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Guiseley AFC: Unlucky 13 as Lions run comes to a halt
Match action from Tadcaster Albion v Retford United.
Guiseley’s 13-match unbeaten record came to an abrupt end at the hands of a revitalised Bishop’s Stortford side who caused a 4-1 shock.
Stortford have turned a corner since new boss Rod Stringer took the reins and are now an entirely different prospect to the side who started life in Blue Square Bet North so poorly this season. This is what Guiseley were soon to find out.
From the off, Stortford looked promising and well-organised, not allowing returning frontman James Walshaw a sniff on goal for his Guiseley return. It was a basic error at the other end which allowed the home side to take the lead, with a chipped through ball not being collected by Guiseley goalkeeper Steve Drench, leading to an open goal for Reece Prestidge to score.
Solid
Even a solid spell of Guiseley possesion wasn’t enough to force any openings as Guiseley were still lacking creativity.
They were shocked further when a quick break down the Stortford right culminated in a ball slid across the Guiseley box for Arron Wickham to dispatch home.
Lee Ellington replaced Chris Senior at half-time and the change sparked a flurry of chances with Simon Baldry heading across the goal-line and Walshaw poking an effort inches wide.
The ray of light came in the 73rd minute when a ball bobbled through a packed Stortford penalty area for Ellington to slide home.
With 20 minutes remaining, the Lions set about their task but the risk of being caught on the counter was to prove a very real one.
A couple of half chances were created by the visitors but the momentum was halted when Dwight Gayle struck a hammer-blow in the 85th minute when his shot squeezed under Drench.
The trip was to get even worse for the Yorkshire side when Gavin Rothery was awarded a straight red card for what was percieved to be violent conduc relating to use of an elbow in an aerial challenge. To cap off a thoroughly bad day at the office for Steve Kittrick’s men and their travelling fans, a quick break down the right saw Junior Dadson shoot across the goal into the far corner of the net to make it 4-1 to the home side.
The only comfort for the Lions will be that the top two sides, Hyde and Stalybridge Celtic, also lost.
Harrogate Town, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw at home to Histon.
Town, with debutants Paul Bolland and Rob Youhill prominent, attacked from the off but were unable to break the visitors down.
After the break, Simon Weaver introduced Lee Elam and Paul Brayson for Paul Heckingbottom and Beesley, and Elam made a quick impression when he shot over from 25 yards.
Brayson then had two chances to win the game in stoppage time, firstly being denied by a brilliant diving save by Jorg Stadelmann, then shooting just over the bar with a last gasp free-kick.
Fifth-placed FC Halifax Town saw off Corby Town 4-2 at Steel Park, with Danny Holland helping himself to a brace.
Holland struck the opener in the 17th minute, and then completed his double two minutes before the break.
Lee Beeson pulled one back for the hosts, but James Dean slammed home another for the visitors, before Jason St Juste made sure of the outcome.
Jordan Smith then struck a late consolation for the hosts.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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