Guiseley expected to be up to speed (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Guiseley expected to be up to speed

5:00pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Guiseley will be looking to consolidate their second place in the Blue Square Bet North Division on Saturday when they have home advantage over old foes Boston United.

The Lions and Boston have had some titanic battles in the league and play off games in recent seasons but the Lincolnshire outfit are not as strong this term as usual.

The hosts are 11 places higher at this stage, have banked 24 points more and, have played four games less than their visitors.

Steve Kittrick’s men were inactive last Saturday as a consequence of near neighbours Harrogate Town’s ongoing pitch problems. The boss will be hoping that has not set his players back after they blew away the cobwebs of an enforced break with a handsome win over Harrogate Railway to book themselves a third West Riding County Cup final slot.

Kittrick said: “I expect my players to be as ready for this game as they have been for all the others although it was not ideal last week. Harrogate had asked us if they could play it at our place and we had agreed but the league wouldn’t allow it.

"They claimed it would be an unfair advantage over all the other clubs in the division.

“We were disappointed that the game was not played because the lads had shown in the semi-final that they were raring to go and that they all wanted a shirt for the next game.”

Kittrick has no injury concerns as the Lions have played just one game since January 12 and although centre back Danny Ellis picked up a groin strain and had to come off ten minutes from time, against Railway, he was ready to face Town last Saturday.