GUISELEY AFC Academy culminated an amazing season by following up their National League Divisional title win and subsequent Champion of Champions Play-off final appearance with success in the PGMOL VAR U-18 tournament.

The tournament was organised by the Premier League to give the Professional Game Match Officials Limited practice with the VAR system for next season.

They invited teams who had won their league in the National League Youth Alliance and the English Colleges League.

Guiseley's head of youth development, Dave Currie, said: "It was a great experience for the players to be officiated by Premiership and Football League officials, see the VAR system up close and also experience the world-class facilities at St George's Park."

Played over three days at the impressive FA complex in Burton-on-Trent, Guiseley convincingly won the tournament and picked up individual awards for Albert Ibrahimi (Player of the Tournament) and Jack Lazenby (Goal of the Tournament).

Guiseley defeated Park View Sports Academy, who are associated with Carlisle United, 5-0 in the final, scoring all of their goals in a stunning second half display.

Park View had beaten the much-fancied Sutton United 3-1 in their semi-final, but were defeated here as goals came from newcomer Akram Aaliyah (2), Ibrahimi, Luke Hogg and Joe Webster.

Ibrahimi carried off the Player of the Tournament award after scoring eight goals in six games, including a hat-trick against Telford United in their second group game, which they won 4-1 with Lazenby netting the other goal.

In their other group games, Guiseley defeated Woking FC 3-0, with goals from Lazenby, Ibrahimi and debutant Aliyu, and Pro Direct London, who were beaten 4-0 with goals from Ibrahimi, Hogg, Lewis Jackson and Lewis Waddington.

These wins lined Guiseley up for a quarter-final clash with Eastwood FC, who succumbed 4-0 to goals from Tabish Hussain, Webster and Lazenby (2).

In the semi-finals, Guiseley triumphed 3-0 over Gordon Strachan's Foundation after leading 2-0 at the break with a double strike from Ibrahimi. Hussain sealed the passage to the final with a third goal in the second half.

This tournament win concludes a triumphant season for Guiseley Academy, whose Under-16 squad also carried off the national title.

Some of Currie's young protégées are now looking forward to joining the first team squad for pre-season training, with new joint managers Russ O'Neill and Marcus Bignot keen to assess their capabilities.