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Post by adambrid on Dec 31, 2023 23:04:51 GMT 1
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Post by Nik on Jan 1, 2024 19:59:52 GMT 1
They didn’t test the keeper but the game never felt secure. Didn’t look to be playoffs vs relegation, but I didn’t think they looked good enough to beat many of the teams we’ve played this season either.
We’d be in third now if we’d beaten Marske!
Moore is a good player, the other new winger looked like he could be useful too. Less convinced by Hall! The usual conundrum of Denton’s linkup play vs Murphy’s aggression was there and probably will be all season. It’s good to have two good options.
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Post by colin19 on Jan 1, 2024 20:38:33 GMT 1
I thoroughly enjoyed today. A great turnout from our supporters - felt like we had a large share of the crowd. Avenue have some individual quality players but it don’t seem to gel as a collective. I think they will pull clear - especially if Marske are forced to withdraw.
I thought we generally defended well, looked threatening down the both flanks with the two new players, and had an edge. On occasion we looked prone to an error at the back such as a couple of misplaced pass backs that better opponents might have punished.
Avenue rallied for a spell in the second half but I felt the Johnson for Whelan change was the right call - it allowed Prince Ekpolo to press higher and enabled us to recover momentum. Gabriel is still a threat but I think his earlier goals mean teams are giving him more attention. I noticed a number of fouls on him today - which gave us a number of set piece opportunities.
I think that we were more threatening throughout the match and really should have added the second in the latter stages.
Great performance from Josh Ashman on his return and I thought Ollie Battersby did really well with a number of awkward through balls bouncing and swirling in the wind - he confidently dealt with all of them and was great to see after the Marske game.
Funny place Avenue.
They have a good deal going for them - the ground is large enough to develop, and is a community asset. They have some decent and committed individuals on and off the field. However as a club they never seem to have cracked a collective spirit. It’s apparent in the disagreements on their forum. Sometimes I wonder whether that culture can affect the team on the pitch. We have had our challenges over the years (and internal differences), but I’d always say that broadly speaking players, managers, supporters, volunteers, and directors pull together for the benefit of the club.
I think, and hope, they will do just enough to stay up as derby matches are better than the longer jaunts (especially when they result in 3 points away from home).
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Post by rallyman on Jan 1, 2024 20:44:21 GMT 1
Game of two halfs (for us) today. We were good in 1st half & should have been 2 or 3 goals clear if not for BPA's keeper. 2nd half we were poorer I thought. Luckily BPA were poor in both halves so 3 points was deserved in my opinion.
BPA will struggle unless they can add a few better players, but for my sake, I hope they survive for local derby reasons.
Interesting went to Murgytrods after game & met a friendly Halifax fan who'd been to their 0-0 draw today. Although we're 2 league apart we both in similar dilemas in that both are just ourside play-off's, not sure if good enough to make them, but if we do, unlikely to get promoted.
Rallyman
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Post by george on Jan 1, 2024 21:25:25 GMT 1
At times we played some good football today. Certainly deserved to win although we lost momentum a little in the second half. Biggest threat to our goal came from some poor back passes ! Maybe artificial turf holds the ball up more, grass is smoother and slicker ?
On another day we could have been 3 up by half time. However, on another day BPA could have snatched an equaliser. Our approach play deserved more than the one goal, we do need to be more deadly in front of goal. Arguably we should be beating these teams by more than one goal if we honestly have play-off pretensions.
But, hey, we won, played some good stuff. And the chips were as good as advertised.
george
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Post by Nik on Jan 1, 2024 21:38:49 GMT 1
They were but I missed most of the first half waiting for some! Terrible queueing system said there was a separate line just for drinks but they started selling food from that line too, which meant waiting 35 minutes and watching people sail past without queuing at all. Won’t spend my money there again, I’d forgotten from last time how slow they were.
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Post by MrP on Jan 1, 2024 23:23:05 GMT 1
A good result and a performance that deserved more than one goal.
Andy W has finally got his wingers and Kofi and Abs certainly offered pace and trickery. The less said about Hall the better. He doesn’t look ready for adult football.
Impressed with Josh on his return.
Slightly bemused by AW’s subs today. I know Dents has a lot of supporters and offers height when defending but he offered very little attacking-wise today and his legs have gone. And with pace down the flanks, you need someone who is a bit more mobile.
Clearly there are issues between manager and certain players. Sooner they are moved on the better
2 points off playoffs (in playoffs if Marske do fold) and a series of winnable games.
Come on the Lions
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Post by bigj on Jan 2, 2024 1:25:14 GMT 1
Better than Avenue first and should have been at least two up at the break. Repeated our attacking intent at the start of the second half and then we sat back and allowed the home side to try and square matters but luckily for us they had no firepower, do the same against other sides and we will probably suffer the consequences.Second half should have seen us pressing home our advantage as apart from the keeper Avenue had no defence to speak of and as we have shipped more goals than anyone else above us, this afternoon was an opportunity to redress that imbalance but we wasted it.
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Post by adambrid on Jan 2, 2024 2:33:16 GMT 1
The perfect start to 2024, a win, clean sheet and the derby bragging rights.
Although 1-0 sounds tight Avenue never looked like scoring despite plenty of dangerous possession, did Battersby have a save to make all game?
Tom Scott up the other end played well though and kept the hosts in with several stunning stops denying Johnson, Moore, Kendall and Tongue in the opening 45.
The best of the lot being his tip onto the bar of Johnson's powerful drive.
He couldn't stop Kendall's bullet though from 25 yards out, the defender was offered plenty of space on the edge of the box and took up the opportunity to have a go, it flew into the top corner leaving Scott stranded.
We dominated the half but BPA did have a good chance early doors when Hey shot across the face of goal after a mix up at the back.
The second half wasn't as entertaining as the first but Tongue, Murphy, Denton and Moore all forced Scott into a save.
Tongue has a few long range efforts but couldn't beat the impressive Scott.
Whelan so nearly added a late second with a shot which took a hefty deflection to loop over Scott but bounced just wide.
Kendall fired an effort wide too when the ball bounced around the box.
A good way to react after Boxing Day disappointment and a performance that definitely deserved more goals.
Well played Guiseley!
Onto Gainsborough at home on Saturday.
Come on Guiseley!
AB
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Post by Nik on Jan 2, 2024 9:44:23 GMT 1
On Hall, I’m glad Andy made the change and hope the player is ok. It was obvious he wasn’t the man for that moment in the game and so Andy had a choice between sparing his feelings and trying to give us the best chance of winning. Sucks for a young player to experience that, but it was right to put Murphy on instead.
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Post by tugger18 on Jan 2, 2024 11:13:38 GMT 1
Really enjoyed yesterday’s game thought we played flowing passing football in the first half and forced their keeper into some cracking saves. Hard to say if he should have done better with the goal it was hit so hard and moving in the air.
Second half we only saw glimpses of the flowing football from the first half as BPA looked for the equaliser. Our goalie didn’t have a save to make which holds testament to our defence and the determination to keep BPA out.
Thought Denton did better at centre back yesterday and the two wingers gave us better dimension.
Would like to see Gabs more further forward with Murphy.
Well done to all.
Onwards and upwards.
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Post by cdp on Jan 2, 2024 12:27:10 GMT 1
A welcome three points after the very poor showing on Boxing Day. We looked much better with two wingers, both of whom did well, particularly in the first half. Moore especially is clearly decent and hopefully we can keep him for the rest of the season. BPA’s manager thought there was ‘not much in the game’ which is interesting given BPA failed to force a single save from Battersby and the BPA keeper made half a dozen excellent saves to deny Guiseley a more comfortable scoreline. Defensively we looked a bit shaky without Ible but Ashman looks to have benefited from his loan spell at Belper and did well. Hall should never have come on to the pitch given the circumstances and was rightly withdrawn - he looks to lack the physicality needed at this level. Pratt and Chippendale ignored again - can’t understand why but I don’t go to training so….. can’t see either of them being at the club much longer - which might be ok as long as replacements are lined up. Squad depth or lack of it will be a determining factor as we move into the sharp end of the season. Finally, the Denton debate continues - thought he did ok yesterday but there were a couple of occasions when one of the wingers sprinted away and there was no one in the box for him to cross the ball to. Having said that his link up play is decent and he is very handy when defending set pieces. I think we need to target 10 points from the next four matches - home to Gainsborough and Bamber Bridge and away to Atherton and Whitby. The league is very tight and there are no easy games.
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Post by rallyman on Jan 2, 2024 13:35:02 GMT 1
Felt a bit sorry for young Hall. Coming on for 10/15 mins & then sub'd again. He did look a bit out of his depth though so credit to Mr Welsh for taking the necessary steps. Wonder if we'll see him again ?
Rallyman
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Post by adambrid on Jan 2, 2024 21:03:24 GMT 1
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Post by adambrid on Jan 11, 2024 18:21:34 GMT 1
Highlights from the win:
AB
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