Whitby Coast Past The Lions

Guiseley’s home campaign got off to a far from ideal start as goals from Connor Simpson, Jacob Gratton and Daniel Rowe sentenced them to a 3-1 defeat against Whitby Town, writes Cayden Sands.

The Lions arrived at this game coming off the back of a positive result against Hyde United on Saturday, but the Blues proved to be an impressive outfit and were more than worthy of continuing their perfect start to the season.

The visitors looked the better side from the get go and took a deserved lead on 13 minutes after a cross into a largely uncontested box from Alfie Doherty allowed Simpson to head the ball past a hopeless Brad Wade between the sticks to punish the hosts’ uninspiring start.

The Lions did recover somewhat well from going behind and had a number of chances courtesy of the likes of Gabriel Johnson and Tom Pratt, but a common theme throughout the evening of the side simply not being clinical enough would emerge in these moments.

This would go on to cost Guiseley immensely on 42 minutes when former Lion Gratton would return to haunt his former club and double Whitby’s lead, capitalising on some sloppy defending to smash the ball home from close range and give the Blues a comfortable lead heading into the break.

The hosts came out at the start of the second half looking somewhat rejuvenated, but despite causing some early issues, their lack of bite in front of goal would once again cost them as Rowe increased Whitby’s advantage on 54 minutes with a close range header following another spell of poor Lions defending.

Guiseley were quick to respond and were finally rewarded for their persistence on 62 minutes when following a scramble in the box that looked like something straight out of a pinball game, striker Tom Denton was in the right place at the right time to neatly put the ball past Shane Bland and reduce the deficit.

Despite managing to limit the visitors’ chances in the later stages of the game, the Lions would fail to capitalise on any momentum they gained, with them being made to settle for a 3-1 defeat on the day against a Whitby team that deserved it and following a lacklustre showing in front of goal, an issue that will quickly need to be looked at before Saturday’s game with Basford United at Nethermoor.

Guiseley 1-3 Whitby Town | Tuesday 15th August 2023 | Nethermoor

Attendance: 610

Team: 1. Brad Wade, 2. Aiden Walker, 3. Reece Kendall (46′ Stacey), 4. Bailey Conway (66′ Whelan), 5. Jameel Ible, 6. Josh Ashman, 7. Tom Pratt (60′ Murphy), 8. Callum Chippendale, 9. Tom Denton, 10. Liam Tongue (C) and 11. Gabriel Johnson.

Subs: 12. Kallan Murphy, 14. Leigh Whelan, 15. Miguel Valsau, 16. Joe Stacey and 17. Ollie Brown.

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