Guiseley racked up their first Nethermoor league win since the beginning of October with a brace from home debutant Dominic Tear and a sublime lob from Lebrun Mbeka finally seeing off an Alfreton Town side who had been gifted two equalisers but had never looked like taking the victory. Read how Guiseley gained a precious three points in our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com.
The starting line-up also included new loan signing Thierry Latty-Fairweather who was also making his home debut and it was he who went close on fifteen minutes as he climbed above everyone else but put his header into the side netting.
With both sides finding it hard to get a grip on the game it was Latty-Fairweather who went close again with his effort from the edge of the area going just the wrong side of the post on the half hour.
However, Tear showed how it should be done two minutes later with a precise low shot from eighteen yards that whizzed past George Willis to put the Lions in front.
Just before the break Town cleared a corner only for Guiseley to set up another attack but with Dwayne Wiley down with a head injury play was stopped and then restarted with the ball inexplicably being given back to the Alfreton keeper!
The visitors were then given another gift three minutes after the restart as Guiseley attempted to play out from the back only to get caught in possession where Dayle Southwell had the easiest of tap ins after Town had an effort blocked on the line.
The setback didn’t deter the Lions though as they took the game to the visitors and were rewarded when Tear showed a turn of pace to shoot wide of Willis to restore the home sides lead on 66 minutes.
Latty-Fairweather had a cross blocked as his side continued to press but when Brad Nicholson was dispossessed in midfield, Town grabbed another lifeline as Bailey Hobson was left all on his own to equalise for the second time with thirteen minutes remaining.
Recovering their composure, Guiseley went on the hunt once again and when the visitors were caught in two minds, as Willis came out of his goal Mbeka produced a precise lob that left the shotstopper on no-mans land, for Guiseley’s third of the night with just five minutes left on the clock.
And even with three minutes of added time the Lions lead never looked under threat as they recorded their first win since the 1-0 victory at Telford the week before Christmas and lift themselves up to 19th in the table in the process.
Attendance: 489
Team: 1. Owen Mason, 2. George Cantrill, 3. Brad Nicholson, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Hamza Bencherif (C), 6. Lebrun Mbeka, 7. Andy Hollins, 8. Ollie Brown, 9. Adam Haw (90′ Stones), 10. Dom Tear and 11. Thierry Latty-Fairweather. Subs: 12. Regan Hutchinson, 13. Dec Lambton (GK), 14. Oli Metcalfe, 15. Josh Stones and 16. Lewis Hey.
