Matlock Town at home

[adambrid]

We're back at Nethermoor tonight looking for a quick reaction to late disappointment on Saturday at Broadhurst Park.

Supporters' Club Desk:

The desk will be open tonight in the clubhouse with the last five pitch squares on sale and Christmas Draw tickets available to purchase

Previews:

Scott Kelly's preview includes this from Andy: "Jack has trained with us three times now. He trained again with us Thursday and again he did really well. He deserved an opportunity to step up"
For the full preview and more from Welsh: guiseleyafc.co.uk/23-24-match-preview-matlock-town/

Tonight's programme includes an interview with Cliff Moyo and more exclusive content including updates from the boardroom and Raise the Roof.
There's much more inside too, view the full programme preview here: guiseleyafc.co.uk/23-24-matchday-programme-preview-matlock-town/

You can also buy and read the programme digitally here: www.zeeon.co.uk/gamehub/2023-24-match-programme-guiseley-v-matlock-town

After discussions with Brian's family a full tribute will be paid to Brian Dove ahead of our clash with Radcliffe on 2nd December against Radcliffe.

Not able to make it?
Guiseley AFC Radio have you covered with full match commentary: www.mixlr.com/GuiseleyRadio

Come on Guiseley!
AB

[lioncub]

What a brilliant result! Plus Prince strikes again in the 98th minute. We have moved to 5th place! Keep this up lads, you are making supporters very happy!🦁🦁🦁🦁

[Nik]

Really good performance. Matlock look like a good side who work hard too but obviously dependent on their goalscorer who was absent.

Clean sheet, four good goals, fifth place… really enjoying it all at the moment!

[leftwinger]

LGE: GUISELEY 4 v MATLOCK TOWN 0 (HT 1-0) Tues. 21 Nov. 2023

For me, this was the best performance of the Guiseley team’s 23/24 season so far! Not only was the attacking side of their game at the same sort of intensity and sharpness as we have got used to in most recent matches, but the defence looked much more assured, steady and reliable. Centre back Jameel Ible got MOTM and he was excellent. But, I would have given it to Jordi Nsaka for his equally effective and dependable, defensive performance added to his devastating, super-quick attacking down the left- hand- side. He was the archetypal wingback tonight, calm and confident, but explosive in attacking mode. In truth many players did well here too-Tom Pratt, Ollie Brown (on ex-Lion John Johnston, particularly in the second half when JJ was pretty invisible!), Leigh Whelan, Kallum Murphy, Joe Stacey, Prince Ekpolo-no-one was a failure here, and most were VG+ to Ex. Gabriel Johnson, just seems to be keeping up such a high standard game on game. Another who played out of his skin was goalie Ollie Battersby, in the first half when MT looked more dangerous through many corners, most taken very well by John Johnston. This excellent winger, wearing no.7 but operating on the left hand side, was at his most dangerous and threatening in the first half, but anonymous in the second.

Tom Pratt got the first goal in the first 45 mins. That half was when the Lions looked in more danger when MT had some decent chances, but the line was resolutely held. Luck too was not on their side. But, in the second half Gabriel Johnson added a second, after bobbing and weaving through one after another defenders. Kallan Murphy netted the third, after a great aggressive, attacking run by Gabriel Johnson. And finally, in added time Prince Ekpolo topped it all off with a magnificent drive for the fourth. Matlock were a well-beaten side long before the end in this one with one of their own players shouting at his teammates “Don’t die on me!” In truth, that was what happened. Matlock virtually capitulated after the third, (and their manager stopped screaming too!) and although they had the odd foray, it was obviously not their night. They would head back to Derbyshire, I am sure, not quite believing what happened and keen to watch the video pictures of the game to see how it all went wrong!

The only gripe I have is the ball still being played out from the back when the opposition are high up the field. This led to a few tricky moments, which luckily/thankfully we didn’t pay for. I’m not against doing that when the situation presents itself Ie when the opposition is further back, but there is a time when it is a good idea and others when it’s not! Still, (back to the positive!) the Lions beat a promotion-hunting side comfortably tonight, and carry on with the excellent attacking form we’re growing to love seeing, whilst combining that with some rock-solid defence. We are now fifth! What more could we ask for? Next up at home in the league….Ratcliffe. Right now, that sounds…very ‘appetising’!

[bigj]

Brilliant performance by the Lions this evening. Matlock had tons of possession and umpteen first half corners but never really looked dangerous apart from on two or three occasions whereas we put our chances away when they fell to us. Not so long ago with that type of game we'd have been happy with a point which perhaps is a measure of just how far we have come in the last couple of months. Onwards and upwards!

[MrP]

Supporting GAFC is enjoyable again right now,
Watching a team play neat tidy football, score goals and win is really nice.
The last few years have been about a social experience but winning and socialising is so much better!
Jameel was excellent but a surprise MoM amongst me and my friends - thought Prince & Whelan outstanding whilst Pratt looked more like The Hyde player we signed but Gabby was just wow. Created the 1st, an outstanding finish for the 2nd, instrumental for the 3rd and could have had the Goal of the Season for a messi-esque slalom but pulled his shot wide
Matlock are good and in a false position.
This should give the squad huge confidence
Big game Saturday
Come On the Lions

[colin19]

Fantastic performance tonight. Matlock look strong but lacked the cutting edge that Margetts might have provided. The goals tonight were top quality. Tom Pratts’s finish was well placed, I don’t know how Gabriel Johnson found space between the defenders for the second, Kallan Murphy’s work rate earned him the opportunity to finish calmly from an acute angle, while Prince Ekpolo’s long range effort topped things off nicely. I can’t think of a game where four different goalscorers produced such good quality goals. We are a really exciting team to watch at the moment and I’m really enjoying going to games at this point in time. When were we last in the playoff places of any division after 17 matches? I can’t recall but I’m guessing it was the 2014-15 season.

More please!

[netherfieldlion]

Another really good performance and the perfect response to Saturday.

We look so good going forward with Gabs and Pratt a real handful. Great finish by Kallan Murphy and another wonder strike by Prince.

Whelan and Prince were awesome I’m midfield.

The defenders some how kept a clean sheet by some serious blocks and tackles and Battersby pulled off an unbelievable save at 1-0 and continues to look assured and commanding at all times.

Matlock looked strong especially in the first half and will no doubt rue that their leading scorer was injured and not able to convert their first half possession. Sometimes these are the breaks you need.

JJ was class on and off the field just as he was when he played for us.

What a joy it is to watch Guiseley again.

Nethermoor is now a happy place, we are being entertained and there is a togetherness that was lacking previously.

[matt]

Most enjoyable game for ages and a bit of football. Must mention the ground staff for the excellent pitch given the recent weather. Still nice to enjoy football played on grass as it should be. Sacrilege to replace with plastic - but if needs must. Kendall deserves a mention, mopped up everything at the back.

[bigj]

All of the goals from last nights game and more

[rallyman]

Great game of football last night. Almost a game of 2 half's with Matlock as good, if not better than us first half, but without the ability to finish any of their chances created whereas we took one of ours very well to lead 1-0 at half time.

Credit must go to the management team with their half-time team talk as Matlock's first half danger players were pretty much nullified in second half which meant we were more on top, attacked a lot more with quality passing football and put way three great finishes. Did 4-0 flatter us slightly, probably, but we finishes some of our chances whereas Matlock did not so they can only blame themselves.

Rallyman

[guiseleyguile]

It’s all been said - marvellous display from the Lions last night. Beat Maccy on Saturday and we’re rocking !! But look out for Whitby - closing in on play-offs with 3 games in hand - another interesting game on December 9th I think.
Onwards and upwards

[danmartin]

I think I've probably said it before, but the real stand-out thing for me was the intelligence in the play last night. When Johnson got in behind their defence for the first goal, he checked back, looked up and played a pass to a free man in the box. 2 months ago, if he's in that position at all, he most likely hammers it blindly across the box to nobody (partly because he didn't bother to look, but also nobody has actually bothered running into the box).

I don't think it was really a 4-0 game. The defence and goalkeeper were very busy and if Matlock had scored first they could well have closed the game down and won 1-0. That's not to take anything away from an excellent performance against a good side, just acknowledging that it was accomplished rather than dominant and everybody had to perform well.

I think this must be the best and most enjoyable football since before the promotion to the Conference Premier. It simply couldn't be more different from the performances earlier in the season. Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves and going to matches is something to look forward to once again.

[colinl]

What was the winning 50/50 number? Was it claimed?

[Nik]

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