The Lions disappointingly lost play off home advantage after FC United produced a second half fightback to level a tie that flipped following an injury to Lebrun Mbeka, writes Colin Robertson.
Mark Bower selected a strong side, including the return of Liam Ridehalgh, that dominated the opening half. Guiseley went into the break with a deserved first half lead after John Lufudu deftly chipped the ball home. In truth, the Lions should have added more to the tally as Will Longbottom and Gabriel Johnson spurned opportunities to double the lead.
Yet early in the second period the game turned followed an injury to key defender Mbeka which looked serious enough to potentially prevent him from participating in the play offs. Ten minutes later Michael Donohue found himself unopposed as he stepped forward to slide the ball home in front of a large crowd.
A late Stockton Town goal in their home game with Hyde secured them three vital points and a late leapfrog into third place with the reward of a home tie in the play offs.
Manager Mark Bower was left in a reflective mood, “That’s football, little moments in games, those turning points can change things and I think the injury to Lebrun just fipped things,” he told Guiseley Radio after the game.
“I thought we were really, really good in the first half. Got to grips with their shape, got the goal and really should have put the game to bed before the break. The injury to Mbeka just seemed to knock the stuffing out of us a bit. It’s really frustrating as we have had to manage the players over recent weeks.”
From the off, the Lions started brightly, putting a couple of dangerous balls into the box though without really testing the FC United defence.
The home side made their first foray forward after 15 minutes when Guy Hall got the better of two defenders and fizzed the ball into the box. Ridehalgh was on hand to divert it behind. The resulting corner came to nothing.
In sharp contrast, Guiseley’s next attack proved incisive. On 22 minutes, John Lufudu was put through behind the FC United backline and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Ollie Bellizia and into the net to give the Lions the lead.
Lufudu and Mbeka combined to deliver a dangerous cross to Longbottom six minutes later. Unfortunately, he couldn’t direct his effort on goal.
On 37 minutes the Lions had a double opportunity to score. Prince Ekpolo’s cross found Ollie Brown whose shot was blocked, then Longbottom’s effort would not squeeze through the many defensive legs in his way.
When the ball was played forward on 43 minutes, Bellizia dashed off his line to clear but was beaten to it by Johnson. The Guiseley frontman turned and shot only to find a defender on the line to head clear.
FC United’s former Premier League striker Adam Le Fondre produced the home side’s best opportunity just before the break, when his low free kick was fired towards goal and parried wide by Joe Cracknell.
The early stages of the second half looked as though the Lions would seamlessly pick up from where they left off in the first. Lufudu and Lucas Odunston, who replaced Ridehalgh at the break, combined well down the right. Lufudu picked out Johnson but the ball came at him at an awkward angle and so could only be deflected just wide of the post.
Mbeka’s injury on 54 minutes proved to be the turning point. The incident seemed to serve as a warning to the rest of an anxious squad eager to play their part in the playoffs.
He was replaced by Lewis Whitham who almost made an immediate impact with a sharp turn infield on the left flank then producing a fierce drive that Bellizia palmed behind for a corner.
Michael Donohue levelled the tie on the 66th minute. A swift exchange of passes bisected the Guiseley defence and left Donohue with the opportunity to slide the ball past Cracknell from close range.
Seven minutes later Le Fondre almost gave the home side the lead when he cut in from the edge of the penalty box to carve out a great opportunity. Cracknell responded brilliantly, dashing off his line and making a crucial save.
FC United pressed a nervy Lions and looked the more threatening of the two sides in the final quarter. With the Stockton result already confirmed, two late corners gave Guiseley a glimmer of hope, but FC United’s resolute defence would not be breached.
At the full time whistle the home fans roared their appreciation at the draw. The result continues Guiseley’s dismal record at FC United and leaves the Lions still searching for their first win at Broadhurst Park.
Thoughts now turn to the all-important play off semi-final at Stockton Town on Tuesday night.
“We are obviously disappointed not to win the match,” concluded Bower. “We really wanted the home tie at Nethermoor and to get a big crowd in, more for the fans than for anything else. However, if you look at both Stockton’s and our record home and away, you will find that there is little to pick between us so I don’t think it will have any bearing on the match itself.”
FC United of Manchester 1-1 Guiseley AFC | Saturday 26th April 2025 | Broadhurst Park
Attendance: 2,223
Team: 1. Joe Cracknell, 2. Ollie Brown, 3. Liam Ridehalgh (46′ Odunston), 4. Jameel Ible (C), 5. Lebrun Mbeka (54′ Whitham), 6. Jake Lawlor, 7. John Lufudu, 8. Jamie Spencer (79′ Ackroyd), 9. Gabriel Johnson, 10. Prince Ekpolo (90′ Bentley) and 11. Will Longbottom (68′ Emmett).
Subs: 12. Lucas Odunston, 14. Joe Ackroyd, 15. Sam Bentley, 16. Jack Emmett and Lewis Whitham.
