Bower hoping for a repeat result from trip to Ferriby

The Villagers’ home close to the Humber Bridge was the venue which memorably provided the catalyst for Guiseley’s unlikely surge to the Conference North play-offs in Bower’s first season of 2013-14.

A 3-2 victory back in October 2013 – thanks to strikes from Gavin Rothery and Wayne Brooksby (2) – is always likely to be recalled by Bower, as it represented his maiden win as Lions chief.

That famous victory arrived not long after a run of six successive defeats at the start of his Nethermoor tenure.

Fast forward to now and how Bower would dearly love something resembling a repeat as he seeks lift-off in 2016-17, even if the current three-match losing streak that his side are enduring is not quite at the levels of 2013-14.

Bower, whose side head east on the back-to-back home defeats – albeit contrasting ones at that – against the fancied duo of Dagenham and Redbridge and Wrexham, said: “We are going there to win, although we went into the first three games to win.

“We will look at Ferriby and see how they play and line up. Their manager (Steve Housham) has come up against us a few times at Gainsborough and knows plenty about us and hopefully we can get that win and it can push us in the right direction and be that little kick-start for us.

“It was a real blow last Tuesday night (losing to Wrexham).

“We tried to keep training as bright, lively and enjoyable on Thursday, but maybe it was lingering and there was a bit of a hangover in the first 10 or 15 minutes on Saturday against Dagenham and it set the tone for the game.

“We have got to get this out of our system, learn our lessons from it and be positive at Ferriby and go and win the game and show a lot of what was showed in the opening two games and iron out what we did on Saturday.”

It has also not been lost on Bower that the forthcoming tests this month against Ferriby and Bromley will also provide a more realistic gauge of their progress after a teak-tough opening trio of games.

He added: “We knew it was going to be a difficult first three games and it has certainly proven to be that.

“But there has been good signs to show that we can progress this season and now we come up against some teams who are more than likely be closer to us in this league and we must now get a reaction.”

In Conference North, Harrogate Town, FC Halifax and Bradford Park Avenue hit the road to Gainsborough, Stockport County and Chorley.

Evo-Stik Premier action sees Frickley visit Workington, while in the First Division North, Farsley Celtic visit Goole AFC and Tadcaster Albion welcome Ossett Albion.

Another local affair sees Ossett Town host Brighouse Town and Scarborough Athletic head to Clitheroe.

NCEL Premier action sees Hemsworth MW and Garforth welcome Maltby and Bridlington respectively and Nostell go to Worsbrough Bridge in Division One.

Also this evening, Harrogate Railway host Ollerton Town in the second round of the NCEL League Cup.