Guiseley Academy fell to a 3-2 defeat when, in their third game in eight days, they travelled to Newcastle University to take on Blyth Spartans, writes Rachel O’Connor.
The three recent games produced a win, a loss and a draw – very much the pattern of their season so far as their young squad strives to settle in in what has been an injury hit season for them.
Nevertheless, after this string of games and at their halfway point in the season, Guiseley lie seventh in the National League U-19 Academy League North with 15 points from 12 games – four wins, three draws and five defeats.
Influential centre-back and captain Freddie Westfall continues to be missing from the side and his absence has meant that the driving influence of Max Dickinson has had to be removed from midfield to cover for him in defence.
The team’s recent performances have left plenty of hope that the Young Lions will move up the table in the second half of the season.
They were the first team in two months to prevent FC Halifax Town from taking maximum points when they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
This was in a ‘home’ game played at West Riding County FA’s ground. A game in which George Sebine scored in the 30th minute and Jack Lorriman in the 58th minute.
Up next was a trip to York City, a side who had recently knocked them out of the League Cup by a 3-1 margin.
With a side showing three chages from the Halifax game Guiseley gained revenge with a 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Emre Can in the 30th minute and Lorriman in the 80th minute.
Further changes followed for the trip to play Blyth with Dan Fotherby coming in at left-back, a position that has seen three different players occupy it in the last three games and five take the shirt overall.
Guiseley as ever battled well against a side placed sixth in the league but eventually succumbed 3-2. Leading scorer George Sebine netted both Guiseley goals taking his tally to 16 for the season.
His efforts have impressed first team manager Mark Bower so much so that the young striker has three times had minutes with the first team when coming on as a substitute.
Following Sebine in the Academy goalscoring stakes are Lucas Alexander with 11 goals and Jack Lorriman with nine.
Overall in the season Guiseley have registered nine wins having had a successful five win run in the FA Youth Cup earlier in the season. In their 19 games in all competitions they have scored 51 goals and conceded 34.
Guiseley v Blyth – Spencer Booth; Lucas Alexander, Joe Taylor, Max Dickinson, Dan Fotherby; George Sebine, Marley Spence, Derren Boyle, Jack Lorriman; Emre Can, Mackenzie Aylward. Subs: Yasin Hayes for Can 55 minutes; Oli Storr for Aylward 70 minutes.
