagie Damba also started the fixture in goal and had a quiet opening 45 minutes as The Lions dominated the play.
The deadlock was broken after 13 minutes when a Lewis Gardner corner came off a home defender and beat Luke Wilson in the Thackley goal.
Wilson had earlier denied a rocket of a free kick from Lewis Whitham and the winger had another couple of chances but couldn’t find a goal.
Jake Cassidy continues to work himself back to full fitness, following a disrupted return due to postponements, and the striker nearly doubled his side’s advantage after beating three home defenders before rounding Wilson but his shot cannoned off the foot of the post and went wide.
Adam Haw was next to fire goalwards after a loose ball bounced around the home box but a home defender made a timely block to deny the academy graduate.
Half-time saw wholesale changes from both sides as Phillips introduced Cam Mason, George Smith, Andy Kellett, Hey, Kallan Murphy, Angus Chapman and two trialists.
Murphy was only brought on to the pitch when Meppen-Walters spotted his side had headed out of the dressing room a man short!
Thackley volunteers had worked hard in the day to get the game on after it was arranged at short notice but the surface began to get heavy in the second 45.
It didn’t stop Chapman though from finding the net after 74 minutes when his shot took a deflection and smacked the inside of the post before crossing the line.
Former Lion Greaves was introduced in the second half and he was the closest to beating Mason but his shot went wide of the mark.
With seven minutes left Hey showed his quality to latch on to an excellent through ball before rounding Lions academy keeper Callum Bradbury and slotting into the empty net.
A satisfying night for The Lions but with Courtney Meppen-Walters, Kellett and Murphy all withdrawn early it could come at a cost.
Thackley 0-3 Guiseley | Tuesday 24th January 2023 | Dennyfield
Attendance: 170
Team: Hagie Damba, Kwame Boateng, Lewis Gardner, Ross Daly, Jameel Ible (C), Adam Haw, Lewis Whitham, Callum Chippendale, Jake Cassidy, Nat Crofts and Courtney Meppen-Walters.
Subs: Trialist, Cam Mason, George Smith, Angus Chapman, Ekow Coker (unused), Kallan Murphy, Lewis Hey and Trialist.
