Whilst Saturday’s titanic Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper tussle against Sutton United is understandably all anyone could talk or remotely think about, Guiseley AFC’s first task this week was to take on relegation-battling Leek Town on Tuesday night, writes James Harrop.
Who could blame the plucky West Yorkshire side from dreaming, with even the most casual mention of the club’s next home fixture enough to get pulses racing.
And after two ecstasy-inducing late goals from the in-form Cameron Wilson secured a draw away at table-topping Redcar last weekend, Tuesday’s clash was a potential banana skin of epic proportions. Particularly considering Leek turned up to Nethermoor Road in a bright yellow kit.
As Step On by the Happy Mondays rung out pre-match, the 503-strong and ever-loyal home crowd confronted the bitterly cold November evening armed in club hats and jackets.
With more eyes on Guiseley than usual, including representatives from ITV Calendar, the Lions showed little signs of initial complacency, putting Leek under immense pressure with twinkle-toed Wilson striking the post early in the piece.
However, the pull of Wembley Way and Emirates FA Cup heroics proved too strong, the banana too slippy, as Ian Richards’s men went behind in the 23rd minute.
A singular forlorn shout of “Come on Guiseley” from one frustrated spectator was the only real response to the Staffordshire outfit’s opening strike.
For the home side, the first half was perhaps best summed up by a failed Cruyff turn from the usually unflappable skipper Lebrun Mbeka, which saw him stumble and almost fall over under no opposition pressure.
That was, until Kallan Murphy’s lopping header in the 44th minute quickly levelled the game and all was forgotten. Never in doubt.
With TNT Sports choosing not to broadcast Saturday’s mouthwatering clash at Nethermoor, at least fans have avoided the inevitable Darren Fletcher platitudes referencing today’s opponents, with Ally McCoist undoubtedly responding “I tell you what Fletch, I love a Leek me.”
The second half began in subdued fashion, as the visitors descended into full-blown Mourinho/Big Sam/Pulis get 10 men behind the ball and keep em out, pantomime-villain style.
But keep em out they could not, with Elliot Owen making it 2-1 to the Lions in the 66th minute, putting to bed any banana skin-related conspiracy theories.
The Leek goalkeeper, who endured a torrid Tuesday in Guiseley, was again left forlorn as Captain Mbeka notched a stunning goal to put them two ahead.
A fourth from Paul Iggulden capped off a wonderful evening for the Lions as the match finished 4-1 with three centre-halves on the scoresheet. Who needs strikers eh?
With Guiseley’s powers of recovery now infamous after two outstanding comebacks on the bounce, Sutton will surely be looking over their shoulder on Saturday, even at (God forbid) 5-0 up.
Unofficial score prediction: Guiseley 10-9 Sutton. Wembley (via a semi-final victory at Arsenal) awaits. Up the Lions.
