Paul Cox’s half-time team talk ensured that Guiseley avoided a potential banana skin in the form of Northern League side Shildon and put themselves in the hat for Monday’s Emirates FA Cup First Round draw as the new Nethermoor chief registered his first win since taking over five weeks ago.
Having already disposed of Banbury United and Altrincham who sit above them in the pyramid the Northern League side came into the game boasting an unbeaten away record but having suffered their first league defeat in midweek.
In a classic game of two halves the Lions took some time to get the measure of their County Durham based opponents but once they had the goals flowed as the home side scored six without reply.
Paul Cox gave a debut to new signing Darren Holden at left back while French defenders Jean-Yves Koue Niate and Chris M’Boungou started their Guiseley careers on the bench.
The first half was an insipid affair with both sides unable to stamp their authority on the game and too many passes going astray and into touch.
The home side started strongly with Mike Fondop using his strength to hold up the ball and lay it off to Andy Howarth who put his shot just the wrong side of the post.
Shildon also went close when Andy Burnicle’s shot was blocked and Jonathan Maxted did well to push Billy Gruelich-Smiths effort round the post.
In complete contrast the Lions went straight on the offensive from the restart and were rewarded seven minutes in when Will Hatfield’s cross found Fondop at the far post and the big striker made no mistake for the opener.
Three minutes later Fondop drew two defenders before slipping the ball to Haworth who shot under the advancing Nicholas Liversedge for the second.
John Rooney then put the game to bed from the penalty spot on the hour mark after Kyle May was shown a straight red for pulling down the lively Fondop in the area.
Will Hatfield then bagged a quick brace pouncing on a loose ball after several shot had been blocked for his first and then firing home through a forest of legs for his second.
And there was just time for Fondop to bag a deserved second as his shot looped up and over Liversedge for the Lions sixth in injury time to complete a comprehensive first win for manager Paul Cox.
Team:
1 Maxted
2 Brown
5 Palmer
6 Lawlor
8 Hatfield
10 Rooney
19 Odejayi (82′ Thompson)
28 Lenighan (79′ M’Boungou)
30 Fondop
31 Haworth (73′ Hurst)
34 Holden
Subs:
Subs:
13 Green
4 Wesolowski
7 Hurst
9 Thompson
18 Mulhern
32 M’Boungou
33 Koue Niate