Guiseley were full of the festive spirit for their Boxing Day game against League Leaders and local rivals Bradford (Park Avenue) who romped home to a 5-1 victory at Nethermoor as the Lions gifted their visitors a 3-0 half-time lead.
Two further second half goals killed the game off although the home side did pull one back midway through the second half and as they finally got their act together and started to play some football against the Avenue’s ten men after Gianluca Havern had been dismissed for a two footed tackle on Will Hatfield on 69 minutes.
Avenue were in front as early as the second minute when former striker Oli Johnson was left in oceans of space to turn and shoot under Joe Green.
The second goal came on 19 minutes when Niall Heaton was left for dead just inside his own half by Lewis Knight who sprinted down the channel to deliver an inviting cross into the middle where despite the attentions of two defenders and Green, Jake Beesley doubled the visitors lead.
The same striker struck again in the 27th minute for the visitors third, the Guiseley’s reply coming from Rowan Liburd who brought a fine save from former Lions custodian Steven Drench.
Beesley completed his hat trick ten minutes into the second half as he converted a penalty after James was adjudged to have fouled an Avenue player in the box. And although the penalty was straight down the middle and Green got his body to it he was unable to prevent the ball nestling in the back of the net.
Connor Branson then completed the rout just before the hour as he capitalised on a ball that came off a home defender following a corner.
The Lions finally made an effort to plug the gap that had been created by playing striker Scott Smith at right back with defender Will Thornton coming on to replace him.
Thornton’s first touch nearly reduced then arrears as his goalbound header bounced of Drench’s back and over the bar.
Intense pressure from the Lions finally produced a goal as Alex Purver’s shot through a forest of legs found the back of the net after the home side had several shots blocked.
But despite a late flurry it was a question of a little far, far too late from the Lions who had been all but been outclassed by Mark Bower’s men.
Team:
1 Green
2 Smith (Thornton 62)
3 Heaton
4 Cummings
5 Halls
6 Purver
7 Felix
8 Harvey (Walsh 71)
9 Liburd
10 James (Clayton 78)
11 Hatfield
Subs:
12 Morrison
14 Odejayi
15 Clayton
16 Walsh
17 Harvey