Ollie’s Left Toe Let’s Lions Jump For Joy

Ollie Brown notched his first goal in senior football to secure a fourth consecutive league win for the Lions, writes Colin Robertson.

After the game Brown revealed his delight with the goal.

“I threw my body at it, and it has been saved. I’ve twisted and it’s been saved again on the line. Then I’ve literally just got my left toe on it and its gone in. I didn’t know what to do, so I saw the fans and I just jumped!”

On an unseasonably cold September evening Guiseley started the match brightly, playing the controlled attacking football that has served Mark Bower’s men so well in recent weeks.

The home side came into this game on the back of a surprise Emirates FA Cup exit and a 5-1 defeat at Ilkeston at the weekend. Nonetheless they struck first when Jake Charles, grandson of the great John Charles, timed a run into the box with perfection and sweetly struck the ball past the outstretched arm of Joe Cracknell.

Despite the setback Guiseley reasserted their possessional dominance but came up short against a resolute defensive unit.

Leo Farrell, who was looking for his sixth goal in his fifth start for the Lions, committedly set about the task and came close to setting up an immediate response. He made a strong run to the byline before producing an excellent drag back to Will Longbottom who shot wide under defensive pressure.

Longbottom also almost set up an equaliser when he produced a pinpoint cross that was deflected towards his own goal by defender Campbell Darcy. However, Whitby shot stopper Shane Bland responded sharply to prevent the goal.

For all Guiseley’s dominance, Whitby remained an ever-present danger on the counterattack. Joseph Gibson found some space to shoot just before the break but slashed his effort wide of the mark.

The second period produced a similar pattern to the first, though as the Lions pressed with greater urgency, the game opened up even more. A crazy minute epitomised this when at one end of play Lucas Odunston produced a devilish cross that found Jake Lawlor unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. Lawlor reacted well but the pace of the ball prevented him from applying a close-range finish.

Moments later a loose defensive pass gifted possession to Charles on the edge of the Guiseley penalty area. Charles, who Bower briefly brought to Nethermoor on loan back in 2015, should have buried the ball in the back of the net. Thankfully his effort struck the outside of the upright and behind for a goal kick.

Guiseley finally got the rub of the green on 73 minutes. Farrell surged forward once again and produced a drive on goal that was deflected away by the well drilled defence. However the ball fell kindly to Joe Ackroyd, who had only just been freshly introduced from the bench. The substitute’s finish foxed the wrong-footed Bland to the joy of the travelling support.

Fellow substitute Jack Emmett came close as the Lions pressed in search of a late winner. Bland’s clearance at the edge of his penalty area fell short to the Guiseley midfielder who reacted swiftly to seeing the out of position goalkeeper off his line. He produced a chipped effort towards goal that just went wide.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time Guiseley launched one last attack. Substitute Reece Kendall flung a long throw into the penalty area which Lawlor flicked on. In a melee in the six-yard box Brown took three bites of the cherry. The first two were blocked but the defender’s left toe was enough to nudge the ball home at the third. It prompted a wild celebration with delirious supporters behind the goal.

The game marked the first time in the last decade that the Lions have won four consecutive league games. Guiseley boss Mark Bower was understandably delighted with the result.

“After a few comfortable performances against good teams people maybe just expected us to turn up here and win, but that was never going to be the case. They are a tough team, but we felt we had positive changes that we could make from the bench and overpower them the longer it went on.”

Whitby Town 1-2 Guiseley AFC | Tuesday 10th September 2024 | Turnbull Ground

Attendance: 436

Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Ollie Brown, 4. Prince Ekpolo (57′ Emmett), 5. Lebrun Mbeka (C), 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. John Lufudu (57′ Kendall), 8. Adriano Moke (72′ Ackroyd), 9. Leo Farrell, 10. Gabriel Johnson and 11. Will Longbottom.

Subs: 12. Reece Kendall, 14. Joe Ackroyd, 15. Jack Emmett, 16. Sam Bentley and 17. Sam Walters.

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