GUISELEY’S 2-0 victory over Workington saw them top the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division as the 2024/25 campaign got underway, writes David Bridson.

A sublime first-half Will Longbottom free kick was followed by a fierce John Lufudu finish with 15 minutes to spare to give the home side all three points.

Longbottom was denied by the offside flag in the seventh minute after latching on the end of a pinpoint Reece Kendall cross.

The visitors reacted to the warning quickly as a Jamie Allen effort was blocked shortly before David Symington’s strike fell an eyelash wide.

Lufudu’s ball into the box somehow evaded three Guiseley players in the 17th minute as the Lions looked to make their home advantage count.

Both sides engaged in a midfield battle with each team cancelling each other out via defensive clearances.

But when Jordan Thewlis was fouled on the edge of the penalty area Longbottom curled a stunning strike into the top left corner to give the Lions a 42nd minute lead.

Guiseley nearly doubled that just moments before the half-time whistle when Lufudu’s effort was parried away by visiting goalkeeper Alex Mitchell.

The Lions began the second half brightly with Jameel Ible’s header from Longbottom’s cross only inches wide of the right-hand post.

Jake Lawlor reacted well to prevent Allen breaking through the home defence as the Cumbrian outfit sought an equaliser.

In other news, after impressing as a pre-season trialist midfielder, Jack Emmett has signed a one year contract with Guiseley AFC after time out with a debilitating illness, writes Rachel O’Connor.

Emmett was one of Harrogate’s stand out players when they won themselves promotion to the English Football League but soon after making his debut in EFL Division Two Emmett was struck down by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in January 2021 and had to step back from the game he loved.

The Harrogate-born 30 year-old took a tentative step back to playing last season when he joined his local club Knaresborough Town to, as he puts it “test the water”. Water tested Emmett now feels ready to step up and get back to his former levels, something he is hoping to achieve with Guiseley.

He commented: “Having seen the talent within the squad in pre-season training and as a trialist in friendly games I am sure that the team will be challenging for promotion back to National League North, somewhere this club belongs.”

He added: “I chose to come to Guiseley as I was looking for a step up after proving myself with Knaresborough last season. I left football three seasons prior to that and I went to Knaresborough to see if I could physically handle it. I feel confident that I can move on now. I spoke to people who have played for Guiseley before and they were very positive about the club. I felt that the club sounded like a good fit for me.”

The player, who as a trialist scored in the pre-season game against Bradford City, said: “My aim in the coming season is to get back to a good level of playing with Guiseley. There are a lot of good players here and I played with the likes of Jake Lawlor, Jordan Thewlis, Joe Cracknell and Jake Wright at Harrogate and against some of the other players the club has recruited. The club has ambition and everyone wants to see promotion gained. It is definitely achievable with this group of players.

Of the upcoming season Emmett said: “I have had a bit of an injury but am OK now. There will be plenty of games in the early part of the season to get everyone started, I am really looking forward to it. It would of course help our confidence to get a good start with a win over Workington.

Emmett attended Harrogate Grammar School and then studied at both Loughborough University, where he gained Fist Class Honours, and then at the University of Nottingham, where he did his Masters in psychology. He now works for Citizens Advice supervising advisors.

Prior to the onset of Chronic Fatigue he had played for Harrogate Town for eight years and had also played cricket at what he describes as “a reasonable level”.

Of the illness Emmett said: “It is a horrible illness and I am lucky to have made something of a recovery, many don’t. I did not have it as bad as many others do but I was absolutely exhausted and it was very stressful, doctors did not seem to know what to diagnose at first. I am just grateful to be making these steps back into the game.”

Mitchell palmed away Thewlis’ attempt mid-way through the half as Guiseley tried to secure victory against an always threatening Workington side.

Jordan Little’s header slipped just shy of the net in the 74th minute before Symington steered his effort across goal.

But the outstanding Lufudu fired home in the 76th minute to secure the first league win of Mark Bower’s reign.

An 80th minute burglar alarm which rang the ears of both sides after a ball hit a compound roof at the Railway End was not enough to prevent victory and a clean sheet.

The Lions are next in action at Stockton Town on Wednesday evening with a 7:45pm kick-off.