Guiseley AFC’s Under-18 Academy side progressed to a home tie against Rochdale after winning an uncompromising battle against a valiant Ossett United side at Nethermoor on Thursday night.
Dave Currie’s young charges had the edge over a visiting side that battled all the way in front of a crowd of 301, who thoroughly enjoyed an encounter that was a great advert for youth football writes Rachel O’Connor.
Bolstered by the return of striker Josh Stones, who missed the league win over Stockport County through injury, the Young Lions set off at a good rate with Stones playing in the ever busy Harry Glover who then saw his shot blocked.
Ossett ‘keeper Jack Baker was much the busier of the two custodians in the early stages and easily collected a low, raking shot from joint leading scorer Jakub Hebda. A foul on Hebda then saw Fole Nkem’s free-kick cleared at the far post for a corner which Baker only just got his fingertips to.
Ossett were very strong in the tackle and in some areas Guiseley were outmuscled as the visitors tried hard to get a foothold in the game. It was Guiseley however who made up for their profligacy in front of goal when Hebda opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a great turn and shot into the far corner.
Hebda then provided a great lay-off to Nkem who should have done better with his shot which was saved by the ‘keeper.
Brackenbury claimed a ball under pressure as Ossett broke through before Stones and Glover linked well but the move came to nothing as Ossett dug in and their left winger Josh Haigh forced Brackenbury into a save low down.
Oli Reape put in an excellent curling cross that saw a defender just head the ball away before Stones got contact. Stones then had an effort blocked and also got his head to a corner but the referee blew for off-side.
Guiseley were building momentum and It was that man Stones, who following great inter-play with Glover, produced a well taken finish to make it 2-0 to Guiseley in the 41st minute.
The joy was short-lived as Ossett raced up the other end to pull a goal back just a minute later with Mokhaled El Sayed finding the net.
In the 56th minute Ossett shocked Guiseley with an equaliser when Haigh’s deflected shot looped over Brackenbury into the net for 2-2.
Guiseley made their first substitution on 64 minutes, Jnai Trought replacing Ricardo Gray, and the game developed into a real battle of attrition but it was the Guiseley boys who looked to have the extra fitness and this paid off in the 78th minute when the hard-working Stones headed home to the delight of his team.
By this stage Oliwier Grzelak had replaced Nkem and shortly before the close Stones made way for Alex Mather who helped keep Ossett stretched in the closing minutes with his pace.
Stones has now scored two goals in each of Guiseley’s FA Youth Cup games and Guiseley Academy have won all six games played so far this season, three in the league and three in the cup.
Guiseley will now entertain Rochdale in the First Round Proper.
Attendance: 301
GUISELEY: Oli Brackenbury; Oli Reape, Harrison Leigh (C), Ellis Farrar, Jayden John; Dexter Ball, Ricardo Gray (Jnai Trought 64), Fole Nkem (Oliwier Grzelak 75), Harry Glover; Jakub Hebda, Josh Stones (Alex Mather 90).
Subs unused: Sam Meeson, Dylan Kouemou, Jack Wilman, Thierry Hendrickson.
