Guiseley Academy returned to winning ways when they saw off a competitive Boston side despite being without key players Freddie Westfall, Marley Spence and Emre Can, writes Rachel O’Connor.
After losing their previous game 2-0 to Halifax Town the Young Lions were determined to pick up the points at Nethermoor.
Without skipper Westfall Head of Academy Dave Currie paired midfielder Max Dickinson with the impressive Joe Taylor at centre-back and they were key in assisting Harry Churnin-Ritchie in keeping a clean sheet.
Guiseley’s form is following the pattern of their title winning season last time out with an unsteady start to the league campaign allied to a good FA Youth Cup run.
Now the distraction of that is out of the way Guiseley may well hit the run of form needed to get into a challenging position near the top of the table.
They as ever worked hard to take the points against a side that at times played on the edge.
The visitors gained a red card for a studs up challenge and had a player who raised the ire of the home crowd but not the attention of the match officials with his stamp in the back of an injured player lying on the ground.
The game started well for Guiseley with a goal for leading scorer George Sebine in the 13th minute, his 12th strike of the season.
Guiseley continued to press with Dickinson having a shot blocked and Sebine putting an effort into the side netting. The big striker then moved in from the left to go close with another effort.
All this was building up to a second goal and this came from Jack Lorriman in the 35th minute.
Guiseley took this 2-0 lead into the second-half and within three minutes they had extended this to 3-0 when Taylor netted his first goal of the season, a penalty, after Lorriman had been brought down.
Twice Lorriman was denied by the Boston ‘keeper before Zac Rushworth saw his tame shot easily collected. This was to be Rushworth’s last taste of the action as he went off injured to be replaced by Lucas Alexander in the 60th minute. In a dual substitution Lorriman was replaced by Oli Storr.
Sebine almost added to his tally but was adjudged off-side after putting the ball in the net.
Churnin-Ritchie made a great save to prevent Boston from getting a foothold back in the game
After escaping a red card for the earlier stamp Boston eventually lost a player for a studs up challenge.
Sebine was rested in the 80th minute with Nathaneal Dyer taking his place and Guiseley continued to take the game to their visitors.
Their ‘keeper made a good save from a Taylor effort but was then replaced in the 85th minute by their second string stopper.
Guiseley completed the scoring with a peach of a goal from Alexander, his 11th of the season. Another spectacular strike from this young player.
Guiseley have now won three, lost three and drawn one of their league games but on this form will surely make strides up the table.