The Lions made it six wins on the spin with a 3-1 victory at Warrington Rylands in the FA Trophy first round, writes Adam Bridson.
Cam Wilson’s brace was added to by Will Longbotom’s penalty to wrap up the win and secure their side a place in Monday’s second round draw.
Wilson finished off the first chance of the afternoon slotting in-between Luke Pilling’s open legs to score in consecutive games.
With strong winds and heavy rain both sides were doing well to get the ball down and play in testing conditions.
It was the hosts who nearly equalised ten minutes after our opener, Jack Hall pulled off an excellent save pushing Harrison Wood’s powerful shot over the bar with a strong hand.
Birthday boy Jordan Thewlis was hunting a goal to celebrate the occasion and forced Pilling into a good stop with his legs.
Thewlis, who assisted Wilson’s goal, nearly set another one up when his cross was perfect for Jack Emmett but he headed wide of the goal with nine first half minutes left.
A few seconds later Thewlis spotted the busy Pilling off his line and tried to lob the stopper but the strong wins held the ball up to stop it travelling the full distance.
The hosts had the first chance of the second half through Dean Furman’s low shot that bobbled wide under the attention of Hall.
12 minutes into the second half Wilson had his second, Thewlis’ low powerful cross picked out the forward and he slid the ball home from close range.
There was only one side looking for a goal and that was the visitors, Emmett set his sights from 20 yards out but his shot went just wide.
This started a frenetic spell, one minute later Wood’s cross was well booted away by Hall.
Then another minute later Noah Wadsworth was up the other end in a similar position to Wood with Pilling coming out on top to deny the substitute.
With 27 minutes left Kallan Murphy nearly wrapped up the win, Harrison Hopper’s cross was perfect for the Irishman and despite Pilling dashing off his line Murphy got the ball first and guided his header on target but it smacked the centre of the bar.
Space opened up in front of Charlie Staniland and he opted to shoot but his powerful go at goal was blocked and sent out for a corner which was well dealt with by the home backline.
The hosts pulled one back in the 76th minute, Wood’s low cross found George Waring into the centre of the box a yard out from goal and he slid the ball in.
Two minutes later substitute Frankie Sinfield stepped up to take a free kick which Pilling did well with, the keeper scurried across his line and managed to keep hold of the ball on a wet surface.
Four minutes from time Longbottom finished the tie off powering home from the spot with Pilling sent the wrong way. It was the forward’s first strike of the season after his recent recovery from injury.
The spot kick was awarded after Patrick Gamble stopped Emmett’s shot from going in with his hands as he was down on the floor but didn’t see a card for the incident.
That marked the last chance of the afternoon as the sides played out five minutes of extra time in heavy rain and strong winds that had plagued the Cheshire based ground all afternoon.
Ian Richards’ attention now turns to the West Riding County Cup and a trip to Marley Stadium on Tuesday night to face Steeton in the first round for a 7:45pm kick-off.
Warrington Rylands 1-3 Guiseley | Saturday 24th October 2026 | Quickline Logistics Arena
Attendance: 179
Team: 1. Jack Hall, 2. Lucas Odunston (40′ Tinker), 3. Ollie Brown (56′ Wadsworth), 4. Harrison Hopper, 5. Elliot Owen, 6. Lebrun Mbeka (C), 7. Jack Emmett, 8. Charlie Staniland, 9. Kallan Murphy (89′ Iggulden), 10. Cam Wilson (82′ Longbottom) and 11. Jordan Thewlis (75′ Sinfield).
Subs: 12. Paul Iggulden, 14. Jack Tinker, 15. Noah Wadsworth, 16. Frankie Sinfield and 17. Will Longbottom.
