Game, Set and Match as Battling Lions Send Saints Packing

Goals from  Lewis Hey and Man-of-the-Match Lebrun Mbeka saw Guiseley overcome Brackley Town in a replay at Nethermoor to set up an Emirates FA Cup First Round tie at Plough Lane Wimbledon  in early November. Read our match report sponsored by BuildADrive.com to see how they did it in a scrappy game of few chances where the drama was reserved for the last five minutes with the winning goal followed by a sending off.

It was the Lions who looked to have taken an early fourth minute lead when they had the ball in the net before the goal was chalked off by an offside flag.

But their pressure did pay off seven minutes later when Regan Hutchinson got to the byeline but when his cross was blocked by a defender Jamie Spencer did well to squeeze the ball into the six yard box where the ball rebounded down off the bar and Hey was quickest to react and slam the loose ball home for the opener with eleven minutes gone.

 

The home side then suffered a major setback when striker Jordan Thewlis had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Bailey Thompson on 22 minutes.

Brackley were then given a golden opportunity to square matters when they were awarded a penalty following a foul by Hamza Bencheriff but Matt Lowe blasted his woeful effort wide of the post, this despite sending Luke Jackson the wrong way ensuring that the Lions preserved their lead going into the break.

Both sides showed more intensity on the restart and the visitors were rewarded for their endevours eight minutes in when Lee Ndlovu finished off a good move down the left channel by Brackley and netted from ten yards out.

Guiseley replied with Bencherif heading wide from a free kick and despite creating several half chances, the home side were unable to regain the lead. Indeed it was Town who went closest as a Glen Walker free kick on the edge of the ‘D’ rebounded off the post although Luke Jackson looked to have got a hand on it.

 

But in a game in which neither side had been able exert an authority the drama was yet to come.

With extra time looking an inevitability, and just six minutes of normal time remaining, the Lions were awarded a free kick thirty yards out which Hey delivered to perfection and Mbeka powered a header in to the top corner leaving Danny Lewis clawing at fresh air in the process to send the Nethermoor faithful into raptures.

 

Then as the Lions looked to see the game out George Cantrill was sensationally dismissed for delaying a throw in and receiving his second yellow card of the game, leaving his ten teammates  to play out the remaining eight minutes of normal and added time, which they did, to ensure safe passage in to the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper.

 

Attendance: 434

Team:

1. Luke Jackson

2. George Cantrill

3. Brad Nicholson

4. Prince Ekpolo

5. Hamza Bencherif (C)

6. Lebrun Mbeka

7. Lewis Hey

8. Jamie Spencer

9. Jacob Gratton

10. Jordan Thewlis (22’ Thompson)

11. Regan Hutchinson.

Subs:

12. Ollie Brown

13. Hagie Damba (GK)

14. Andy Kellett

15. Ollie Brown

17. Bailey Thompson

18. Shaun Tutton

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Guiseley vs Ilkeston Town