After a disappointing first-half, in which they conceded far too much possession, Guiseley Academy hit back from 2-0 down to defeat league leaders Farsley 4-2 in a pulsating second-half, writes Rachel O’Connor.
The visitors to Nethermoor were soon out of the traps rocking Guiseley with an eighth minute goal when their No 10 ran on to smash a good cross from the right wing past Callum Bradbury.
It became a feisty exchange between the National League North’s top and fourth-placed sides.
Guiseley were not helping themselves as they failed to gain possession from a series of throw ins and goal kicks.
Free-scoring left-back K’Marni Miller tried a couple of shots from distance before Farsley were awarded a penalty to establish a 2-0 lead.
Denelle Godfrey swung over a good corner from the left for Guiseley but there was noone to meet it at the far post.
Guiseley gained another corner after a good run by Miller and as the break approached Mason shot over from 18 yards and Kyle Burrows fired in a long range shot with no positive outcome.
The referee was a busy man throughout this derby game putting five names in his book in the first-half.
Guiseley came out in the second-half determined not to let the game get away from them and they started their fightback with a deft header from winger Jack Mason in the 52nd minute.
Guiseley were now pulling their A game together and when Danyaal Khan replaced Oli Storr in the 65th minute his pairing up front with George Sebine began to pay dividends.
This pair were up together virtually on the goaline when Denelle Godfrey played in a corner from the right and Sebine got the final touch to pull the score level.
Guiseley have made a name for themselves for battling to the end of games and pulling off dramatic wins.
This was to be no different and their spirits were not dampened for long when Khan had his 82nd minute penalty saved.
He showed his battling spirit when he immediately netted with a great header to make it 3-2.
Guiseley were applying all the pressure at this stage and were showing a great battling spirit even surviving the dismissal of Max Dickinson in the 88th minute for his second yellow card.
Dave Currie’s young charges continued to battle for the win and Khan set up Sebine with a great through ball and his strike partner smashed the ball home to cement a vital win.
The three points took Guiseley up to third place in the table with 23 points from 11 games while leaders Farsley have 29 from 13 and second-placed Boston 24 from 14.
There is a long way to go in this competition with the Young Lions having 13 more league games to play but they have shown themselves to have a real fighting spirit when their backs are against the wall.
Guiseley: 1, Callum Bradbury; 2, Kyle Burrows (Marley Spence 90), 3, K’Marni Miller, 4, Sam Walters, 5, Joe Taylor, 6, Freddie Westfall, 7, Oli Storr (Danyaal Khan 65), 8, Max Dickinson, 9, George Sebine, 10, Denelle Godfrey, 11, Jack Mason (Robbie Murray 89).
Guiseley Academy have an away tie in the National League Academy U-19 Cup on 21st February while their next league game is at Fylde on 7th February.
Leading scorers are: Jack Mason 13, Danyaal Khan 12, Kyle Burrows 6, K’Marni Miller 5, George Sebine 5, Oli Stirr 4.
