Stockton Town forced a replay with a late equaliser to peg back Ian Richards’ men in the Emirates FA Cup despite Guiseley being in charge for large parts of the game, writes Dave Robertson.
Ian Richards made three changes to the side that had beaten Emley on Bank Holiday Monday; with Jack Tinker, Paul Iggulden and Harrison Hopper returning to the lineup ahead of Kyle White, Lebrun Mbeka and Amir Berchil, all missing out due to various knocks. Ian Richards was able to call upon a returning Aaron Martin and Lucas Odunston as well as Frankie Sinfield for the first time this season.
The Lions made a promising start and had the best chance of the first fifteen minutes, a free kick in a dangerous position, seemingly poised for Cam Wilson to curl toward goal, was instead played short to Jordan Thewlis who had stolen to edge of the six-yard box. However, Stockton keeper Nathan Harker stepped out quickly to prevent a certain goal.
The hosts grew into the game after that, and after a period of pressure found a way through the Lions defence when a dipping corner from the right bounced across the face of goal and was met by Tom Coulthard who beat Jack Hall from close range.
The goal seemed to awaken Richards’ men, who took back control of the game almost immediately. Wilson shot over the bar, then some determined work by Kallan Murphy down the right allowed the Lions to switch the ball to Ollie Brown, whose swerving cross was met at the far post by Harrison Hopper with a perfectly timed volley that flashed past the Stockton keeper.
Eight minutes later, with the home defence still reeling, Thewlis broke the offside trap and found himself with the ball at his feet in the area – there was only ever one outcome. Despite the awkward surface last season’s top scorer slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
The second half began brightly again for Guiseley, who found space particularly down either flank but despite Elliot Owen firing a low hard cross over the bar, and Thewlis heading the ball into the side netting, the Lions failed to put the game to bed.
A lengthy stoppage when Layton Watts landed awkwardly and had to be stretchered off seemed to take the wind out of Guiseley’s sails and allowed the hosts a chance to regroup. The Lions’ defence had to stand firm as the home side pushed them back to the edge of their own box and worked hard not to let the away side use the pace of Wilson or Martin, subbed on for Thewlis.
Guiseley had another opportunity when Wilson was found on the edge of the box, but his shot went just past the post.
With captain Brown off the field after receiving treatment for a suspected head injury, Stockton launched forward and a clumsy Adam Lund clearance gifted them a corner. A looping delivery from Lewis King was sent back across goal by Adam Nicholson and Frank Nouble nodded over the line to level things up.
With neither side particularly wanting a replay on Tuesday, a scrappy finish on an uneven surface saw the clearest chance fall to Tinker, whose low shot across goal was well saved.
Neither side will be particularly happy with the outcome, Stockton will feel their late rally deserved more, and The Lions will be disappointed not to have put the game to bed having spent large periods on top. The two sides will meet again to decide the issue on Tuesday night at Nethermoor.
Stockton Town 2-2 Guiseley AFC | Saturday 5th September 2026 | MAP Group UK Stadium
Attendance: TBC
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Ollie Brown (C), 3. Jack Tinker, 4. Adam Lund, 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Paul Iggulden, 7. Harrison Hopper (75’ Odunston), 8. Charlie Staniland, 9. Kallan Murphy, 10. Cam Wilson (85’ Sinfield) and 11. Jordan Thewlis (68’ Martin).
Subs; 12. Lucas Odunston, 13. Michael Roxburgh (GK), 14. Derren Boyle, 15. Aaron Martin and 16. Frankie Sinfield.
