The Lions of Guiseley roared back to overturn a three-goal deficit and snatch a sensational victory against a Droylsden side who had looked good value for their seemingly-unassailable half-time lead.
They were eventually undone by returning striker James Walshaw, who came off the bench to grab a hat-trick that saw the home side score four goals in a devastating nine-minute spell in the second half.
With a gale force wind and occasional driving rain blowing across the pitch, it was to both teams’ credits that they produced an enthralling contest. Danny Boshell and Chris Senior both went close for the home side, while for the visitors Tom Fisher had a goalbound shot charged down. Andy Holdsworth’s free kick was blocked by an outstretched leg and Jamie Clarke’s follow up whistled just wide before Dale Johnson got the better of Ainge to beat Steve Drench with a low shot just inside the post on 24 minutes.
Simon Baldry then had a shot blocked by Paul Phillips and the impressive Nat Kerr, and when the ball was lofted downfield the unmarked Ciaran Kilheeney shot wide of Drench for the second. Another Baldry effort passed agonisingly wide before the Bloods replied with a freak goal as Dan Gardner’s shot took a heavy deflection to wrongfoot Drench and send the visitors in three goals to the good at the break.
Lions’ boss Steve Kittrick’s approach at half-time was to forget the first-half mistakes and go for victory, and his players certainly responded. Chris Senior was first to threaten the Bloods’ goal when he carved out a glorious chance but shot straight at Phillips, while Dave Merris and Andy Holdsworth both struck the Droylsden woodwork direct from corner kicks.
Kittrick made a telling double substitution with twenty minutes remaining, throwing on two more strikers in the guise of Danny Forrest and Walshaw. Seven minutes later, the gamble paid dividends as Senior grabbed Guiseley’s first after efforts from Lee Ellington and Walshaw had been blocked. Even then Walshaw thought a comeback was unlikely, but he was persuaded otherwise when Ellington had a goal chalked off and a penalty awarded, which Walshaw dispatched with ease.
Walshaw next collected Senior’s astute through ball and netted to level the scores as the visitors looked in vain for an offside flag, then looked to have sealed a fairytale comeback as he converted a rebound on 82 minutes, this time being denied by the flag. Finally, he latched on to Forrest’s astute flick inside and fired a glorious left-foot effort wide of Phillips for the winner.
Manager Steve Kittrick said after the game: “Credit to them they’re a footballing side and they did play football but for that 25 minute spell in the second half, I think we deserved what we got today. We believe in what we do and we’re a good footballing side.
“Wally is Wally, he’s a good player and his heart is in the club. You can see that, it means a lot to him to come back and score three great goals.”
Entertainment value: *****
Star man: James Walshaw (Guiseley)
Teams – Guiseley: Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ellis, Ainge, Baldry (Walshaw 68), Boshell, (Forrest 68), Ellington, Senior, Holdsworth. Unused Subs: Bower, Burns, Giles
Droylsden: Phillips, Killeen, Holden, Kerr, Thompson, Peyton, Gardner, Marshall (Logan 89), Kilheeney, Johnson, Fisher (Owens 89). Unused Subs: Langford, Gerrard, Lake
Scorers – Guiseley: Senior 77, Walshaw 79, 82 (pen), 86. Droylsden: Johnson 24, Kilheeney 35, Gardner 45.
Att: 468
Referee: Mr Miller
