BLYTH SPARTANS 0

Guiseley 2

GUISELEY'S determination to make something of their season was amply demonstrated in the North East on Tuesday night when they showed 'True Grit' to overcome the odds and book themselves a place in the UniBond League Cup Final.

Guiseley set off with an understrength side with skipper Des Hazel heading for St Kitts to play international football once more.

Hazel's destination bore little resemblance to what Bobby Davison's battle weary troops foud in Blyth.

With the squad decimated by injury and Hazel's absence and some reserve team players not willing to travel Davison named three substitutes who were never in reality going to make the pitch.

Davison himself, Morrell and Jordan were all struggling with injury but the substitutes came into their own when the game was abandoned for a while following a snowstorm blowing in off the Nortn Sea.

With around 14 minutes of the game remaining and with Guiseley leading 2-0 the game was halted. The referee said that if the lines were cleared he was willing to continue. Surprisingly Blyth were unable to find more than the one brush - and with it a very reluctant pusher!.

With their crowd baying for the game abandoning totally Guiseley's resourceful substitutes picked up the number boards used for indicating substitutions and along with Guiseley club directors Stuart Allen and Norman Jukes and Commercial Manager Les Wood they set about clearing the lines.

There is no denying the determination in the Guiseley camp to succeed and it is this type of commitment by everyone at the club which will hopefully be rewarded with some trophy success this season.

The game eventually re-started and Guiseley cruised home to a fine win. They will face Stalybridge Celtic or Hucknall Town in the final on a date and at a venue yet to be set.

The game was won with two superb strikes, the first on 38 minutes from Stewart Airdrie after he was put in by an excellent ball from Colin Hunter.

Julian Wilkes had a torrid time up front against two giant central defenders but he eventually gained his reward for sticking to his task.

Airdrie put Wilkes away and he romped forward to slot the ball wide of the 'keeper into the far corner of the net in the 70th minute.

Just six minutes after this goal the referee called the game to a halt with the snow covering the pitch. Twelve minutes later the task of clearing the lines was completed and away the sides went again.

Lee Poole tried his luck but put his effort over while Steve Hutchinson shot wide for Blyth at the other end.

Wilkes then tried to return the favour for Airdrie but the youngster saw his two shots blocked - one by the 'keeper and one by a post.

Steve Dickinson, who had been in commanding form throughout, pushed a raking ball away for a corner to emphasise the class he had shown throughout.

Andy Williams had returned to the Guiseley midfield after injury and he had a big influence as did the back four of Peter Atkinson, Steve Hook, Simon Phillips and Benn Gallagher but Guiseley's recent performances have been all about rolling your sleeves up and battling for each other and every one was a hero.

Guiseley maintained their title challenge with wins over Frickley Athletic and Lancaster City in a punishing schedule which still sees them playing four games every eight days.

Against Frickley player-manager Bobby Davison earned his side an early penalty which was confidently put away by Peter Atkinson.

In a 3-0 win young midfielder Lee Poole netted his first goal for the senior side after Julian Wilkes had distracted the 'keeper and the ball ran loose. Poole gleefully rammed the ball home.

Victory was sealed when Stewart Airdrie came on as an 80th minute substitute for Michael Jordan. He showed great persistence to net a fine goal in stoppage time.

The game was watched by former Leeds United chairman Bill Fotherby.

Again Airdrie stole the show when he netted the only goal of the game against Lancaster City on Saturday.

With a strong wind and bouncy pitch pretty football was never going to be an option but Guiseley know what they have to do if they hope to lift the title and they went out and did it with assistant manager Neil Parsley again to the fore.

Parsley has shown great qualities since his return from injury.

It took Guiseley just four minutes to get on the scoresheet but Lancaster had had a chance before that with Dickinson tipping over a brilliant effort by City skipper Flannery.

Airdrie was surrounded by players when he received the ball but he stepped up a gear to move away from them and get in a thunderous shot.

Former Guiseley favourite Jimmy Graham was in the Lancaster ranks and he had a good game at left-back but even he had trouble with Airdrie who is quickly making a name for himself.

Tonight, Thursday, Guiseley entertain Emley and then on Saturday visit Marine with the Reserves having a home game against Runcorn.

Guiseley again make the trip to the North East on Tuesday with another visit to Blyth for a league game before the big crunch match at Worksop on Saturday, April 24.

After that comes a mid-week trip to Whitby Town , a league cup final and a final league game at home to Altrincham.

Next Tuesday the Academy entertain Farsley at Nethermoor and on Wednesday the Reserves take on Flixton (7.45 pm).

Guiseley Academy 5

Harrogate Town 2

This was a very satisfying win for Guiseley Academy manager Rob Ames over his old club.

Star of the show was Richard Machell with a superbly taken hat-trick.

Guiseley yielded midfield possession to the visitors throughout but their more direct approach was too much for Harrogate as Machell helped himself to his hat-trick and he and Alex Familio troubled the Town defence with their pace all night.

Familio made an early breakthrough to put Guiseley ahead and it looked too easy when Machell scored the second after 25 minutes.

Guiseley contrived to keep their opponents in the game by conceding a headed goal from a corner ten minutes from the break but Machell again raced clear to place his shot wide of the 'keeper on the stroke of half-time.

In a scrappy second-half Guiseley struggled to find any fluency but did well enough to claim a further two goals from Machell and Jon Gallifant to round off a comfortable win.Harrogate pulled a second goal back at the death when Greg Jowett hit a bizarre own goal from 20 yards out.

Guiseley Academy 4

Ossett Town 0

Richard Machell achieved a landmark in this game by turning out in goal when regular 'keeeper Ed Neale was unavailable. Machell has now played in every position ftom striker to 'keeper with Guiseley's Academy and Reserve teams this season.

He kept a clean sheet but was unable to steal the limelight from Joe Howard who netted all four goals. In defence Gallifant, Fishburn and Rhodes were outstanding while Pollard had a fine game in midfield.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.