Report by: Edward Robertson

The 2023/24 season began in promising fashion for Guiseley as they battled to a 1-1 draw against a strong Hyde United side on a blustery Saturday afternoon at the Project Solar Stadium.

Manager Paul Phillips was satisfied with his side’s performance, as he said: “We knew Hyde were a good team, they were up at the top end of the table last year, and you won’t come up against a much more difficult team than that on a 4G pitch.”

The hosts began the game in positive fashion as Joel Amado’s long-range strike looped over the crossbar. Moments later Lewis Alessandra’s dangerous ball into the box was blocked by Jameel Ible. The travelling fans had their hearts in their mouths as the ball bounced too close towards Ible’s own net for comfort.

It took twenty minutes for the first clear cut chance of the game, and it came from the visitors. A Guiseley free kick found striker Tom Denton, whose effective flick on found Callum Chippendale who could only fire the ball over the bar.

It was then the Tiger’s turn to trouble the Lions after an impressive ball picked out the lively Antoine Makoli. He shrugged free of his marker and picked out Jack Redshaw in the box. His effort had to be scrambled away in the goalmouth by the Guiseley rearguard.

With five minutes to go before the break, Tom Pratt’s looping effort slammed against the crossbar, then Ollie Brown worked his way into a dangerous position and shot from range only to be denied by the stretching Ritchie Branagan.

The deadlock was broken from the resulting corner. An accurate delivery, swung in by captain Liam Tongue, was nodded home by Ible who nodded home to give the Lions the lead.

The goal seemed to re-invigorate the hosts. Makoli’s impressive solo run saw him cut into the Lions’ penalty box and fire towards goal, but it skewed wide thanks to a deflection.

After the break, the visitors threatened to extend their lead as returning frontman Gabriel Johnson latched onto a looping ball over Hyde’s defence, however his shot was fired straight at Branagan.

It was then the Lions’ turn to defend. Brad Wade was called into action after a dangerous corner swung into the box and found Bradley Roscoe. Fortunately Wade managed to push his effort wide.

Guiseley were to have no such luck from the resulting corner. The ball fell perfectly onto the head of former Lion Bailey Thompson who ruthlessly headed home to give Hyde United the equaliser.

Having levelled the scores, Hyde pressed for a winner. Redshaw’s long range effort was palmed away by Wade. A defensive mishap presented Redshaw with another opportunity but, to the Lions relief, the forward could only fire wide.

The game ebbed and flowed. Guiseley pressed again when a Tongue free kick found debutant Josh Ashman whose looping header was scrambled away by the Hyde defence.

As the game entered the latter stages neither side seemed willing to settle for the point. Tongue almost produced a late plot twist when, on his return to his former club, he collected the ball outside the penalty area following a cleared corner and produced a long range effort that bounced narrowly wide.

It was a point apiece on the opening day. A scoreline that was perhaps a fair reflection of the afternoon’s play, but one in which both managers could make a case that their side coming out as victors.

Phillips thought his charges should have taken their chances. “We had four of five chances when the ball bounced in the penalty box, someone has to be brave and put the ball in the net. But credit to the lads, we had a good go at them, it was a good game.”