It was a disappointing day for Guiseley Academy on Monday when, after conceding early goals to Blyth Spartans, they fought back to 4-3 down but errors saw them lose the momentum to eventually lose 6-3, writes Rachel O’Connor.
Guiseley were looking to end their season with a flourish but after draws with Altrincham and AFC Fylde the reigning league champions look like having to settle for ninth place in an injury hit campaign.
Against visitors Blyth they looked likely to pull this game out of the fire battling back to 4-3 and being in the ascendency. Blyth heads were down but their only attack in a 20 minute spell of Guiseley dominance saw them gifted a goal.
A slack pass then set them up to widen the gulf to 6-3 and end any chance of Guiseley getting any reward for their efforts.
Guiseley have lacked influential centre-back and captain Freddie Westfall since a car accident in November.
His abscence has meant that Max Dickinson has had to cover for him thus robbing the midfield of his skills and ability to run that area of the game.
In the latter stages of the season leading scorer George Sebine has missed eight games and Yasin Hayes, who has looked a good prospect at times has missed 15 games.
There have been varying spells out for other players so it has been difficult to get any real momentum in the National League U-19 Alliance although the earlier part of the season saw a good run in the FA Youth Cup.
On the plus side centre-back Joe Taylor, Max Dickinson and midfielder Marley Spence have each only missed one game and have made good progress.
Zac Rushworth is another to have progressed after a quiet start and now has 12 goals to his name, including a hat-trick, with 11 of them coming since the turn of the year.
In the latest game against Blyth Rushworth netted two of the goals and the other came from Jack Lorriman, taking him to 13 for the season.
The Academy has four players in double figures, Sebine netting 16 and Lucas Alexander 15.
Guiseley: Spencer Booth; Larence Ford, Joe Taylor, Max Dickinson, Robbie Murray; Jack Lorriman, Marley Spence, Oli Storr, Lucas Alexander; Derren Boyle, Zac Rushworth. Subs: Zante Rose-Campbell, Mckenzie Aylward, Zac Richards, Dan Fotherby all used.
Guiseley’s last game of the season is at Gateshead on April 30th.
