OJ pivotal as Lions move up to third

Match sponsored by Sonnetty Plumbing & Heating

The introduction of Oli Johnson on the hour turned this game on its head as the former Norwich player grabbed the equaliser and then set up the penalty late on that sealed the a 3-1 win for the Lions over Brackley Town.

Veteran centre back Frank Sinclair and partner Ryan Austin established a platform for visitors Brackley to take a deserved first-half lead on 37 minutes when a clearance found Greg Kaziboni, who scampered half the length of the field before releasing Roddy Collins down the left channel to dink a shot over the advancing Steven Drench.

It wasn’t until the 55th minute that Wayne Brooksby tested Dean Snedker in the Brackley goal, but it was the substitution of Johnson for centre back Danny Hall three minutes later that signalled a transformation for the home side.

Having won a midfield tussle, Johnson flew past three opponents before rifling the ball into the top corner to square matters on 59 minutes.

Barely a minute later, a cleared corner found Adam Boyes on the right and although his ball to Nicky Boshell looked to have given the midfielder too much to do, he somehow managed slot the ball through a posse of defenders and inside the near post to put Guiseley ahead.

And when Sinclair tripped the lively Johnson with three minutes remaining, Boshell stepped up to crash home the resulting spot kick and propel the home side up to third as the other top-five teams failed to register a win between them.

Post match reaction: Manager Mark Bower and scorer Oli Johnson

Entertainment value: ****

Star man: Danny Lowe (Guiseley)

Teams: Guiseley – Drench, Toulson, Lowe, Hall (Johnson (O), 59), Ellis, Lawlor, Brooksby, Holdsworth (Capt), Boyes, Boshell (N), Johnson (A) (Porritt, 69). Subs not used: Hendrie, Harrison, Dickinson (S).

Brackley Town: Snedker, Samuels, Fitzsimmons, Odhiambo, Sinclair, Austin (Capt), Collins, Whittall, Built, Moyo, Kaziboni (Green, 87); Subs not used: Pierpoint, Rowe, Farrell

Goals: Guiseley – O Johnson 59, N Boshell 60 & 87 pen; Brackley – Collins 37

HT 0-1

Att: 436

Referee: K Mulraine

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Mickleover vs Guiseley