GUISELEY 1

AFTER this defeat by Hucknall Town Guiseley must pick themselves up for Saturday's FA Trophy tie at Marine.

This will be no easy task with Marine riding high at the top of the UniBond Premier Division and Guiseley never get anything but a rough ride from Roly Howard's men.

Bobby Davison will have to have his lads back firing on all cylinders to win this one.

The big, raw-boned lads of Hucknall came to Nethermoor on Saturday to give no quarter and Guiseley were left defeated and licking their wounds.

What efforts Guiseley did produce were rare moments of Simon Parke artistry as the big man swivelled and turned and got in overhead shots which were mostly off target.

It was a poor start for Guiseley when they lost midfielder Lee Poole who was stretchered off with an ankle injury after just eight minutes. He was replaced by Paul Bulgin who battled hard to fill the gap.

Guiseley were well on top in terms of possession but were unable to penetrate a dour defence and they lost the aerial battle in no uncertain terms to a big side.

It took 20 minutes for Guiseley to crreate their first real chance - a good shot from Andy Shuttleworth which was pushed over the bar by 'keeper Phil Robinson.

The crowd knew they were not in for a pretty game with Hucknall renowned for their route one approach and so it proved and a whistle strewn first-half ended goalless.

Guiseley 'keeper James Shutt had kept Guiseley level with three excellent saves, one from Simon Brown and two from Simon Martin while for Guiseley Simon Parke had an effort blocked on the line.

Steve Hook was beaten for pace by Simon Martin who went on to shoot wide while Rob Orton's effort from 30 yards was just inches wide. Bulgin tried a measured shot for Guiseley but not measured enough as it flew over the bar.

The second-half had just opened when Guiseley took the lead, much to the delight of Simon Ireland who was having his first start since breaking his ankle back in September. He was playing in a striking role in the absence of the injured Tony Agana while James Nettleton, Simon Phillips and Des Hazel remain on the injured list.

Players from both sides were making their way back upfield after a Guiseley attack when Parke charged down Robinson's goal kick and the ball ballooned into the path of Ireland who side-footed home.

Shutt made further saves to protect Guiseley's lead while at the other end a spectacular overhead kick from Parke was pushed away from under the bar by Robinson. Hucknall swept straight onto the attack and Richard Taylor's pass found substitute Darrall Rankin who lifted his shot over a hesitant Shutt to open the scoring.

A couple of minutes later Hucknall went ahead when Rob Orton's thunderous shot rebounded off the underside of the crossbar and Tomlinson drove the ball home.

If anyone looked likely to score for Guiseley it was Parke and he was unlucky not to add to his season's tally. He had a shot on the turn excellently saved and then an excellent run by Shuttleworth saw his ball into the area brilliantly brought down by Parke with his back to goal and his overhead kick was deflected for a corner.

Hucknall could have increased their lead but the ever reliable Colin Hogarth blocked an effort on the line.

Guiseley added to their injury woes when Neil Parsley limped from the fray with a knee injury to be replaced by Steve Sanders and late in the game Andy Shuttleworth was replaced by Bobby Davison.

This defeat leaves Guiseley close to being sucked into the relegation battle.

Manager Bobby Davison will be hoping to have Tony Agana back in contention for the Trophy game to provide more thrust up front but the injuries to Poole and Parsley present further problems.

Davison's season just appears to lurch from one injury crisis to another.

Seats on the coach to Marine can be booked by ringing Jennifer Rogerson on 01943 879236.

Runcorn Res..............2

Guiseley Res..............2

AFTER going 2-0 down at Runcorn on Saturday morning Guiseley Reserves pulled back to share the spoils with their hosts and having had the majority of play they were perhaps disappointed not to take full points.

Runcorn opened the scoring after Guiseley had forged an early chance which saw Julian Wilkes' shot hit the post and the rebound put just on top of the net by Craig Bower. Goalkeeper Nigel Muttick, suffering the effects of flu, was slow to come out and Runcorn's centre-forward took advantage to slide the ball past him into the net.

The Guiseley defence was again at sixes and sevens as Runcorn stormed into a 2-0 lead but the Guiseley lads showed their character and when David Hunter's free-kick came over into the box centre-half Rudi Coleano bravely won the ball at the back post and headed goalwards for newcomer Danny Philpott to nip in and score.

Guiseley levelled when good work from the hard working Craig Bower presented Stefan Zoll with the easiest of chances and he made it 2-2.

Bower then tried to set up Wilkes who had two good efforts saved.

At the start of the second-half midfielder Philpott got in a fine effort from long range which went just over the bar. Zoll, another suffering from the effects of flu, was replaced by young Academy side striker Lee Reilly and he put in an excellent crossfield shot which went just wide.

Two more youngsters from Guiseley's Academy came on in the latter stages with James Elliott replacing Philpott and Andy Holden - a member of the West Riding County Youth side - replacing Hunter.

Guiseley pressed but were unable to find a winner. Philpott had an outstanding debut while Coleano, a former Barnsley goalkeeper, had another impressive game in the centre of defence.

l On Saturday Guiseley Reserves entertain Ashton United with a 3 pm kick-off.

Eccleshill.................2

Guiseley Academy....0

PARADING three new players Guiseley Academy conceded the spoils to hosts Eccleshill on Sunday. After a lively start Guiseley were forced to defend for long spells and despite some ineot defending Guiseley's goal managed to remain intact until the 25th minute when a long range punt caught Lamb off his line.

Guiseley roared back into the game in the second-half dominating possession and playing some excellent passing football on an atrocious surface. Pressure however was not converted into goal chances and as the minutes ticked by a rare Eccleshill corner was converted via a free header to make it 2-0.

There was no way back for Guiseley after this despite them pinning the home side in their own half for long periods. Danny McCartney, Phil Atkinson and Greg Jowitt were the pick of the Guiseley team in which full-backs Sumner and Snell made their debuts.

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