Rampant Lions Thrash Hapless Avenue To Go Two Points Clear At The Summit

Free scoring Guiseley continued where they left off on Saturday putting five past a youthful Avenue with a Aaron Martin hat trick and one apiece for Aram Soleman and ex-Horsfall midfielder Jamie Spencer giving them a first win on the road.

Both clubs have invested heavily in younger players for the coming season, the difference being that Guiseleys experienced management duo have assembled a squad that has power and pace and are prepared to work their socks off for each other,  whereas rookie boss Garry Thompson has undoubtedly picked up some talented youngsters but who unfortunately on tonight’s evidence look totally out of their depth.

Avenue started brightly but couldn’t craft an opening and the Lions took full advantage after just seven minutes to take the lead as a corner from the left was swung in and  when the hesitant home defence failed to clear their lines Martin pounced to score.

Aaron Martin (left, partially hidden) bags the first

The home side continued to show some endeavour but all too often had the ball taken off them by an opponent who was oozing confidence.

And that confidence was well served when Gabriel Johnson cut in from the right leaving two defenders in his wake before playing a superb ball out to the opposite flank where Soleman advanced into the area and curled a shot inside the far post and even though Charlie Andrew got a hand to it  he couldn’t stop the visitors from doubling their advantage on 24 minutes.

Aram Soleman wheels away after doublig the LIons advantage

Eight minutes later Martin’s downward header into the bottom corner should have been stopped by Andrew but the visitors ere now three nil to the good.

The striker then nearly completed his hat trick on the stroke of halftime as another corner caused panic in the home defence, he slid in but just put the ball the wrong side of the far post.

Martin’s effort just the wrong side of the post

There was no respite for Thompson’s young charges on the restart as they once again failed to deal with a cross from the right that was heading dead until Hamza Bencherif muscled Mitch Lund out of the way to head the ball back into the mix where an unmarked Martin completed his hat trick.

Avenue made three changes but to no avail as even when they breached the Guiseley rear-guard George Sykes-Kenworthy stood firm despite have a quiet night up to that point.

Having tried to create an opportunity for himself against his former club, Spencer showed Avenue what they were missing with a pile driver across Andrew and into the top corner with three minutes of normal time remaining.

So a second successive win and another emphatic victory with eight goals scored and non-conceded sees the Lions sat top of the pile tonight two points ahead of Curzon Ashton who coincidentally a put five past Park Avenue in Saturday’s opener.

Attendance: 674

Team:

  1. George Sykes-Kenworthy
  2. Reiss McNally
  3. Brad Nicholson
  4. George Cantrill (72′ Barkers)
  5. Hamza Bencheriff
  6. Scott Garner
  7. Kaine Felix
  8. Jamie Spencer
  9. Aaron Martin
  10. Aram Soleman
  11. Gabriel Johnson (61′ Shaw)

Subs:
12. Lee Shaw
13. Lloyd Allinson
14. Dylan Barkers
15. Kennedy Digie
16. Paul Clayton

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Prescot Cables vs Guiseley