Guiseley AFC will have a team in the final of the Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup this season after a break of 20 years as their Academy team defeated Horsforth St Margaret’s second team 4-2 in their semi-final, writes Rachel O’Connor.
Guiseley AFC have the most wins of any club in this competition after winning the trophy 21 times, mostly in the guise of the first team, who had a record breaking eight successive wins from 1960-61 to 1967-68. As the first team moved up the league pyramid they became ineligible to compete so the Reserves took their place in the competition and gained their own successes.
Now in their first season entering the competition Dave Currie’s Academy have reached the final having achieved three wins over open age men’s sides, a great achievement for a team of largely 16 and 17 year-olds.
They showed much better discipline than a Horsforth side who finished with nine men following two red cards.
Horsforth fired a couple of early salvos wide before Guiseley got into their stride at the Leeds Trinity University 4G pitch at Horsforth.
Striker Zac Rushworth had his shot from close range parried by the ‘keeper who then caught the ball as he was challenged for a second time. Guiseley then put a corner into the top netting as they started to show their attacking capabilities with Bailey Thompson shooting over the bar.
The game was fairly even at this stage with Rushworth seeing his free-kick blocked and Emre Can having his header from a Wil Temple corner saved. Guiseley cleared a Horsforth effort off the line before a bullet header from a Saints player went over the bar.
Guiseley’s Lawrence Ford was sin binned for ten minutes.
Guiseley netted the opener in the 31st minute when Temple produced a great shot after being put in by a great run from Rushworth who then put his own shot just wide. Can had a shot blocked and Horsforth shot wide as the game progressed.
Guiseley were not having it all their own way and their ‘keeper Harry Churnin-Ritchie made a good save to keep Guiseley ahead at the break.
Horsforth came out strongly in the second-half and levelled the scores in the 47th minute with a good goal from Lucas Khan. Guiseley made their first substitution in the 50th minute when Rushworth was replaced by Lucas Alexander and their second came shortly after with Ibrahim Origbaajo replacing Can.
Horsforth then lost their first player Callum Rankin to a red card after his interaction with the referee brought a second yellow. Guiseley were awarded a penalty which Bailey Thompson converted after a second Horsforth player Aidan Tierney was shown a red card.
Guiseley introduced Fadil Moutapogue as their third substitute and in the 73rd minute Temple produced a great strike to make it 3-1. The spirited Horsforth side were not done yet and they pulled it back to 3-2 when Josh Parrott scored directly from a free-kick. Guiseley were full of desire and they battered the Horsforth goal in the closing minutes with Temple completing his hat-trick and a 4-2 win with a superb strike from 22 yards which curled into the far corner of the net.
This was a great win for this young side.
Guiseley: Harry Churnin-Ritchie; Mo Mouembi, Lawrence Ford, Ronny Skelton, Will Buttle; Emre Can, Dan Fotherby, Bailey Thompson, Wil Temple; Derren Boyle, Zac Rushworth. Subs: Ibrahim Origbaajo for Can 60 mins; Lucas Alexander for Rushworth 50 mins; Fadil Moutapogue for Boyle.
