Guiseley began their defence of the West Riding County Cup in emphatic style, defeating fellow-Blue Square North neighbours Bradford Park Avenue 4-1 at Nethermoor.
Truth be told, it could have been a far heavier defeat for the men from the Horsfall after the Lions had surged into a three-nil lead after just nine minutes, but a series of last-gap blocks and near-misses maintained the same scoreline at the break.
Given some respite, manager John Deacey made two changes immediately on the resumption which restored some shape to the visitors’ ragged defence, pulled apart by Guiseley’s rampant midfield in the first half.
Guiseley opened in sensational style. Nicky Boshell latched on to a ball played behind the Avenue back four to slot coolly wide of Ben Higginson after just two minutes. Zack Dale then put a shot just wide and Kevin Holsgrove forced Higginson into a save before goalscorer Boshell was upended by the keeper’s dive on seven minutes, allowing Josh Wilson to step up and convert the spot kick despite Higginson’s getting a hand to the ball.
Ex-Guiseley striker Tom Greaves went close at the other end with an overhead kick, but Avenue were again undone by an astute Nicky Boshell ball that put Holsgrove through to shoot past Higginson for the third on nine minutes. Craig Radcliffe cleared one off the line and timely interceptions from Martin Drury and Jamie Jackson kept the score the same going into the break.
Rob O’Brien and Paul Walker replaced Jordan Deacey and Alex Davidson for the Avenue, who started the half on a positive note, bringing two good stops from Jacob Giles before Jackson flashed a shot just the wrong side of the upright.
Holsgrove, who was proving a constant threat to the visitors, put in a cross to which Macaulay Parkinson applied the deftest of touches only to see his effort drift wide. However, it was another of the Academy players who grabbed the fourth. Luke Robinson – having earlier replaced Josh Wilson – was on hand to fire home the loose ball after Holsgrove’s shot from Nicky Boshell’s cross had been parried by Higginson with seven minutes remaining. Greaves scored a late consolation for Avenue on 89 minutes, but by then the visitors had been soundly beaten.
Team:
Goals | Subs | |
1 – Jacob Giles | ||
2 – Macaulay Parkinson | Clarke, 61 | |
3 – Rhys Meynell | ||
4 – Jack Rea | ||
5 – Danny Ellis | ||
6 – Andy Pearson | ||
7 – Josh Wilson | 7 (p) | Robinson, 69 |
8 – Danny Boshell | ||
9 – Kevin Holsgrove | 9 | |
10 – Nicky Boshell | 2 | |
11 – Zack Dale | Holdsworth, 61 | |
12 – Andy Holdsworth | ||
14 – Jamie Clarke | ||
15 – Luke Robinson | 83 | |
16 – James Walshaw | ||
18 – Steve Drench |