Guiseley negotiated a potential banana skin with a thoroughly professional display to progress into the Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round with a resounding 4-0 win at Staveley Miners Welfare this afternoon.
Scott Smith settled the visitor’s nerves with a goal ten minutes before the break and from then on in the result was never in doubt as the Lions dominated second half possession allowing Kingsley James completed a second half hat-trick.
Both sides came into the game on the back of extended unbeaten runs with Guiseley on eight games and the Trojans on six. This included three previous Qualifying ties, which made the Northern Counties East side oe of only two Premier Division side to reach this stage of the competition, the other being Knaresborough Town.
Will Thornton was added to the Lions lengthening injury list pre-game with Terry Kennedy taking his place alongside Andy Halls in the heart of defence.
The opening exchanges saw the Lions take the game to their hosts with Rowan Liburd firing a free kick just over.
The home side replied through Adam Baskerville who had scored in every round so far but his shot didn’t trouble Joe Green.
The Lions suffered a major blow when Liburd pulled a hamstring on 22 minutes and had to be replaced by Paul Clayton.
Charlie Ogelsby produced a game saving tackle on Kingsley James but the visitors settled their nerves ten minutes before halftime when a free kick found the head of Clayton and his effort was blocked by a defender Scott Smith pounced to fire home the loose ball and give the Lions the lead.
Shortly after Smith again found himself in a good position only for home keeper Myles Wright to produce a stunning save that was all to no avail as the Guiseley front man was flagged for offside.
The Lions started out in determined mood on the restart and were rewarded on 53 minutes when a corner was headed down by Kennedy for Wright to parry only for James to net at the far post and double the visitors lead.
As the game got a bit feisty the Lions rode above the home sides provocations and as another corner was played into the mix James was first to react and beat Wright from close range.
Will Hatfield went close as Guiseley took control of the game but his shot across goal from a tight angle went the wrong side of the post.
Still looking for his third goal of the game James fired home from the edge of the area into the far corner beyond Wright with virtually the last kick of the game.
Team:
1 Green
2 Moyo (Dyche)
3 Heaton
4 Purver
5 Kennedy
6 Halls
7 Smith
8 James
9 Liburd (Clayton)
10 Hatfield
11 Harvey (Hussain)
Subs:
12 Newell
14 Worsnop
15 Hogg
16 Clayton
17 Dyche
18 Young