By Tom Feaheny
Guiseley host Halesowen Town at Nethermoor in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday with Mark Bower warning his side not to take anything for granted.
The Lions negotiated their first hurdle of the competition in defeating Droylsden 1-0 away from home in the second qualifying round and Bower’s side are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Guiseley come into the game off the back of an impressive 3-1 victory away at Stalybridge Celtic, with Danny Boshell, Jake Lawlor and Adam Boyes getting the goals, but Bower wants all focus to switch to the cup and the challenge posed by the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League side.
Halesowen progressed to the third qualifying round by defeating Ellistown and Ibstock United 7-1 with Iyseden Christie grabbing a double hat-trick and Bower – who has played in Guiseley sides beaten by lower-league opposition in recent seasons – wants a similar approach to that on show against Stalybridge.
“We saw in the last round against Droylsden that we were pushed all the way and we will have to approach the game in the right manner as we did with the Stalybridge game”, he said.
“We have the quality to create chances and put them away as well but it’s going to be difficult. Halesowen had an excellent result at Matlock with a 4-0 win away from home and we have seen the strength of that league with Fylde and Chorley coming up and doing really well.”
Halesowen sit 20th in the table but since their FA Cup victory have been undefeated – beating Matlock and drawing 1-1 with King’s Lynn in the league and also defeating a young Coventry City side 1-0 in the Birmingham Senior Cup.
