Horbury Town continued their impressive start to the season as they dumped Guiseley out of the West Riding County Cup at the first time of asking with a resounding 5-2 victory at Nethermoor writes John Clements.
For a team that was plying their trade in the West Yorkshire League last season and who have only lost only two of their six league games in their inaugural season in the Northern Counties East First Division the victory was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests.
The Lions used the game to give eight of the first team squad minutes on the pitch whilst three Academy players were given the opportunity to get some first team experience.
In an open first half James Cusworth showed the visitors intent as he forced Hagie Damba into a save in the very first minute but Donald Chimalilo was unfortunate at the other end to see his shot roll across the goaline and come back off the inside of the post into play a minute later.
A breathless opening three minutes was then capped by Cusworth when he slotted past Damba for the opener as Town shocked the home support by taking the lead.
Play continued to be end-to-end until the 25th minute when Gusieley had three goal attempts blocked before Foley Nkem finally smashed the loose ball home to level the scores.
But in a topsy-turvy half the lead lasted all of fifteen minutes when the Lions defensive frailties were exposed with five minutes of the half remaining and Samual Kyeremeth restored the visitors lead with an effort from close in that went in off the crossbar.
Questionable defending at the start of the second half saw Jorge Sikora fail to clear and be dispossessed in the process leaving Damba to parry Bojang’s effort only for Agu to fire home the rebound and extend Horbury’s lead to 3-1 on 46 minutes.
The lively Chimalilo gave his side hope when he reduced the deficit six minutes later with a stunning strike on the turn but once again lax defending let the Lions down as first Agu was left unmarked to head home from a corner in the 69th minute and then complete his hat trick four minutes later with the easiest of finishes.
Guiseley 2-5 Horbury Town | Tuesday 11 October 2022 | Nethermoor
Attendance: 212
