Guiseley boosted their play off hopes with a comfortable win over relegation-threatened Mickleover at Nethermoor Park, writes Edward Robertson.
Mark Bower was pleased with his charges’ performance. “We knew they’d had a poor result at Worksop so thought we had to start with a good tempo, play on the front foot and ask them lots of questions, which we did, especially in the first half.”
It was a fast paced start for the Lions. The first fifteen minutes saw the hosts pepper Mickleover’s penalty box with crosses and dangerous runs without registering a shot on goal.
The deadlock was broken with the game only eighteen minutes old. Neat interplay between Gabriel Johnson and Prince Ekpolo saw Jack Emmett through on goal. The twinkle-toed midfielder poked the ball home comfortably to give Guiseley the lead.
The Lions threatened to double the advantage five minutes later. Adriano Moke’s accurate corner rebounded to Liam Ridelagh at the far post. His rasping shot was drilled wide.
Guiseley continued to turn the screw. A short corner was picked up on the edge of the area by Lewis Whitham. He found Jake Lawlor, whose looping effort was dramatically cleared off the line by a defender.
The second half began in much the same vein as the first. The hosts’ dangled the prospect of a second goal before the entertained home fans.
Sixty two minutes in, it finally came. Another precise Moke corner connected with the leaping frame of Lebrun Mbeka. His acrobatic header sailed into the top corner to double the lead.
Only six minutes later, the Lions had a third. Cieron Keane pulled Ollie Brown to the floor in the box, forcing referee Mark Reece to point to the spot. It was Mbeka who stepped up for the spot kick.
The defender-turned striker finished with the composure of an accomplished forward to settle the game. Mbeka rolled the ball home with no run up, much to the delight of the Nethermoor faithful.
The Lions continued to strive for more goals. Substitute Will Longbottom’s cross picked out Jameel Ible. The centre back’s ambitious overhead kick was straight into the path of goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin.
As the game neared the ninetieth minute, Guiseley had room for one more chance. Whitham’s tricky run saw him on the edge of the area. His shot shaved the crossbar.
It was a positive result for a resurgent Guiseley side, who are now unbeaten in the last five games, and recorded a third consecutive clean sheet. The Lions remain in third place, three points behind second placed Worksop Town but are now five points clear of fifth placed Ashton United who dropped points following defeat to Stockton Town.
Another tough fixture awaits next weekend in the shape of a trip to Hebburn Town. Bower will draw on his previous experience of guiding teams into the play offs.
“We’ve entered into a period where we’ll be jostling for play off positions, and we have to make sure we get the right balance of hopefully getting into the play offs, but also of putting ourselves in the best position possible going into them.”
Guiseley AFC 3-0 Mickleover | Saturday 15th March 2025 | Nethermoor Park
Attendance: 651
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Ollie Brown, 3. Liam Ridehalgh, 4. Jameel Ible (C), 5. Lebrun Mbeka, 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. Prince Ekpolo (88′ Bentley), 8. Adriano Moke (78′ Spencer), 9. Gabriel Johnson (71′ Longbottom), 10. Jack Emmett (71′ Lufudu) and 11. Lewis Whitham.
Subs: 13. Danny King (GK), 14. Jamie Spencer, 15. Sam Bentley, 16. Will Longbottom and 17. John Lufudu.
