With both sides struggling to make any impression on their opponents’ back four, it was always going to take a touch of class to secure a place in the next round.
It didn’t happen until the 71st minute, when Gavin Rothery danced past three United defenders before hitting a left-foot shot past James Spencer. The ball rebounded of the foot of the post, and as Spencer and his defenders tried to recover it was the Guiseley man who got the vital touch to break the deadlock.
The Lions sewed the game up fifteen minutes later through Lee Ellington, who was first to react to a ball played back in after a corner had been partially cleared to shoot into the corner and send Guiseley through.
United were first to threaten when Carlos Roca forced Steve Drench into an early save whilst for Guiseley Andy Holdsworth and Ciaran Toner both went close on two occasions , Toner’s second effort bringing a good save from Spencer.
The home side’s gameplan was disrupted somewhat when they lost skilful striker Danny Forrest and influential midfielder Danny Boshell to injury before the break, although Boshell’s replacement Michael Burns went close with a delightful lob on to the roof of the net. And although the visitors gave a good account of themselves it always looked as though the home side possessed that extra touch of class, and so it proved in the end.
Manager Steve Kittrick said: “We’ll talk about it but there’s no point dwelling on it because you’re going to get those sorts of performances.
“We’ve won 2-0 but we’ve been poor. At the end of the day you’ve got to take your chances when your team’s not playing well and you’re not having the best of times.”
Kitty Post FC United – final by matthewrogerson
Rating: **
Star man: Andy Holdsworth (Guiseley)
Scorers: Guiseley- Rothery 71, Ellington 86
Teams: Guiseley – Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ellis, Ainge, Holdsworth, Boshell (Burns 35), Ellington, Forrest (O’Neill 30), Rothery. Subs not used: Brough, Bower, Giles.
FCUM – Spencer, Jacobs, Neville, Platt (Tierney 80), Jones, Stones, Roca (Wolfenden 61), Grimshaw (Deegan 83), Norton, Stott, Mulholland. Subs not used: Armstrong, Boland.
Attendance: 810