Guiseley 0

Ossett Town 0

GAMES like this are turning spectators away from Nethermoor. The club had started to build up its crowds this season but then the spell over the Christmas period which has seen them fail to win in six games certainly had an impact last Saturday when just over 200 paid to watch this UniBond battle.

What should have been a great Yorkshire derby turned into something of a damp squib with little action for the spectators to cheer. The high point was the defensive display of new signings Lee Connor and Sam Denton.

The experienced Connor brought some organisation to the back line while Bradford City's on-loan youngster Denton had an impressive debut.

With both sides lacking guile in midfield and accuracy up front this dour West Yorkshire derby ended in a predictable goalless draw that probably gave Ossett more satisfaction than the frustrated home fans.

Guiseley opened brightly enough as Dave Henry, Scott Jackson and David Cooke all tested John Hood in the Town goal but to no avail.

The second-half was little better as both sides struggled to find any rhythm and the only moment to lighten the gloom came when former Guiseley manager Steve Richards was on his feet berating the referee for not punishing Mark Stuart for what was a bad tackle.

Guiseley could have paid the ultimate penalty for a lacklustre display as James Walshaw had two clear cut chances to clinch the game for Ossett. However, his delayed reaction in both cases allowed the Guiseley defence to clear.

For Guiseley David Cooke had a shot blocked and Dave Henry's follow up scraped the wrong side of the post.

This draw leaves Guiseley without a win in six matches and has seen them slip from a play-off place into mid-table obscurity.

They need to get back on track fairly quickly if they are to finish in the play-off spots but display like this only emphasise that they were perhaps flattering to deceive when other teams around them had played fewer games.

A start has been made with a new central defensive pairing but there needs to be more ingenuity and flair in midfield and a more clinical finish up front.

Manager Neil Parsley has certainly seen his plans hampered by players who seem to spend more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

He has seen long term injuries deprive him of striker Ryan Senior, defender James Nettleton and midfielder Stewart Airdrie.

His new centre-back pairing of Kevin Graham and Michael Ord were then hit by the injury jinx and Ord has now left to play in Australia.

Neil Grayson, Jonathan Hunt, Richard Chattoe and Scott Jackson have also spent a lot of time sidelined.The unsettled nature of the side has not helped and the form of such as last season's outstanding players Nathan Hay, Jeremy Illingworth and David Henry seems to have been affected.

Young striker Danny Forrest will be available to join the squad for Saturday's trip to Lincoln after netting a hat-trick for the West Riding County FA youth team last weekend in the 5-3 win over Cumbria.