Nine-man Lions denied

Eleven-man Worcester City managed to salvage a draw from tonight’s top five clash at Nethermoor and deny the Lions top spot, but only after Guiseley had been reduced to nine men courtesy of some contentious refereeing decisions by Graeme Fyvie, and even after relinquishing a two-goal lead the Lions might still have won it late on.

The home side opened strongly, and Kevin Holsgrove’s cross was just too high for Josh Wilson to convert. Steve Drench made a double save at the other end from Mike Symons and Greg Mills before Andy Holdsworth’s cross was converted by Wilson with the striker’s pinpoint header giving keeper Glyn Thompson no chance. Two minutes later, it was Mark Bower who doubled the lead from another Holdsworth cross. The former Huddersfield Town man then put a rasping free kick just the wrong side of the upright as the Lions dominated possession and Holsgrove stung Thompson’s hands with a piledriver, the keeper relieved to palm the shot over.

Guiseley lost influential midfielder Jack Rea to injury with Jamie Clarke taking his place. Symons hit the bar for City and Danny Boshell was booked for what looked like an innocuous challenge as the half drew to a close. It was a decision that was to have serious repercussions just eight minutes into the second half when after some initial confusion the Lions’ midfielder was shown a second yellow for a challenge no more malicious than several committed by visiting defenders that had gone unpunished.

If the home side felt a sense of injustice the riposte was immediate as Clarke’s cross from the right was headed home by Nicky Boshell on 55 minutes. City finally summoned up an effort on goal ten minutes later with what looked no more than a consolation at the time, Symons’s swerving shot beating Drench.  As the Lions continued to look for more goals, Wayne Brooksby skipped past three defenders only to seen his shot across Thompson go just the wrong side of the post.

But after City took a free kick twenty yards out one of their players went down under a heavy challenge from Mark Bower, the defender being shown a straight red by Mr Fyvie and the visitors given the chances to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot. However, Tom Thorley’s feeble effort was easily saved by Drench.

With the home side now on the back foot, it was no surprise when Greg Mills cut in from the left and rifled in a second, but even then Guiseley continued to look dangerous on the break and the tireless Holsgrove nearly carved out an opening for himself, only being denied by a last-ditch tackle.

The inevitable equaliser came with six minutes remaining, Drench racing out of his goal to close down Mills but missing his tackle, allowing the midfielder to cross for Symons to bag his second and secure a share of the points.

Whatever one might think about the decisions that went against Guiseley tonight, the fact remains that even down to nine men they still looked a far more potent force than the visitors, who must know that they were fortunate to salvage a point from this game.

  GoalsCardsSubs
1Steve Drench Y 
2Andy Holdsworth   
3Rhys Meynell   
4Jack Rea  Clarke, 35
5Andy Pearson   
6Mark Bower (Captain)17R 72 
7Josh Wilson15 Rothery, 74
8Danny Boshell YYR 53 
9Kevin Holsgrove   
10Nicky Boshell55 Walshaw, 82
11Wayne Brooksby   
12Jamie Clarke   
14James Walshaw   
15Gavin Rothery Y 
16Zack Dale   
18Jacob Giles   

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town