Guiseley exited the FA Trophy on an afternoon of frustration for new manager Andy Welsh, writes Colin Robertson.
The Lions, who had won their last five matches, were beaten on penalties after coming up against a resolute Walsall Wood side who play at a step below Guiseley.
New boss Welsh was left frustrated at the outcome. “Penalties is a difficult way to go out of the competition. We need to be on the front foot in matches and demand more of the players. We were unfortunate to be missing Tom Denton and Tom Pratt. Overall though I can’t fault the lads and we did the ugly side of things well. I was only really disappointed with the way we conceded the goal just before half time.”
The Lions set about the task brightly on a crisp autumn afternoon in the Midlands. A corner from Joe Stacey was volleyed towards goal by Aidan Walker only for the defender to be denied his first Guiseley goal by Wood goalkeeper Kieran Boucher, who tipped the ball over the bar.
Walsall presented a constant threat on the counter attack though. Jai Verma broke clear after ten minutes only to be denied by a fine stretching save from Ollie Battersby.
Stacey made a surging run forward moments later only to be brought down on the edge of the by Joe Fitzpatrick who received a yellow card for his trouble. Callum Chippendale’s resulting free kick hit the crossbar before going over.
After eighteen minutes the Lions broke the deadlock. Prince Ekpolo was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and the in-form Gabriel Johnson made no mistake from the spot to give Guiseley the lead.
Walsall rallied and should have equalised after Leigh Whelan was dispossessed in the box. Daniel Gyasi then took the ball round Battersby before his shot was blocked on the line brilliantly by Walker.
Johnson then took the game back to Walsall and fired a long range effort that required Boucher into a fine reaction save.
The equaliser came just before the break after Carter Lycett produced a scintillating run down the left flank before dragging the ball back to Matt Hughes who turned and drove the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Both sides rued missed chances in the second half.
A neat turn inside the area by Walsall’s Verma led to his goal bound shot being blocked by a committed Guiseley back line.
Kallan Murphy might have got the goal his work-rate merited after he closed down Wood goalkeeper Boucher’s clearance. The ball ricochet back off Murphy’s body and trickled agonisingly wide of the upright.
Liam Tongue, a half time substitute for the injured Chippendale, produced some neat interplay between him and Johnson before firing over the bar with twenty minutes to go.
The home side also threatened too. Verma, who was a constant thorn in the Lions’ side, picked out Alex Bradley on the edge of the box but the Walsall striker fired over the bar.
The Lions were unlucky not to have sealed victory in the final moments of the match.
In the last minute of the game Reece Kendall’s long range free kick shaved the crossbar. Then, in stoppage time, Johnson looked to have been potentially fouled in the penalty area. In the ensuing confusion Tongue struck the ball towards goal only to clatter the crossbar.
After a ninety minute stalemate the game went straight to penalties. Fourteen spot kicks would be required. Battersby was unfortunate not to be the hero for Guiseley after Kevin Monteiro’s penalty just squirmed over the line despite a fine attempt at a diving save. Walsall Wood’s Hughes converted their seventh attempt and Expolo struck the upright with his to send the home side through to the next round.
Walsall Wood 1-1 Guiseley (Walsall Wood win 6-5 on penalties) | Saturday 28th October 2023 | John Sylvester Stadium
Attendance: 243
Team: 1. Ollie Battersby, 2. Ollie Brown, 3. Reece Kendall, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Aiden Walker, 6. Jameel Ible (C), 7. Callum Chippendale (46′ Tongue), 8. Leigh Whelan, 9. Kallan Murphy, 10. Gabriel Johnson and 11. Joe Stacey.
Subs: 12. Josh Ashman, 13. Brad Wade, 14. Liam Tongue, 15. Danny Devine, 16. Miguel Valsau and 17. Courtney Meppen-Walters.
