Guiseley Academy manager Dave Currie was proud of his side after a battle against the elements and a strong Chesterfield side on a bright but cold afternoon at Trinity and All Saints University 3G in Horsforth on Friday writes Rachel O’Connor.

As Guiseley recorded their sixth consecutive win in the National League Under-19 North division It was that man Josh Stones who found the net again notching his 17th goal in ten games for the Academy this season.

Currie said:”We were up against it a bit with three players struggling with illness and others having injuries. The conditions were horrendous with it blowing a gale on a very lively pitch and the sun was in the players’ eyes.

“Whilst it was not a spectacle we were the dominant side against a team who beat York City last week with only ten men.

“Danny Ellis and I were delighted with the lads, we scored a great goal, defended well and got three points in awful conditions. In terms of club size we should not be anywhere near the top of the league and although it is early days the players have done us proud.”

It was hard work for the players but there was some prodigious work from the likes of Dexter Ball, Harry Glover and Stones, before he had to leave the field at the break having sustained a tweak when stretching to gain possession.

Jakub Hebda had Guiseley’s first chance, firing wide of the near post, and for all his endeavours he was out of luck when it came to taking his chances. Stones diverted an
Oli Reape corner wide of the goal before Hagie Damba had to make a stop at the near post after Ricardo Grey had failed to clear. Then from a Chesterfield free-kick their striker headed over and wide.

Ellis Farrar found the head of Stones with a nicely flighted ball but his header was easily taken by the ‘keeper. Chesterfield were nothing if not resolute and they made it a real battle but they were troubled following a Reape corner when the ball was twice cleared off the line in quick succession.

Guiseley needed to find a little more control as they battled the conditions but they remained resolute. A long punt from the half-way line was well judged by Damba as it swirled in the wind and then the visiting No 9 headed over. At the other end Stones had a shot palmed away for a corner and Stones then set up his strike partner Hebda but he could not get his shot away. Ball then shot tamely wide of the far post as the half was drawing to a close.

In the 44th minute, always a great time to score, Reape played the ball in to Stones who took a touch and then struck the ball home for the opening goal. That was the last action for Stones who was replaced at the break by Miguel Valsau. Damba was also replaced at the break by Oli Brackenbury.

Chesterfield fired the opening salvo of the second-half but Brackenbury was up to the challenge and made a good block. Guiseley forced a series of corners throughout the game but made little of them and this continued to be the pattern in the second-half. Reape played one across the box with the goal gaping but there were no takers. Ball put a good effort just over the bar and had another effort tipped over before playing a ball across the face of the goal, again with no takers.

In the 78th minute Sam Meeson replaced Harry Glover who had once again run himself into the ground. Hebda made a good turn but his shot was wide. Chesterfield pressed for an equaliser and lobbed the ball forward but it drifted wide of the far post before their No 9 stung the ‘keeper’s hands with a good shot.

Guiseley then got another chance when a good free-kick by Ball found the head of Hebda but he failed to score when well placed. Ball was giving a man-of-the-match performance and in the final throes of the game he curled in a great effort which the ‘keeper just managed to take.

All in all Guiseley’s performance was a little below par but they worked hard and deserved the three points.

GUISELEY: Hagie Damba (Oli Brackenbury 46); Oli Reape, Ellis Farrar, Harrison Leigh (C), Jayden John; Dexter Ball, Ricardo Grey, Alex Mather, Harry Glover (Sam Meeson 78); Jakub Hebda, Josh Stones (Miguel Valsau 46). Subs not used: Dylan Kouemou, Nathaniel Williams.