Walshaw is Guiseley villain (From Wharfedale Observer)

Walshaw is Guiseley villain

6:30pm Sunday 3rd March 2013 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Guiseley 0 Brackley Town 2

A moment of madness from James Walshaw saw the Guiseley striker red-carded at the start of the second half to virtually hand visitors Brackley Town the three points.

The Lions were expecting a tough encounter as second hosted third in the Blue Square Bet North but having to play with ten men for almost half the game was a mountain they did not expect to have to climb.

Ultimately it was one they failed to ascend, leaving runaway leaders Chester in a virtually unassailable position. The chances of the Lions lifting the title, and with it the only automatic promotion spot to the Blue Square Premier, are evaporating rapidly.

Brackley are still chasing Guiseley and they will have gained heart from Saturday’s victory at Nethermoor.

The first half was a tight affair. Josh Wilson shot wide, Rhys Meynell had a cross cleared off the line and Walshaw hit a post as the home side created the better chances.

Brackley scored against the run of play when Jefferson Louis bundled the ball home in the 28th minute.

Walshaw was dismissed after kicking out at Town keeper Billy Turley and, although Lions boss Steve Kittrick made changes and saw his side play well, arguably better than they had when they had 11 men, they fell further behind when Tom Winters added Brackley’s second.

A late rally from the home side did not even make a dent in Town’s lead.

Kittrick did not attempt to defend his striker, saying: “Walshaw’s sending off was disgraceful – he lost his head. I asked him about it after the game and he said he thought he had lost the ball and was trying to win it back. But everyone in the ground could see that he just kicked their keeper, and that killed us.

“There are people in that dressing room hurting, but we have to be more professional and finish games with 11 men. Second half, that game was there to be won but it becomes a different mindset when you’re down to ten men.”