Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick has carried out his threatened pruning of the outfield squad prior to their first game of the Blue Square Bet North season on Saturday, August 13.  Gone are defender Anthony Lloyd and midfielder Luke Sharry, as well as trialist goalkeeper James Bennett.

Kittrick said: “Anthony Lloyd has gone to Stocksbridge Park Steels, and I should have some news on our back-up goalkeeper to Steve Drench after the game at Farsley on Saturday.”  Lloyd played in two play-offs with Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and made 42 starts for the Terriers and 20 for Torquay United on loan. He was an FA Trophy semi-finalist with York City, for whom he made 45 appearances in two spells, and was a fans’ favourite at Nethermoor.

Leeds-born Sharry was signed last summer after being released by Bradford City, where he made one league appearance and spent a month on loan at Barrow.

Kittrick had witnessed ‘chalk-and-cheese’ performances by his squad in their two latest pre-season friendlies. They lost 1-0 at Nostell Miners’ Welfare on Saturday but won 5-0 at Harrogate Railway Athletic on Tuesday night. Kittrick said: “The players might not have known what to expect at Nostell – but I did. It was their cup final and our two displays were the difference between a team of Unibond players and players who are used to playing at our level.

“We had chances against Nostell and couldn’t put them away and they had one chance and took it. But it should be remembered that the players are still getting used to each other and different formations.”