Pre-season friendlies are often taken with a pinch of salt by players and fans alike – a chance for youngsters to impress the gaffer, old heads to cement their place in the team and wantaway mercenaries to put themselves in the shop window – all while having a placid kickabout in a leafy suburb of north Leeds.
This particular match, however, was no ordinary friendly.
With handfuls of each other’s former players in their ranks, this was a time for redemption – a chance for many in the Guiseley camp to re-affirm, if only for themselves, their own footballing ability.
A look at the Lions’ teamsheet, and you may have been forgiven for thinking you had been transported back to Valley Parade in 2005 – such was the volume of former bantams in Guiseley’s matchday squad – six in all.
Most eyes, however, were on city striker James Hanson – who was returning to the club he left in 2009 for the first time.
The opening exchanges set the tone for the match – sparks flew and challenges were full-blooded. Guiseley seemed to be able to match everything Bradford threw at them, and seemed to be outmuscling an uncharacteristically lightweight Bantams midfield.
One new signing for the Lions, winger-cum-forward, Alex Davidson, was a thorn in City’s side all match, and worked well on Guiseley’s left, seldom beating his man, but finding it easy to make ground and deliver crosses, especially in the early stages, when one of his deep balls was headed wide by Joe O’Neill.
City boss Peter Jackson has made much of beefing up Bradford’s toothless attack this summer, but it was at the back where the visitors looked most shaky, and it took only 23 minutes for Guiseley to find a way through, after a mistake from centre-back Steve Williams let in Davidson to slot home Guiseley’s opener.
Bradford responded almost immediately, as trialist Jamie Green worked well on the right to whip in a cross, which was headed down for another former Guiseley man, David Syres, to coolly steer past a hapless Steven Drench.
Bradford seemed to be on the ascendancy, as straight after the restart, former Falkirk man Mark Stewart hit a rasping drive into Drench’s arms and a blistering run from Dominic Rowe saw him smashing his shot over the bar.
Despite the pressure, Guiseley hit the Bantams with a suckerpunch shortly after, as Gavin Rothery put the home side back into the lead with a pop-shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Guiseley made a number of substitutions at half-time, which saw a change to the shape and balance of the side.
Much was made of former city hero Mark Bower appearing in the hosts’ line-up and his second-half introduction saw a warm introduction from the Bradford faithful.
On City’s side, Michael Flynn replaced David Syres in midfield, and it was this added muscle that swung the game in Bradford’s favour.
City wasted no time in getting back into the game, as four minutes after the restart, James Hanson broke free from his marker on the left, before rounding two defenders and squaring the ball to the impressive Mark Stewart to control and finish with the touch of a man who has plenty more goals to come.
A midfield battle ensued, with plenty of crunching challenges from both sides. With Bradford’s extra height and weight, Guiseley could have wilted under pressure from the full-time pros, but they admirably stuck to their guns, not giving Bradford any time on the ball and utilizing their patented short-passing game.
It was on 57 minutes, though, that Bradford took what would eventually be a winning lead. An inswinging corner from Jamie Green saw Hanson rise above a clutch of players to smash his header into the corner of the net.
Bradford’s extra fitness seemed to tell in the latter stages of the game, as their pressing saw them camped in Guiseley’s half. Late chances for Stewart and substitute Nahiki Wells were kept at bay by Drench, and without the goalkeeper’s heroics, Guiseley could have been left with a much less flattering scoreline.