Superb Guiseley bridge the gap and fight back to snatch a draw

The old adage of a game of two halves certainly applied here with a woeful Guiseley going 3-0 down in the first-half to visitors Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

Bamber Bridge then had right-back Danny Kent sent off for stamping on Andy Shuttleworth in first-half added on time. Guiseley emerged for the second-half with substitutes Nicky Hey and Kevin Newhouse on for Shuttleworth and David Cooke and suddenly there was fire in their bellies.

Guiseley swarmed forward and soon pulled a goal back and by the end of a pulsating second-half that had all but wiped out the memories of a poor first-half showing Guiseley were level and had a share of the points.

Guiseley's defence, albeit lacking the injured Simon Trevitt and James Nettleton, was in disarray and Bamber Bridge found a way through in the third minute with Mark Wane opening the scoring after 'keeper Chris Hill and Gary Shaw had a misunderstanding.

Alex Porter was the danger man for Bridge with a stream of dangerous crosses into the box. From one of these Andy Spence increased the lead in the 34th minute with the Guiseley defence backing off. He swivelled and hammered the ball past a helpless Hill.

Spence was there again in the 39th minute netting the rebound after Hill had initially saved from Wane.

Kent had become embroiled in a number of skirmishes and when challenged by Andy Shuttleworth in first-half added on time he stupidly retaliated by stamping on the Guiseley midfielder right under the nose of the referee's assistant.

Initially the assistant did nothing but the ire of the crowd and the nearby Guiseley players drew the attention of the referee. He wandered over to his assistant who then indicated the stamping offence and Kent was sent off amidst much mouthing from him.

This continued from the Bamber Bridge manager as he and his players left the field for the half-time break with abuse being scattered far and wide from a team which seemed to carry on from where their reserve team had left off at Nethermoor the previous week when they had two players dismissed.

They had spoiled throughout with goalkeeper Sharrock starting his time-wasting tactics from the kick-off.

Unfortunately the Bamber Bridge manager's war of words became more and more heated as Guiseley dragged themselves back into the game and he was prepared to verbally take on anyone be it spectator, player or management team from the opponents.

Guiseley assistant manager Clive Freeman, who had by this time been replaced by Peter Sumner on the pitch, allowed himself to be dragged into the confrontation when really he should know better.

Feelings were becoming more than just heated especially when a terrible tackle was made on Peter Atkinson but Guiseley pulled themselves together and pressed on and in the end almost won it.

Just four minutes into the second-half David Henry pulled a fine goal back for Guiseley firing in from the left of the penalty area.

Bridge goalkeeper Sharrock then saved a Mark Stuart effort and tipped over a Stewart Airdrie header before he was beaten again when Stuart created an opening for central defender Gary Shaw to head home after 69 minutes.

Guiseley were now full of passion and fire driven on by the irrepressible Richard Chattoe and it was he who netted the equalising goal in the 85th minute when Sharrock pushed out Newhouse's shot and the midfielder was there to score in a crowded goalmouth.

Today (Boxing Day) Guiseley are due to play local rivals Farsley Celtic at Throstle Nest in a UniBond Division One game (1 pm) and on Saturday are at home to Leek Town (3 pm).

They expect to have striker Alan Bailey and defender James Nettleton back for these games with midfielder Ben Thackwray and striker Ryan Senior both back in training.

The Reserves' game at Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch.

The Reserves are due to entertain Park Avenue at Nethermoor on Monday, December 30, with a 7.30 pm kick-off.

There will be added spice in this match with Avenue being managed by former Guiseley Reserve manager Brett Ferriday and his squad involving a number of former Guiseley Reserve players in Steve Daykin, James Elliott, Paul Terrelong, Phil Atkinson, Steve Blackett, Julian Wilkes and Craig Bower.