Guiseley 2 Bradford City 1

GUISELEY not only had the honour of becoming the first team to score against Bradford City in pre-season but were also the first team to defeat them.

After 3-0 victories at Farsley Celtic and Motherwell and a 1-0 triumph at St Mirren, the Bantams fell 2-1 to the Lions at Nethermoor on Tuesday night in front of a healthy crowd of 2,432.

City, who fielded a trialist-dominated team, took the lead on 34 minutes after a jinking run from teenage hopeful Jon Lewis.

He was cut down by Rob Atkinson but referee Adie Holmes waved play on to allow former Manchester City youngster Adam Drury to rifle in an angled shot.

The visitors nearly had a second as half-time approached but Luke Hendrie's low cross just eluded the incoming Lewis.

But Guiseley levelled seven minutes after the break. Half-time substitute Danny Boshell lofted a high ball forward and Adam Boyes wriggled in between the centre halves to steer home.

Guiseley, adopting a more direct approach, could have had the lead.

Boyes fired across goal and Joe Cracknell saved alertly from Nicky Boshell, before Danny Lowe went closest yet with a poke past the keeper that missed the far post by inches.

Frenchman Billel Qsiyer, yet another Bantams trialist, flicked a header wide before Boyes put Guiseley in front with his second goal as he converted Nicky Boshell's cross.

The unfamiliar nature of the City team-sheet caused a stir among the large crowd as they started with a line-up that had never appeared in a regular-season game for them, while Guiseley named a strong side.

There were only four contracted City players – and the seven trialists who kicked off were also joined by another couple on the bench.

But those starters actually on the Bantams books wasted no time in making their presence felt.

The away fans who dominated every side of Nethermoor got an immediate glimpse of new boy Mark Marshall's electric acceleration.

After getting a taste of it against St Mirren with a late cameo, the winger was given an hour to stretch his legs against the combative National League new boys.

He needed only four minutes before picking off a loose pass by Will Hatfield, scooting away from the halfway line and completely bamboozling home skipper Adam Lockwood before his cross was nodded away.

Then it was the turn of Lewis, the young American already being touted as the 'next Nahki'.

Wells would certainly have been proud of the quick feet that created room for a shot at keeper Steve Drench.

Not to be outdone, Luke James whipped in a shot on the turn – in between twice getting cut down by Lockwood as he threatened to burst clear.

The second time was a blatant professional foul and the Guiseley centre half was lucky the referee felt so lenient.

Mark Fotheringham, captaining for the night, tested Drench with the free-kick.

Marshall also continued to enjoy himself and more trickery created an opening for Sam Wright, the fourth of the 'permanent' brigade, to warm Drench's hands.

Marshall and Wright got their wires crossed with a misplaced pass near their own penalty area but Gavin Rothery snatched at the unexpected opportunity for the hosts.

City worked their way through a mass of substitutions and ended the game with five apprentices on the pitch.

One of them, Niah Payne, had the chance of a last-minute equaliser but was put off by Lockwood's challenge.

Guiseley: Drench (Hall 75), Toulson, Lowe, Atkinson (Hall 61), Lockwood, Lawlor, Brooksby (N Boshell 61), Guy (Porritt 75), Boyes, Hatfield, Rothery (D Boshell 46). Subs: Bennett, Fell, Gaughan, Johnson, J Hendrie.

Bradford City: Cracknell, L Hendrie, McAusland (Omolokun 71), Saunders (Mellor 85), Leigh, Drury (Walker 71), Wright (Devine 81), Fotheringham (McBurnie 81), Marshall (Mottley-Henry 61), James (Qsiyer 65), Lewis (Payne 71). Subs: Hallwood.