FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round - 20 October 2012

GUISELEY V BUXTON

The fourth qualifying round has just the 32 games nationwide so it is back down the A1 for a first visit to Guiseley. Still, it’s good driving weather in the autumn sunshine, and perfect again for cup football. Nethermoor Park, tucked between the town and the railway, is neat and tidy in blue and white livery and the pitch looks good.

It’s a big game for both teams. The winners not only get a £12,500 prize payout but also go into the first round draw with clubs from League 1 & 2. Guiseley are the senior team, from the Blue Square North, and they are aiming to reach that stage for the 6^th time in the last 20 years. Buxton, only a step behind in the Evo Stick (Northern) Premier League, have won 3 away ties to get here so will not be fazed.

The spectators almost constitute a crowd; the usual attendance of between 400 and 500 could be swollen by the magic of the FA Cup, and the good weather. The teams enter the pitch to Queen’s “Rock You” through an under-7’s guard of honour. Guiseley in white shirts and navy shorts, Buxton in all red, line up for the obligatory FA Cup handshakes facing the dug outs, which unfortunately presents their backs to most of the crowd in the 2 galvanised steel stands.

From the kick off Guiseley camp in the Buxton half. Even the full backs are pressing. Left back McWilliams is fouled on the edge of the penalty area (just outside according to the referee) and right back Holdsworth shoots strongly but straight at the keeper. Guiseley’s Walshaw looks particularly useful and links well down the left before having a cross blocked.

Buxton, when they do get the ball, move it quickly forward and generate a couple of threatening situations. Left wing Duncum beats his full back once or twice and midfielder Istead cracks a long range effort into keeper Drench’s midriff.

But these are isolated incidents that interrupt Guiseley’s control of the game. As the half hour approaches centre forward Wilson shoots left footed at keeper Deakin. A minute later Walshaw feeds the same player well but he mis-controls and wastes a great position. This is followed up with another good combination down the left and when McWilliams crosses, it is Wilson again who gets his head to it to force Deakin into a scrambling save at the foot of the post. It feels like a goal is inevitable. McWilliams again has space on the left and although his measured cross is cleared, his teammate Brooksby on the right swings it back into the centre for Walshaw to rise unchallenged to head home from 6 yards.

Guiseley now have their tails up and push hard for the second goal their play deserves. The only Buxton threat is from free kicks, and long throws from centre half Roberts. As half time approaches Guiseley nearly score again with a tame header from Walshaw that bounces off the foot of the post.

Half time is greeted with warm applause from the home fans whose pleasure is muted by the shocking announcement that the hot food is already sold out, a result of the impressive attendance of 847. In truth the 1-0 score line is scant reward for their dominance as Walshaw, Rothery and Wilson have been very mobile and combined well up front. For Buxton centre half Roberts has performed well under the pressure. The Buxton one man attack force of Morris has had little chance, mostly chasing down long balls that are more hurried clearances than passes. When a ball is hit to him and he can link with midfielders Towey and Duncum possibilities emerge, but disappear when hesitation allows Guiseley to funnel back and snuff out danger.

The second half commences in familiar pattern. A good Guiseley combination down the left culminates in a shot wide from Walshaw; two further shots go wide before Buxton respond with a long throw and hoisted free kick into the box.

After about 10 minutes Buxton substitute Reed comes on and immediately one of Roberts’ long throws falls to him. His first touch of the game is goal bound but keeper Drench takes sufficient pace off the shot for his defenders to keep the ball out and smuggle it back to him. Reed is first to the next long throw but heads narrowly wide from close in. He repeats the trick from a free kick but this time heads over the bar.

This is the best Buxton have looked; Reed’s arrival up front has given them more energy and a better shape and by the midpoint they look the more likely to score next. Guiseley have lost their fluency and their coach decides to take off Wilson & Walshaw, so impressive in the first half, sending on Holsgrove & Boshell. The only outcome is a corner headed over the bar.

At every opportunity Buxton send centre halves Haggerty and Roberts forward for set plays, and from one hoisted free kick Roberts heads just past the far post. Reed gets a shot on target but it is too straight to worry Drench; the same applies to a looping header from yet another long throw that he clutches under the bar.

Roberts is now staying up front and so Guiseley have chances on the break and the last five minutes is frantic end to end stuff. From another Buxton long throw (Roberts must have arms of steel) Reed manufactures an overhead kick but defender Holdsworth’s face is in the way and danger is cleared.

Three added minutes are announced. Roberts uses the last of his strength to hurl in another Delap-esque missile, a Buxton head gets to it but again it goes wide of the post. Up the other end the Guiseley substitutes Holsgrove & Boshell finally combine effectively with Rothery and force a good save from Deakin. As time ticks down these two are again in evidence. Holsgrove chases down a clearance and works inside; when his shot is blocked the ball falls to Boshell who calmly steers his shot into the goal.

The second goal could hardly have come later as full time is blown seconds after the restart. As Guiseley gather in the centre circle for a debriefing, Buxton troop off the pitch to a good hand from the relieved home fans, showing welcome respect to opponents who came back strongly in the second half.

Guiseley’s 2-0 win gets them the reward of a place in the first round draw, and also overcomes the home team curse that the cup run has inflicted in the previous 5 rounds.