Guiseley 4 Atherton Collieries 0 - Lions launch campaign with big cup win

The Lions’ joint-manager, Russ O’Neill, was pleased with their first outing of the 2020/21 campaign.

“It is important to start the season like we have; we knew this would be a good test and we have done well.

“We know there are a lot of games coming up and to get through, build the momentum, can only be a good thing.”

It had been a 30-week wait for Guiseley since their last competitive game at Nethemoor Park.

The game had just passed the 20-minute mark when the opening goal was scored.

The hosts’ forward, Kaine Felix, was found in the area and he produced a smart turn before placing his effort low into the bottom corner.

Atherton were quick to have a chance of their own, however. Elliot Rokka created some space on the edge of the area and his curling effort needed a smart save from Brad Wade who pushed the ball out of danger as well. This turned into an end-to-end game with both teams pushing forward in the wind and rain but, at half-time, there was just the one goal scored.

Guiseley started the second half brightly and doubled their lead when a cross was intercepted by Vinny Bailey who volleyed the clearance into the top corner.

The heavy rain started to affect the tempo of the game, with chances being at a premium for the last third of the match.

Felix grabbed his second with just under 10 minutes to go with a powerful run and, after rounding the keeper, made it three.

In added time Mark Howarth grabbed his first for the club with a powerful finish, wrapping up the victory.

The Lions are back in competitive action with their first National League North game of the season tomorrow, as they host Blyth Spartans.

Farsley Celtic overcame Radcliffe 2-1 with Jimmy Spencer getting both of the hosts’ goals, meaning Kole Hall’s reply was a mere consolation.

A thrilling tie at Mossley saw Tadcaster Albion win 4-3 on penalties after Ify Ofoegbu’s goal had been cancelled out by the home side’s Dylan Fitzgerald in normal time.

Andy Milne’ s spot kick – the visitors’ first – was saved, but Brewers keeper, Will Appleyard, soon spared his blushes before Simon Russell, Bailey Thompson, Kevin Dos Santos and sub Omar Sanyang all held their nerve from 12 yards.

Sean Newton’s free kick saw York City scrape their way past Warrington Rylands 1-0 to reach the FA Cup’s third qualifying round.

York midfielder Paddy McLaughlin had grazed the crossbar before Gary Kenny fouled Jake Cassidy and Newton found the bottom corner from 20 yards in the 40th minute.

Meanwhile, Bradford Park Avenue crashed out in a crazy contest at Horsfall Stadium.

Mark Bower’s men led Spennymoor with 12 minutes to go thanks to Lewis Knight’s first-half effort but Glen Taylor failed to convert two penalties for the visitors – one blazed too high and the other saved by Dan Atkinson – before finally netting with a third spot kick to secure a 3-1 triumph after he had headed the visitors level.

Stephen Thompson then gave the north-east outfit the lead.

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Simon Weaver was left to rue a lack of cutting edge as Bolton Wanderers condemned his Harrogate Town side to their first League Two defeat since promotion to the EFL.

The Wetherby Road outfit saw plenty of the ball during an absorbing contest and worked a number of promising attacking opportunities, but ultimately did not do enough to make up for two poor goals which they gave away at the other end. It finished 2-1.

“That’s probably the best we’ve played in between the boxes this season. We dominated the second half, were probing away, but with all the balls and deliveries into the box, we need to be more of a threat,” the Harrogate boss reflected. “It’s disappointing because we left ourselves with a mountain to climb but we still had plenty of time. There wasn’t too much to do, however with that lack of danger in the box, that did prove to be the case in the end.It never looked like someone was going to get in front of a defender. We keep saying it, we need to be better between the posts and step up to the plate. I’ve said to the players in training ‘someone stand out as a goalscorer, please’ but we lacked that real edge and someone desperate to score goals. For all the good play we need to score goals. There were some great moves but we don’t want to be entertaining and putting great balls into the box and there’s nobody on the end of them. That will make us tedious and a mid-table team at best.”

Weaver had said pre-match that he wanted to see more control from his players in possession and avoid the contest developing into another “basketball game”, yet that is exactly what happened during the opening 20 minutes.

Bolton’s Eoin Doyle scored 26 goals in League Two last season, though it is unlikely that any of them will have come easier than the one which broke the deadlock at the Keepmoat Stadium. But it wasn’t until after 56 minutes that Bolton were able to counter and score their second, Nathan Delfouenso beating Belshaw one on one. Town wasted no time feeling sorry for themselves and pegged one back after the hour mark through Thomson and continued to probe away until the final whistle but it was not to be their day.