On a windy day in the North East, it was the Lions who blew their National League North opponents away, with four goals from four different goalscorers seeing Guiseley safely into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, writes Dave Robertson.
Ian Richards was without Aaron Martin, who limped off against Quorn last week, but was given a boost by the return of Elliot Owen to the back four. Lebrun Mbeka was also fit to start albeit with a bandaged hand after an opponent stood on it towards the end of last week’s game.
The game started somewhat scrappily in difficult conditions, with The Lions playing into a strong, gusting wind. The well-watered pitch was also proving a liability for the Hebburn defenders who slipped a couple of times in the first 20 minutes, offering both Amir Berchil and Jordan Thewlis separate opportunities that the hosts had to scramble to clear.
In a game of few chances, it was Guiseley who carved out the better of the opportunities in the first half, Cam Wilson toe poking over from close range, before combining well with Berchil, who was unlucky to see his close-range effort cleared by a retreating defender. Despite home advantage Hebburn struggled to put much pressure on the visiting defence, though one of their more coherent efforts, a dipping effort from distance by Matty Cornish, was well pushed away by an alert Jack Hall.
As the half time whistle loomed, team talks had to be hurriedly altered as Hebburn keeper Isaac Allan and one of his defenders suffered a complete breakdown of communication when a ball was played over the top, and Allan’s tame clearance from the onrushing Thewlis landed at the feet of the ever-busy Kallan Murphy, who calmly took a touch to evade the keeper and passed the ball into an unguarded net.
Hebburn supporters might have expected a reaction from their side, given the players were sent out early for the second half, but instead it was Ian Richards men who pressed home their advantage. A low cross from Ollie Brown evaded everyone in the box but was rescued by Wilson who laid the ball back for Jack Tinker, the full back swinging his left foot and powering a shot into the corner of the net, sparking wild celebrations by the travelling support behind the goal as he did so.
Not five minutes later, the away end erupted again as Wilson produced yet another moment of brilliance, latching on to Thewlis’ lay off, cutting inside and curling his effort into the top corner for Guiseley’s third.
Hebburn suddenly jolted into life and pressed forward, and when Kian Foreman burst into the box and was felled, a penalty was awarded. Tom Allan stepped up and fired low and down the middle to bring the hosts some hope. Adam Lund and Lucas Odunston were sent on to relieve some of the pressure in midfield, but Hebburn, for the first time on the afternoon persisted. Elliot Forbes shot from distance was deflected wide, as was the resultant corner. Another corner ricocheted around the six-yard box and off Odunston and Owen but somehow stayed out. Crosses bombarded the box, but Mbeka, Owen et al stood firm.
Then just as Hebburn were building momentum, it was killed stone dead. A long ball forward was brought down by Murphy but only to the feet of a defender who attempted to pass back to the keeper, but his pass fell fractionally short, allowing Brown to chase and forcing Allan to the edge of his area. Allan won the initial duel but was left horribly stranded as Berchil picked his spot and deftly looped the ball over him. The ball landed neatly into the corner and the delighted Berchil seemingly made it his mission to high five every single one of the travelling support.
The last fifteen minutes were largely for show – Paul Iggulden heading a Lund throw over the bar, and Jake Waters headed a cross from the left just wide, but the result was never in doubt – Guiseley progress to the third qualifying round, and will find out their opponents on Monday.
Hebburn Town 1-4 Guiseley AFC | Saturday 19th September 2026 | The Trustmark Group Stadium
Attendance: 440
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Ollie Brown, 3. Jack Tinker, 4. Harrison Hopper (Boyle 83’), 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Lebrun Mbeka (C), 7. Jordan Thewlis (Odunston 66’), 8. Charlie Staniland (Lund 66’), 9. Kallan Murphy, 10. Cam Wilson (Sinfield 77’) 11. Amir Berchil (Iggulden 83’).
Subs: 12. Paul Iggulden, 14. Lucas Odunston, 15. Adam Lund, 16. Derren Boyle and 17. Frankie Sinfield.
