Guiseley 3 Bolton 1

GUISELEY claimed their second Football League scalp of pre-season with a fine win over Championship side Bolton at Nethermoor last night.

Former Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson named former Bantams Ben Williams and Stephen Darby in a line-up which also included experienced players Mark Little, Adam Le Fondre, Will Buckley and new signing Pawel Olkowski.

The Lions, who included four of their new signings in the starting line-up, survived an early scare when Connor Hall curled a shot wide before taking an early lead.

Midfieldman Alex Purver pressed his claims for a place in Guiseley’s starting line-up when the Vanarama North campaign gets underway at Boston on Saturday week, with a fine goal.

He dispossessed Olkowski in the sixth minute before advancing and placing a 20-yard shot beyond keeper Williams who is currently on trial with Bolton.

Bolton tried to force their way back into the game with the lively Connor Hall proving a lively presence.

But Guiseley looked confident and attacked with purpose whenever the opportunity arose. Full back Cliff Moyo linked up with the attack well and Williams had be alert to cut out a dangerous cross as Kayode Odejayi closed in.

The home side’s bright play was rewarded again when the pacy Curtis Morrison found the net from a cross by Niall Heaton who had been on the books at Bradford City when Parkinson was in charge at Valley Parade.

It looks as if the new management team of Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill have assembled a squad with a desire to attack which will certainly win the approval of the Nethermoor faithful after the soporific fare on offer during last season’s National League relegation.

Goalkeeper Joe Green proved his worth when he saved a pacy free-kick from former Newcastle player Ameobi as Bolton stepped up their game.

Green also had to get down smartly to keep out an effort from Hall after Le Fondre whipped a dangerous cross into the box.

Bolton were trying desperately to get a goal back before the break but even a long-range effort from Ameobi failed to cause undue alarm for Green as Guiseley preserved their 2-0 advantage.

Parkinson rang the changes at the break with Yanic Wildschut, Craig Noone and Mark Beevers taking over from Ameobi, Buckley and Olkowski.

The Lions found themselves under pressure again at the start of the second period. A Noone header was saved by Green before Wildschut volleyed wide

Guiseley were having to dig in as they were unable to find the fluency which marked their earlier play.

Corners and set-pieces were causing problems but still the Lions managed to keep their goal intact.

Hobbs went close with a diving header from one corner by Joe Pritchard and Beevers saw his shot cleared off the line in the scramble that followed.

Hobbs was close again with a diving header from Pritchard’s corner with the hosts struggling to clear the danger. In the aftermath, Beevers had a shot cleared off the line.

The home resistance was finally broken in the 67th minute when Hall stabbed home a loose ball from close range after Green was only able to parry Le Fondre’s header from a Noone corner.

Bradford-born striker Clayton Donaldson, a summer signing from Sheffield United and experienced defender David Wheater were among a number of experienced personnel introduced by Bolton in the second half.

It said much for the character of the new-look Guiseley side that they stood up to the test and made victory safe with a late goal.

Guiseley were awarded a penalty which Reece Thompson fired past Williams after Vela upended a Guiseley trialist.

It was the perfect ending to a fine evening from Guiseley.

Guiseley: Green, Moyo, Purver, Heaton, Halls, Flowers, Hatfield, James, Odejayi, A Trialist Morrison. Subs: Lazenby, Worsnop, Smith, Thornton, Clayton, Thompson, Gomersal, Hussain, Paley, 3 Trialists