Season Review – December

We entered the final month of a memorable year looking to put greater distance between ourselves and the bottom four.

The first match of December was our second trip of the season to The Shay to face FC Halifax Town in the league following our earlier meeting in the FA Cup.

Anthony Dudley had the best chance of a drab first half but he shot wide when one on one with Town goalkeeper Matt Glennon.

However Dudley redeemed himself just three minutes into the second half when he tucked Gavin Rothery’s cross away to give the Lions the lead, it was the last time Anthony was seen in a Guiseley shirt until the trip to Dulwich Hamlet in January as he was recalled by his parent club.

The visitors looked to extend their lead but the hosts continued their good form and unbeaten run when Sam Walker’s freekick flew into the net after Adam Lockwood was penalised for an apparent handball on the edge of the area, a decision which left Mark Bower incensed.

The focus turned to the FA Trophy the week after with a trip to Burscough who play three leagues below the Lions in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North.

A day which saw many games called off due to torrential rain and waterlogging will be remembered for a late equaliser which forced a replay at Nethermoor Park.

Victoria Park’s pitch was playable however and Tom Craddock gave the visitors an early lead following a swift counter attack which saw the striker sweep home Adam Boyes’ neat cross.

Craddock looked to have double the lead following a neat bit of skill and a curved finish but the referee whistled for offside.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded when Danny Lowe was adjudged to have fouled an attacker in the area and the ref blew for a penalty, Michael Monaghan sent Dan Atkinson the wrong way to pull the sides back level.

However Danny Lowe was again involved as he put his side in the lead with a drilled effort from the edge of the area, the slender margin was short lived though when Will Jones scored The Linnets’ second equaliser of the afternoon.

A replay followed at Nethermoor in what proved to be the last home game for just over two months.

Liam Caddick fired his side into the lead with a neat finish but Gavin Rothery pulled the Lions level from the penalty spot, shortly after Matty Devine turned the ball into his own net to put the hosts in front.

Nicky Boshell then saw his acrobatic effort from Rothery’s cross fly into the net to extend the lead, Burscough did pull one back through Paul Jewell but it wasn’t enough for the Linnets and the Lions progressed to the next round of the trophy.

Just four days later Guiseley were back on the road with a trip to Aldershot, James Hurst struck the crossbar and Tom Craddock saw his header go just wide but the game was settled by Tom Richards’ strike in the 79th minute in what was a drab game of football.

Grimsby Town were set to visit Nethermoor on Boxing Day but heavy downpours, which saw a lot of the neighbouring towns flooded, meant the game was postponed after the pitch was waterlogged and very deep in water on the clubhouse side of the ground.

The final game of the month was a trip to the Gateshead International Stadium where Neil Aspin was looking for revenge following our victory over FC Halifax Town back in September which saw the former Leeds United defender sacked.

He got just that, after a poor first half from both sides three goals from the Heed settled the game, a brace from Ryan Bowman and one from Danny Johnson saw the Lions sink to their second defeat on the spin.

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town