Goals from Chris Senior and Andy Holdsworth saw Guiseley maintain their unbeaten record against a fancied Celtic side as they dumped them out of a second successive FA competition, having won the FA Cup tie between the clubs back in October.
Celtic looked threatening in an even first half, but once the Lions went ahead there was only going to be one outcome as they took a grip of the game in a second half where keeper Steve Drench had little to do. Phil Marsh and Steve Brogan tested him in the first period but the home custodian proved himself more than equal to the challenge, making a particularly fine save from Brogan’s curling free kick round the defensive wall to keep the scores level.
Guiseley had threatened only briefly but got the breakthrough just after the half hour when the diminutive Senior slipped the ball inside to Ciaran Toner and when his shot was parried by Jan Budtz, Ellington poked the loose ball goalwards for Senior to apply the finishing touch.
Senior proved a handful for the visiting defence all afternoon and it was no surprise that he played a key part in the crucial second goal. Receiving a ball down the left channel, Senior switched play over to the opposite wing where Jamie Clarke swung in a inviting cross to the far post where Senior had ghosted in to head the ball into the path of Holdsworth, who made no mistake from close in.
Manager Steve Kittrick said after the match: “They did well for the first twenty minutes, but once we got a foothold in the game it was never in doubt for my side.
“The last time we lost, Ashington, we bounced back the game after and good sides do. If we can go on a good run now, we won’t be far away.”
Entertainment value: ****
Star man: Chris Senior (Guiseley)
Teams – Guiseley: Drench, Clarke, Merris, Toner, Ellis, Ainge, Senior (Forrest 84), Boshell (Baldry 76), Ellington (O’Neill 79), Rothery, Holdsworth. Subs not used: Burns, Giles.
Stalybridge: Budtz, Bembo-Lita, Meynell, Lynch, Platt, Rea, Brogan, Wilkinson (Banks 74), Marsh (Sherriff 63), Ellams (Warburton 46), Hobson. Subs not used: Gnahoua, McWilliams
H/T 1-0
Referee Mr Toner
Att: 630
