Image Credit [Will Pickworth]

Guiseley’s joint-manager Russ O’Neil described his sides draw against Kidderminster as “a good point” in what was a closely fought battle throughout with Guiseley extending their unbeaten run to 5 games.

On a sunny yet crisp autumnal day in West Yorkshire, both sides started brightly, but the gulls circling above the ground caused the most action at the start of the half. It was 17 minutes before the first chance was created as Guiseley debutant, Jo Cummings, on loan from Charlton Athletic, misjudged a header from a long ball over the top from Fraser Horsfall, allowing the bright Ashley Chambers in, before firing straight at Joe Green in the Guiseley net. Both teams were working hard without providing that quality in the final third and were both looking to play some good football on Guiseley’s pristine pitch.

The hosts struggled to get the ball in dangerous areas apart from set pieces where they looked a threat and it was Will Thornton, fresh from his first goal for the club last week, who had Guiseley’s best chance mid-way through the first half.  He rose well from a delicious Alex Purver free-kick but put his header wide from 8 yards. Kidderminster continued to look good on the ball and a great team move culminated in a one-two between Joel Taylor and Chambers, before Taylor pulled the ball back to Edward Williams who missed the target criminally to fail to make the breakthrough. The lively Kidderminster wing-back, Lee Vaughan then tackled Guiseley left-back, Niall Heaton, before putting a fantastic ball over the top, which Chambers just lifted over the bar. Moments later, Williams caught Thornton dallying on the ball in his own penalty area, stealing possession, before placing it wide from 12 yards, meaning it was goalless at half-time, where Kidderminster had probably just edged the first half.

The game then really sprang into life in the second half as both sides traded good chances; Daniel Bradley was through on goal for ‘The Harriers’, after yet another good ball from Declan Weeks, before putting his chance wide with the keeper beaten. At the other end, Thornton again rose highest from a Purver free-kick, heading wide from 10 yards.  Green held well from a Vaughan shot before Heaton stung the palms of Kidderminster goalkeeper Brandon Hall from 30 yards.

Will Thornton – The young centre-back continues to improve game-on-game, fresh from his confidence boosting first Guiseley goal the week before, he marshalled the defence well in the absence of skipper Andy Halls

Matchwinner against Brackley, two-weeks previous, Paul Clayton was introduced in the last 10 minutes and put himself about as always and it was his lay-off in the third minute of injury time which set up Will Hatfield, who spurned the chance over the bar to sum up the final quality missing in this game. It ended 0-0, but this should be seen as a good point for the Lions, in what was a solid display against an impressive Kidderminster outfit.

Gryphon Guiseley Man of the Match: Will Thornton – The young centre-back continues to improve game-on-game, fresh from his confidence boosting first Guiseley goal the week before, he marshalled the defence well in the absence of skipper Andy Halls and kept the lively Chamber and Bradley relatively quiet. Missed a couple of headers in the opposing penalty box but was making his presence felt throughout.

Attendance: 697

Guiseley

Green; Moyo, Cummings, Thornton, Heaton; Purver ©, Harvey, Hatfield; Felix, Odejayi (Clayton 85), Walters

Kidderminster

Hall; Horsfall, O’Connor ©, Johnson; Vaughan, Weeks, Daniels, Taylor; Williams; Chambers (Richards 68), Bradley (Ironside 76)