> 17.3.2008

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The Pitmen's inconsistent season was summed up perfectly in seventy two hours tonight, as they could not build on an excellent win over Gateshead with a shocking defensive display against Guiseley tonight. Manager Phil Starbuck stuck with the same team as Saturday, with Paul Evans playing the second of his two games before returning to Causeway United

A bustling start from both sides saw Guiseley have the better of the chances, with Lee Tuck almost beating Evans to a cross in the second minute

The on-loan Tuck grabbed Guiseley's first goal after just four minutes; skipper Tom Marshall lost his man whilst tracking a long ball over the top, allowing Tuck to fire unchallenged past Evans

It was all Guiseley, with Evans being tested by Tuck again six minutes later. At the other end, fit-again Reece Styche was his usual busy self, putting himself about and letting the visitors defence know he was not going to let them have an easy night. His fifteenth minute shot from a Ross Dyer cross was just wide of goal

The Pitmen drew confidence from Styche's efforts, and Mario Pedro should have done much better with an effort mid-way through the first half. A Chad Sheppard free kick was not dealt with by Guiseley keepr Piotr Skiba, with the ball eventually finding it's way out to Pedro. His shot, however, touched the outside of the post as it flew wide of goal

Marshall, one of the Pitmen's more experienced and consistent performers, was having a real nightmare for once, and made another mistake that lead to the away side's second goal. His misplaced pass was picked up by Damien Dunne, who played in Tuck, who once again beat an exposed Evans unchallenged 

Back came the hosts, with a flurry of set-pieces not producing a goal. The closest they came to a response was a header at the back post from Ross Dyer that was somehow scrambled off the line by a Guiseley defender

After Tuck wasted a good chance to grab a hat-trick by firing over, Dunne put Guiseley further in front three minutes from half time, getting behind the Hednesford defence once again and firing past Evans from a tight angle

After what was no doubt a real dressing-down from Starbuck, the Pitmen emerged with real purpose in the second half, with Wayne Dyer narrowly off target with a powerful shot. His midfield partner Sheppard then supplied Pedro with another chance three minutes later, but he hit the post for a second time with a downward header that Ross Dyer tried to follow into the net

The old-fashioned away side counter-attack had served Guiseley well all game, and they once again repeated the trick on fifty three minutes. Striker James Hanson was the beneficiary this time, timing his run well to collect the ball and finish well

To the Pitmen's credit, they did not allow the scoreline to stop them playing, and continued to create chances, with Pedro, having one of his better days, forcing Skiba into a smart save

The goal that they were searching for all night finally came on sixty seven minutes, albeit a very scrappy one. A Pedro corner caused chaos in the Guiseley six yard box, with Skiba failing to deal with the ball. Eventually, Rory May appeared to get the final touch on the ball to turn it home

A minute later, and the Pitmen were looking at a comeback, as they grabbed a second. A ball up to May dropped to the onrushing Sheppard, who fired past Skiba from twelve yards out to further reduce arrears

Any hope or possibility of a comeback was dashed nineteen minutes from time when Guisley got a fifth. The hapless Marshall this time managed to get back to stop Hanson scoring an identical goal to the one he scored earlier, but his challenge was in vain, as the ball fell nicely to Tuck, who score his third of the night

The Pitmen were left shell-shocked, but they continued to plug away up front, with May missing after a mazy run and tired-looking shot. For Guiseley, Tuck could have had a fourth, but Evans denied him with a smart save

For the neutral, a highly entertaining encounter, but yet another example of the Pitmen's inabilities to a. produce any run of consistency and b. defend against sharp, clever forward lines  cds

Leek Town (A) 

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