Guiseley still trying to solve riddle of first-half lapses (From Ilkley Gazette)

Guiseley still trying to solve riddle of first-half lapses

1:08pm Thursday 12th April 2012 in Sport By Bill Marshall

Guiseley have scored 81 league goals this season in Blue Square Bet North – but how many more would they have scored if they had been successful in first halves?

The Lions trailed 1-0 at Colwyn Bay last Saturday and won 2-1, and were 2-0 behind at the interval on Easter Monday at home to Altrincham before hitting back to triumph 3-2.

Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick said: “I won’t turn up until half-time if that is what it takes to win!

“We, and by that I mean assistant manager Chris Holland, physio Martin Stringfellow and myself, have even talked about altering the warm-ups. We don’t know what it is but if we ever solve it then some teams should be worried.”

Joint club secretary Adrian Towers added his two-pennorth, saying: “We have even changed the pre-match chat.

“I just think it is the team trying to give Steve and myself a heart attack!”

The upshot of it all is that second-placed Guiseley still trail Hyde by two points with three games left.

There is only one automatic promotion berth, and Kittrick said: “If it goes to the last game of the season (on April 28) it will be interesting.

“We are at Boston United, who have been involved in the end-of-season shake-up for the past two seasons, and Hyde are at Histon, who will probably be fighting to avoid relegation.”

Kittrick, who was able to name 11 players and substitutes who were all fully fit for last night’s West Riding County Cup final against Bradford Park Avenue at Valley Parade, never felt that there was a two-goal margin in the first half between Altrincham and his team.

He said; “Nicky Clee’s was a great goal but James Walshaw had a goal disallowed for offside that should have stood.

“However, it was poor de-fending on our part when Damian Reeves scored the second goal just before half-time. It was a soft goal.”

Apart from being able to bring on players who can score goals, such as Chris Senior, who got the winner against Altrincham, Kittrick also reckons that there are goals around from players who are already on the pitch.

For example, skipper and centre back Simon Ainge scored a brace in the defeat of Colwyn Bay and got another goal against Alty.

Kittrick said: “Simon is a good lad and a good player and he just wants to win.”

Guiseley are at old foes Stalybridge on Saturday, with Kittrick saying: “It will be difficult as they are only one place off the play-offs, so they will be going for it.”

The Lions have no mid-week match next week for the first time since mid-February – a run of eight weeks including bank holidays.

“I am sure I will find something to do,” laughed Kittrick.