Guiseley Academy’s Under-18 side cruised to a 3-0 win over visitors Dronfield in the FA Youth Cup tie at Nethermoor on Tuesday evening, writes Rachel O’Connor.
Without having had a league game Guiseley’s young Lions were thrust into FA Youth Cup action with a team made up of a handful of last season’s players and a band of others keen to make their mark and this they did under the strong leadership of their captain Freddie Westfall.
The big centre-back led the way with a storming performance which included a spectacular shot on goal and bags of vocal encouragement for his teammates. Westfall’s experience of playing men’s football with Steeton certainly shines through.
Guiseley had complete control of the first-half and should have been leading by far more than the one goal scored in that half. Guiseley goalkeeper Harry Churnin-Ritchie hardly touched the ball in this period while his opposite number Jack Shepherd was in constant action.
The first chance came when left-back Lawrence Ford set up George Sebine who was ruled off-side. Chances came thick and fast with a free-kick from 25 yards out bypassing everyone in the penalty area. Guiseley had three corners in succession but all came to nought.
Westfall set Serbine free with a great through ball and the striker found the net only for his effort to be ruled off-side.
Sebine looked to redeem himself with a good shot that was well saved by the ‘keeper before Zac Rushworth tried a long range shot which went just wide.
Guiseley had settled well and were picking some good passes but still failed to break the deadlock. Sebine put another chance wide but was unsettling the Dronfield defence with a constant presence in good positions. He had a further chance but was pushed to too tight an angle to get the ball in the net.
Rushworth found Derren Boyle who picked out Jack Lorriman whose shot hit the post before Rushworth hit a 25 yard free-kick which curled into the box. Amid a flurry of attempts to prod the ball home Boyle had his effort saved by the ‘keeper. Sebine went close again with an effort that landed on top of the net and then a good move involving Joe Taylor, Sebine, Rushworth and Sebine again saw Max Dickinson just thwarted by the ‘keeper.
Guiseley had done all the pressing and finally got their reward when Marley Spence got the final touch in a goalmouth melee to make it 1-0 in the 40th minute. The half ended with Dronfield not having a chance of note on goal.
The second-half opened with that spectacular shot from Westfall from just inside the attacking half which the ‘keeper just managed to tip wide. Rushworth put another shot wide before Sebine got a 55th minute reward for all his endeavours with a fine goal scored after good work by Ford. When the ‘keeper came out to challenge Sebine he was beaten with consumate ease.
Sam Macaulay then replaced Lorriman, the start of a flood of substitutions by Guiseley as they continued to dominate the game.
It took until the 57th minute for the Guiseley ‘keeper Churnin-Ritchie to make his first save so dominant were Guiseley and so solid were the centre-back pairing of Westfall and Taylor in front of him.
Spence took a well-earned rest when he was replaced by Mason Donaldson in the 60th minute, just before Guiseley were reduced to ten men when Yasin Hayes took out a Dronfield player just outside the penalty area and the referee consulted his assistant before waving the red card. Guiseley had a let off when the resulting free-kick hit the post.
Even with ten men Guiseley continued to have the upper hand and extended their lead to 3-0 in the 69th minute when Sebine made a good run and from his cross Donaldson netted.
Guiseley then made their final substitutions when Leo Berriman and Lucas Alexander replaced Boyle and Rushworth. Dronfield then came more into the game but were constantly repelled by some good defending. In the closing stages a shot by Alexander was blocked and the Guiseley ‘keeper made a couple of saves before Alexander brought Guiseley’s scoring opportunities to a close with a ferocious shot which was well saved by the Dronfield ‘keeper.
It was job done with a solid Guiseley performance and they now move on to visit Yorkshire Amateur in the next round.
Guiseley: Harry Churnin-Ritchie; Yasin Hayes, Freddie Westfall, Joe Taylor, Lawrence Ford; Derren Boyle, Marley Spence, Max Dickinson, Zac Rushworth; George Sebine, Jack Lorriman. Subs: Sam Macaulay (Lorriman 55), Ollie Jacques, Mason Donaldson (Spence 60), Leo Berriman (Boyle 70), Lucas Alexander (Rushworth 70), Leonarda Fella, Mackenzie Aylward.