With both sides now free to concentrate on the league having made ignominious exits from last week’s FA Cup to lower-league opposition this was an enticing prospect as third faced first at a sunny Nethermoor.
Goals from Lee Ellington and Gavin Allott capped a professional display by the Lions to end The Tigers’ ten-match unbeaten start to the season and in truth had not the Lions squandered a host of second half chances the margin could have been even larger.
In a fairly even first half the early chances were created by Guiseley. They had Hyde on the back foot for the first quarter and Ciaran Toner could have opened the scoring but chose to pass to Ellington instead of shooting and Carnell came to his side’s rescue minutes later, snatching Jamie Clarke’s cross off the head of Ellington.
Danger man Scott Spencer worked a good position for Hyde but his ball across the six-yard box found no takers and it was 25 minutes before home custodian Steve Drench made his first meaningful stop from Callum Byrne.
Man of the match Gavin Rothery had two efforts blocked by Adam Griffin and Carnell but the breakthrough came two minutes before the break when Boshell played a ball out to Rothery on the right and his cutback gave full back Jamie Clarke enough time to deliver the perfect cross for Ellington to head powerfully past Carnell.
Even though the start of the second half was delayed due to a frantic search for a replacement official after referee Anthony Backhouse had been taken ill, it had little effect on Guiseley’s momentum. New signing Kevin Gall had a glorious chance to open his account when he latched on to a short back pass but put his shot over with only Carnell to beat.
Minutes later he scooped another golden chance over the bar from six yards and with Hyde pushing forward the Lions sprung the offside trap and Carnell came to his side’s rescue again, denying Gavin Allott and Ellington. With three minutes remaining Allott again got in behind the Hyde defence, held off his marker and put a fine shot wide of Carnell from twelve yards to wrap up the three points.
Asked if he thought Hyde had been poor, Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick put the win down to “Some hard work and preparation on the training ground during the preceding week” and he also paid tribute to “Hyde’s fantastic start to the season” and said, “I’ve told my players that if we can maintain this level of performance for the rest of the season then we will be there or thereabouts come the end of April”.
Entertainment value: ****
Star man: Gavin Rothery (Guiseley)
Hear Steve Kittrick’s views below
Steve Kittrick post Hyde by matthewrogerson
Guiseley: Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ainge, Bower, Holdsworth, Boshell Ellington, Rothery, Gall (Allott 67)
Subs not used: Burns, Booker, Holland, Giles.
Hyde: Carnell, Pearson (Aspin 75), Griffin, Hall, Havern, Birch, Worsley (Berkeley 80), Byrne (Moses 82) Broadbent, Spencer, Crowther;
Subs not used: Richardson, Martin
Scorers: Guiseley – Ellington 43, Allott 87
Att: 789
H/T 1-0
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
