Guiseley ran out 3-1 winners at Pontefract Collieries last night in an impressive display to make it five pre-season victories in a row, writes Simon Bullock.
The game got off to a slow start with very little action inside the first 20 minutes with both teams feeling each other out. It almost sparked into life however, when a Cam Wilson corner ricocheted off the post and was cleared as far as Jay Rollins who smashed an effort into the midriff of an onrushing Pontefract defender who made a good block.
The Lions continued to keep the pressure on from that point with both Rollins and Wilson going close with chances that were narrowly off target.
Guiseley were knocking at the door and got their rewards when a Wilson pass in behind bamboozled a Pontefract defender which allowed Amir Berchil through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and made no mistake with a coolly taken lofted finish to make it 1-0 to the Lions going into half-time.
Pontefract came out strong at the start of the second half and nearly pulled level with an audacious outside of the boot, left footed effort that rattled the crossbar.
Within five minutes of that though, Guiseley doubled the lead as excellent work from Berchil down the left flank allowed him to get a cross in, which was palmed away by the Pontefract trialist goalkeeper, only to be lashed in at the back post by Lucas Odunston to make it 2-0 after 55 minutes.
Pontefract rallied again, desperate to try and get back into the game and did exactly that when a cut back from the left wing was left by everybody on both sides until it was met by Alfie Perry who struck a superb first time left footed curler into the top corner to half the deficit for the home side with 68 minutes gone.
Adam Lund nearly made it 3-1 when he went on a marauding run from midfield past three Pontefract players, but wasn’t able to find the right finish, rolling his effort wide of the post.
In the dying embers of the game, Aaron Martin, on as a late substitute, chased after a lofted pass down the middle that looked like a lost cause but after taking two sublime touches to keep the ball in play and get it under control, finished it off with a delicate dink over the goalkeeper and into the goal to grab his second goal of pre-season and secure a 3-1 victory for the Lions.
Pontefract Collieries 1-3 Guiseley | Tuesday 28th July 2026 | Hunters Stadium
Attendance: TBC
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Ollie Brown (C), 4. Adam Lund, 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Paul Iggulden, 7. Charlie Staniland, 8. Derren Boyle, 9. Jay Rollins (76′ Martin), 10. Cam Wilson (87′ Roua) and 11. Amir Berchil.
Subs: 12. Chris Roua, 14. Matteo James and 15. Aaron Martin.
