Guiseley plunged to defeat in the rain against relegation-threatened Atherton Collieries at the Skuna Stadium, writes Edward Robertson.
The match went ahead despite torrential downpours ahead of kick off. The Skuna surface proved resilient but conditions were still difficult for both sides.
Manager Paul Phillips was unimpressed with his side’s management of the game. “It’s always hard to come here because we’re playing on a slope, the conditions are difficult as well. In the first half, I think we got the plan right, but we concede from a corner, and that summed up how we controlled the game, because that goal changed the whole formula of the game.”
The visitors started brightly and troubled the home side with a short corner that was swung in by Ben Woods, who was making his first full debut for the Lions. Woods curling cross found Jameel Ible at the back post but his stooping header went narrowly wide.
However, the deadlock was broken by the home side. On 20 minutes an Atherton Collieries corner found Adam Rooney, whose shot trickled past the outstretched legs of the Guiseley defenders and into the net to give the hosts a valuable lead.
The breakthrough invigorated the home side as they took control of possession. On the half hour mark, there were screams for a penalty when Marcus Cusani’s cross was fired into the frame of Courtney Meppen-Walters. Claims he had handled the ball were waved away by referee Paul Roots.
The Lions, who had struggled to threaten the Colls’ net for the first forty minutes, then had a good chance to equalise as Lewis Hey’s incisive ball flashed across the face of goal but agonisingly just out of the reach of Kallan Murphy.
Atherton had a chance to make it two just before the break. An in-swinging corner had to be scrambled away by the Lions to Ben Hardcastle. His effort on the rebound was also blocked thanks to desperate defending by the visitors.
The Lions made the worst possible start to the second half. On 49 minutes a defensive mishap sent Jay Fitzmartin clear through on goal. The Colls leading marksman made no mistake in slotting home past the helpless Lions keeper Morgan Bacon.
The hosts, for whom victory would distance them from the relegation places, seemed determined to grind out three important points. They slowed the game down and maintained control of the ball.
Still the Lions crafted a good opportunity for a foothold. A long ball over the top from Ethan Kachosa found Scott Bakkor on the right flank. The former Atherton striker produced a pin point cross to Hey who had darted towards the back post. Unfortunately the academy graduate could only direct his header over the crossbar.
Deep into stoppage time, the Lions finally made a breakthrough. Meppen-Walter’s long ball was flicked on by Murphy into the path of Bakkor who slotted home.
However, it was to be a case of too little too late as the final whistle blew straight after the restart. Atherton Collieries hung on for an important win while the Lions slumped to a fourth defeat in five games.
After the match Phillips outlined his desire to build a team that can compete in this division. “First and foremost we need to get a formula that plays the way we want to play. You’ve got to have that little bit of luck to keep people fit while you can’t have a massive squad. That’s what has brought us down in the last couple of weeks.
Atherton Collieries 2-1 Guiseley | Monday 10th April 2023 | Skuna Stadium
Attendance: 303
Team: 1. Morgan Bacon, 2. Kwame Boateng, 3. Ben Woods (55′ Bakkor), 4. Mark Lees (55′ Nejman), 5. Jameel Ible, 6. Leigh Whelan, 7. Ethan Kachosa, 8. Lewis Hey (70′ Daly), 9. Kallan Murphy, 10. Callum Chippendale and 11. Courtney Meppen-Walters (C).
Subs: 12. Harrison Nejman, 13. Hagie Damba (GK), 14. Scott Bakkor, 15. Lewis Gardner and 16. Ross Daly.
