Rothery’s hat-trick is spot-on

The 828 souls who braved the chilly weather at Wetherby Road certainly got their money’s worth this afternoon as an incident-packed game saw Guiseley take the points by the odd goal in five, all the visitors’ goals coming from the penalty spot.

The Lions opened with purpose but, when Wayne Brooksby’s shot was parried, Alex Johnson was unable to take advantage.

As the game ebbed and flowed with both sides on the attack, the deadlock was broken in the 24th minute when on-loan striker Luke Parkin had his legs whipped from under him and Gavin Rothery stepped up to send Craig MacGillivray the wrong way from the penalty.

Steve Mallory then put in a crucial tackle on the Leeds United youngster to deny him his first goal for the Lions.

Andy Holdsworth and Danny Boshell went into referee Ryan Johnson’s notebook as the intensity of the game increased before Town levelled matters on 33 minutes when Shane Killock converted a free kick from close range.

The stalemate lasted only four minutes, however, as Parkin was again fouled in the area and Rothery stepped up to convert his second spot kick.

The Lions nearly grabbed a third as the interval approached, Potts’s shot  flying the wrong side of the post.

The visitors suffered a blow on the restart when Danny Hall stayed off to be replaced by Rhys Meynell, Ben Parker moving inside to centre back.

Harrogate should have levelled when they were awarded a penalty, but Adam Bolder’s spot kick lacked power and it was palmed away by Steve Drench.

Town were not to be denied, though, and they squared matters when Steve Mallory scored from close-in following a corner.

However, for the second game in succession the Lions showed their resolve, and when Johnson went down under MacGillivray’s challenge Rothery sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to secure his hat-trick from the spot.

And, despite four minutes of stoppage time, the visitors held out to stretch their unbeaten record to fifteen games prior to Gainsborough Trinity’s visit to Nethermoor on Saturday.

Mark Bower’s post-match interview

1-Drench

2-Holdsworth (Capt)

3-Parker

4-Potts

5-Lawlor

6-Hall (Meynell, 46)

7-Brooksby

8-Boshell

9-A Johnson

10-Parkin (Hobson)

11-Rothery

12-Harrison

14-Meynell

15-Hobson

16-Swain

18-Dickinson

but-defender-intervenesAJ-challenges-for-ballto-create-opening  Aex-Johnson-just-fails-to-c Rothery's-penalty-puts-LIon

Second goal

 

 

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