The Guiseley management ran the rule over several trialists this evening as they look to finalise their squad for the opening Northern Premier League game against Marine is just over three weeks time writes John Clements.
The starting eleven included four trialists with another one sat on the bench and despite the makeshift line-up the Lions got off to the best possible start with a goal after just four minutes when Trialist D beat the home keeper to a through ball and took it round him before slotting into the empty net.
However, the lead lasted only two minutes as Jack Normanton’s powerful finish squared matters on six minutes and worse was to follow three minues later when he bagged a second.
But Normnton wasn’t finished as the Guiseley defence and midfield looked all at sea he produced a sublime lob over Scott Maloney to complete his hat-trick with just fifteen minutes gone and the visitors now 3-1 down.
The home side continued to force the pace and had a goal disallowed midway through the first half much to Guiseley’s relief.
From then on the game ebbed and flowed without either side creating any more real openings as the clock ticked down to the break but was one last sting in the tail for the Lions as goalkeeper Maloney had to leave the field having twisted his ankle to be replaced by Kyle Trenerry.
The second half continued much as the first half had ended and despite the introduction of Jorge Sikora for Oli Reape on fifty minutes, John Johnston, Ethan Cartwright and Trialist G replacing Trialist D, Adam Haw and Trialist B fifteen minutes later Guiseley could not reduce the deficit Nat Crofts also left the field with twenty minutes remaining, Haroon Boston coming on in his place.
Town came closest to scoring as they bounced one off the bar and had a second goal disallowed by an offside flag but still ran out deserved winners on the night.
From a Guiseley perspective the game will have given the two Danny’s the chance to assess the quality and the options available to them in the squad as a whole and to that extent the final outcome was probably of little consequence although the nature of how the three goals were conceded may be of more concern.
Attendance: 210
Brighouse Town 3-1 Guiseley | Friday 22th July 2022 | Yorkshire Payments Stadium
Team: 1. Scott Maloney, 2. Oli Reape, 3. Lewis Gardner, 4. Trialist B, 5. Trialis F, 6. Trialist C, 7. Trialist D, 8. Trialist E, 9. Jakub Hebda, 10. Adam Haw and 11. Nat Crofts.
Subs: 12. Harrison Leigh, 14. Haroon Boston, 15. Jorge Sikora, 16. Brad Wood, 17. Luke Dean, 18. Ethan Cartwright, 19. Trialist G, 20. Jake Cassidy. 21. John Johnston and 22. Donald Chimalilo.
