Gazette Sport
Guiseley hit by injury blow for leading scorer Rothery
8:56am Thursday 2nd February 2012
Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick is still coming to terms with being without leading scorer Gavin Rothery for two months.
The midfielder suffered a broken toe in Tuesday night’s West Riding County Cup victory over FC Halifax Town at Nethermoor.
Rothery, who has scored 16 goals in 28 appearances this season, came off after 33 minutes.
Kittrick said: “Gavin kicked the underside of a Halifax player’s foot.
“I am devastated for the lad. He has been one of our main cogs this season and will be out until April but we will just have to get on with it.”
However, on the plus side, the Lions have signed 21-year-old Leeds-based mid-fielder Tomas Skaret Hal-vorsen.
The Norwegian has play-ed for Eidsvold Turn in their third and fourth tier, and FC Norway.
Kittrick said: “He has been training with us for about a month after ringing us up and asking if he could come. He is at college in Leeds, he looks a good play-er and has a good touch.
“He won’t be available for Saturday’s third-round Carlsberg FA Trophy tie at Cambridge United but could come into contention for Monday’s Blue Square Bet North league game at Nun-eaton Town.”
The Lions boss added: “We have had Cambridge watched, they are eighth in the Blue Square Premier and are a good club.
“It is a game that we are looking forward to but I still cannot understand why we are playing on a Saturday and a Monday at this time of year, why we didn’t play more matches earlier in the season when the weather was better or why Hyde have played four more matches than us.”
As for Monday trip to the Midlands, which will be post-poned if Guiseley are involved in an FA Trophy replay, Kittrick said: “We just have to get back on it.”
Guiseley drew 2-2 at Histon last Saturday, and the Lions boss said: “We had enough possession to win it but our back four didn’t defend well enough and we also missed a penalty.
“We should have had a third penalty but the referee had already given two.”
Tuesday’s West Riding Coun-ty Cup derby, which Guiseley won 1-0, only attracted 281 fans to Nethermoor but Kittrick said: “It was a cold night, there were a lot of Premier League matches and one of them was on TV. However, it was a good run-out for both sides.”
That victory now brings another home tie for the Lions, this time against AFC Farsley.
Kittrick said: “Pars (Farsley manager Neil Parsley) will be bringing one or two players who I have managed in the past, such as Simeon Bambrook.
“We played them in pre-season at their place when they had one or two missing and won 2-0.
“I am sure that Pars would like nothing better than to come to our place, beat us and reach the final.”