Guiseley AFC Prepare for Visit to Hednesford Town

Local side aims to challenge strong home team in Northern Premier League

Guiseley AFC will travel to Staffordshire this Saturday to face Hednesford Town at Keys Park, marking their first visit to the ground since 2014. The match is part of the Northern Premier League Premier Division fixtures and promises to be a challenging encounter for the Lions.

Recent Form and Manager’s Perspective

Guiseley manager Ian Richards reflected on the team’s recent 1-1 draw against Workington, describing the first half as dominant but noting a more frenetic second half. He expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to secure a win at Hednesford, stating that the players are capable of taking all three points.

Richards also commented on Hednesford Town’s recent performances, noting that since Guiseley’s victory over them in mid-November, the Staffordshire club have lost only three games and are actively competing to avoid relegation. He highlighted the importance of the upcoming match and the opportunity it presents for Guiseley.

Team News

• Jamie Spencer is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a hernia operation, with an estimated recovery period of six to eight weeks.
• Will Longbottom has also undergone surgery but may return before the season concludes.
• George Goodman, recently back to fitness, is expected to feature in the starting lineup after not appearing as a substitute in the previous game.

Opposition Overview

Hednesford Town are aiming for consecutive promotions after ascending from the Northern Premier League Division One West last season via the play-offs. They currently sit close to the top of the Premier Division table, just two points behind leaders Hebburn Town, who have played one more game.

The club recently made a managerial change, parting ways with Gavin Hurren despite the team being joint-top of the table at the time. Former Premier League goalkeeper Kelvin Davis has taken over as manager, assisted by Danny Butterfield. Under Davis, the team has recorded two wins and one heavy defeat in three matches.

Hednesford’s home record is strong, with only one league loss at Keys Park this season and the best defensive record in the league, conceding just nine goals in 16 home matches. Their leading goalscorer is Akheem Rose, who has netted 12 times this season, followed by Niall Watson and Montel Gibson with seven and six goals respectively.

The squad includes experienced players such as Chris Hussey, Liam Kinsella, and Joss Labadie, all of whom have had careers in the English Football League. Forwards Jake Jervis and Jermaine Hylton also bring EFL experience, with Hylton having previously played for Motherwell, Ross County, and had a loan spell with Guiseley.

Aiden Walker, recently loaned to Hednesford from Bury, is another familiar name to Guiseley supporters. His arrival was intended to provide defensive cover during a busy fixture period.

Previous Meetings

• This will be Guiseley’s first visit to Keys Park since a 1-1 draw in 2014 when both clubs were in the National League North.
• In their most recent meeting in November at Guiseley’s Nethermoor ground, Hednesford won 5-1.
• Guiseley have won only once in the last ten matches against Hednesford.

Matchday Information

Supporters unable to attend the match can listen to live audio commentary via the Mixlr app or online at guiseleyradio.mixlr.com from 2:50pm on Saturday.

Hednesford Town recommends purchasing tickets online in advance. Tickets will also be available on the day from the club’s ticket office, payable by cash or card. Prices are as follows:

• Adults: £13
• Concessions (60+, students, under-17s, disabled supporters): £10
• Under-16s (with full paying adult): £5
• Under-10s and carers: Free

Programmes will be sold at the ground for £2.50. Parking at Keys Park is available for a £5 charge, with proceeds donated to charity.

Coach travel is organised by Guiseley AFC Supporters’ Club. Seats can be booked by contacting Paul on 07518 445861. The coach departs Nethermoor at 10am, costing £25 for members and £30 for non-members.