Guiseley triumphed by the narrowest of margins against a lively Brighouse side who had squandered several clear cut chances before Joe O’Neill bagged the all important goal on 42 minutes.

Visiting keeper James Waggett kept his side in with a chance with a st5ring of important stops and the Lions cause was not helped when Danny Ellis was sent off with twenty minutes remaining. Simon Ainge also picked up his fifth yellow card this season so there will be some enforced reshuffling of the defence come the New Year.

Manager Steve Kittrick made several changes for the game but the starting eleven was the full first team apart from reserve keeper Clark Lydon between the sticks and the welcome return of Anthony Lloyd at right back. Reserves Grant Roberts and Will Hutton joined Matty James and Jake McEneaney on the bench whilst Danny Boshell’s brother, Nick, started up front for the visitors.

The first chance of the game fell to Town but Anthony Brown’s shot across Lydon went past the post and Boshell also missed a golden opportunity for the visitors when he shot over the bar in a one-on-one with Lydon. O’Neill put a header just over from a short corner and then had a goal disallowed for offside having headed home Ellis’s shot which bounced back of the bar.

James Walshaw had an effort cleared of the line and Boshell put a free kick just wide as the home side excerpted the pressure which eventually paid of just before the break as Walshaw fed Gavin Rothery who slipped the ball out for O’Neill to fire across Waggett into the far corner for the opener.

The Lions were first out of the traps on the resumption and after Waggett’s point blank save from Boshell, Walshaw put the loose ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Waggett then blocked a goalbound Luke Sharry effort with his legs after Dave Merris had picked out the midfielder in a crowded penalty area.

There were further chances for the home side to double their advantage but when Ash Townsend mistimed clearance went straight to Warren Peyton, the midfielders piledriver from 25 yards bounced back of the bar.

The visitors created a couple of half chances and were given a helping hand when Ellis brought down Nathan Cartman which earned him a straight red as the last defender. Simon Ainge was also cautioned as the Lions played out the last ten minutes to secure a Quarter Final tie at Pontefract Collieries – who won 2-1 at Liversedge this evening – in the New Year.

1. Clark Lydon
2. Anthony Lloyd
3. Dave Merris
4. Warren Peyton
5. Danny  Ellis  (sent off 70)
6. Simon Ainge (cautioned)
7. Gavin Rothery (James 57)
8. Luke Sharry
9. Joe O’Neill 42
10. James Walshaw (McEneaney 65)
11. Danny Boshell

12-James
14-McEneaney
15-Roberts
16-Hutton