Sunday saw the first ever meeting between Guiseley AFC Vixens and Morecambe Ladies, a club who won the North West Regional Women’s League by 9 points last season. With both sides demonstrating an ability to score goals this promised to be an entertaining encounter.
Guiseley started the game at a good tempo and looked dangerous every time they went forward. After 11 minutes an exquisite reverse pass from Aimi Beresford found Tanya Rich free in the penalty area and she finished clinically to give Guiseley the lead. Morecambe also looked dangerous and equalised shortly thereafter with an unstoppable shot from just outside the area.
Guiseley continued to play attractive, passing football and a defensive mistake left Caroline Hulme free and she scored past the Morecambe goalkeeper with little fuss.
Again Morecambe refused to let this set-back put them off their game and again equalised when poor defending at a Morecambe corner led to Guiseley goalkeeper making a miraculous save to turn the ball onto the crossbar but she was powerless to prevent Morecambe scoring from the rebound.
After 35 minutes a slick Guiseley passing move left Tanya Rich clear and she calmly side footed the ball past the Morecambe goalkeeper to give Guiseley a 3-2 lead at half-time.
In the second half Guiseley looked much more solid at the back and Morecambe were unable to create many goal scoring opportunities.
As Guiseley took control fullback Charlie Blythe scored the goal of the game when she broke out of defence and, having exchanged passes with Tanya Rich, bent the ball into the top corner of the goal from 25 yards with the Morecambe goalkeeper a mere spectator.
Guiseley continued to dominate and Caroline Hulme broke through to score her 2nd goal of the game and secure the points.
In the last minute of normal time a solid second half defensive performance was spoiled when the Morecambe fullback was allowed to drive forward and shoot into the corner of the Guiseley goal and the game finished at Guiseley 5 – 3 Morecambe.
All in all this was an entertaining game with high quality goals scored by both teams.
On Thursday 2nd October Guiseley entertain Leeds Ladies FC who will be looking to avenge a 6-3 defeat earlier in the season.
Due to County Cup commitments this game will be played at the Yorkshire Amateurs ground in Leeds (KO 19.45).
Team: D Maslin, L Hunt, C Blythe, K Welham, L Whitton, L Stringer(S Legge), M Walsh, C Hulme , A Beresford, A Barr(B Kendell), T Rich(J Graham). Unused substitutes : E Watson, J Whitford-Stark
