With several players missing through injury and non-availability, Guiseley’s patched-up side booked a second successive West Riding County Cup Final place at Valley Parade on Wednesday 11 April, where they will defend the trophy they won last season. James Walshaw’s first-half brace saw the Lions go in with a comfortable half-time cushion, but when Gareth Grant pulled one back midway through the second half they had to survive one or two scares as the visitors sought to level matters.
In an entertaining game on a perfect evening for football it was Farsley who created the first two opportunities before the home side replied, with Walshaw getting his head to Andy Holdsworth’s free kick in front of Tom Morgan only to see his header flash just wide. Walshaw then split the visitors’ rearguard but Joe O’Neill fired wide of Morgan and the upright.
Inevitably it was Walshaw who opened the scoring on 28 minutes when a quickly-taken free kick found Chris Senior in behind Wes Milnes, and as Morgan rushed out to close the gap the striker unselfishly squared for Walshaw to stroke the ball into the unguarded net.
O’Neill then brought a good save from former Guiseley keeper Morgan, and despite stretching out a leg the lively Senior was just unable to convert Dave Merris’s ball in from the left. The pressure eventually paid dividends two minutes before the break as Walshaw latched on to Simon Baldry’s cross whipped in from the right only to see Morgan parry his shot; Walshaw was first to react and smash the ball home despite the attention of two defenders.
As in the first period Farsley were first to threaten on the restart, Ben Jones putting his shot just wide. After Merris’s cross across the six yard box saw no takers Duncan Williams played in a ball that luckily for the home side was just behind Jones. Steve Drench made good stop with his outstretched leg to deny Dominic Krief, but when on 61 minutes the home defence replayed the scenario that led to Eastwood’s winner on Saturday, Grant converted at the far post to reduce the arrears. And despite both sides creating several half -chances neither could add to their tally.
Farsley will be disappointed that they couldn’t force extra time, but for the Lions it was job done as they now await the winners of tomorrow night’s other semi at Wetherby Road between Harrogate Town and Bradford Park Avenue .
Team:
1 – Drench
2 – Baldry
3 – Merris
4 – Burns
5 – Ellis
6 – Ainge
7 – Senior
8 – Boshell
9 – O’Neill (Booker 86)
10 – Walshaw 28 & 43
11 – Holdsworth
12 – Booker
18 – Giles
