Stockport County 1 Guiseley AFC 2
Guiseley’s young lions travelled to Stockport County to play the current league leaders for a place in the Quarter-Final of the League Cup. With a number of injuries the Academy side fielded a changed side with Porritt, Scott, Whitfield and Harrison all out. Despite these absentees the mood in the camp was positive.
Guiseley started brightly and kept the ball well without creating any real chances. With both teams matching up in a 4-4-2 formation the game progressed into a tight affair but there was plenty attractive football on show. Stockport closed the half the strongest and Guiseley were saved by the woodwork on the stroke of half-time.
In the second-half the game opened up and a number of half chances fell to Guiseley striker Redmond Lee but luck wasn’t on his side on these ocassions. However the deadline was broke in the 67th minute when captain for the day in Elliot Scott’s absence, Ben Walker, whipped in an inviting corner for Dane Hodgson to meet an the back post and strike home!
As the game progressed into the closing stages Stockport pushed for an equalizer and a rejuvenated Darius McLeod had to be brave and clear off the goal line to keep the score at 1-0. In the 88th minute Stockport drew level after getting a break of the ball and a good ball across the 6 yard box. At this point most teams would have to try and hang on in until the final whistle. This wasn’t on the minds of the Young Lions. 2 minutes into added time substitite Kingsley Charles breezed past two defenders then curled in a terrific ball for Dane Hodgson to bullet home a header from 6 yrds to break the hearts of a strong Stockport County side and put Guiseley’s AFC through to the last eight.
An excellent team performance and difficult to select a Man of the Match. Darius McLeod and Macauley Parkinson were solid at the back, Dane and Callum worked tirelessly in midfield and Connor Crossley is maturing into a top-class keeper. However Man of the Match goes to, Mr Reliable, Ben Walker. He played a captain’s role and never put a foot wrong throughout the game.
