Emirates FA Cup fourth qualifying round: Guiseley 6 Shildon 0

GUISELEY are through to the first-round proper of the Emirates FA Cup after brushing Shildon aside with a dominant second-half display.

The first half finished goalless with Guiseley dominating possession and territory while Northern League side Shildon had the best two chances to score.

But three goals in quick time, the third from the penalty spot which led to a red card for visitors’ centre back Kyle May, and a desire from the Lions to keep turning the screw led to a landslide victory.

It was Guiseley’s first win under new boss Paul Cox, and he was delighted, saying: “It’s marvellous, I’m over the moon.

“But more importantly it’s a win that will be good for the confidence of the players because they had to earn it.

"We might be in the first round of the cup but we had to earn the right because they (Shildon) asked a lot of questions of us.

“That next cup tie is on the back burner because we’ve got some important league games first.

"I don’t want to take anything away from this win but the league is our bread and butter and we need points.”

Guiseley were restricted to half-chances in that goalless first half, while the visitors went close twice.

The first was almost an own goal as debutant left back Darren Holden just scooped a teasing cross from Lewis Dobbs over Jonny Maxted’s bar, and the keeper made a superb reaction save to deny Shildon midfielder Dobbs on the half-hour.

The second half was a total contrast, and the Lions took the lead in the 53rd minute when Mike Fondrop converted Will Hatfield’s superb ball into the area, slotting in at the back post.

Less than two minutes later, Fondop was the provider as he chased back, won possession, sprinted forward past two defenders and laid a crossfield ball into the space in front of Andy Haworth, who raced on and chipped the onrushing keeper.

The lead was stretched to three after Fondop was fouled in the area by May after the striker had judged the bounce of a through ball and used his strength to get ahead of the defender.

John Rooney stepped forward and confidently fired in from the spot.

Hatfield netted the fourth, slotting in under Shildon keeper Nick Liversedge after a blocked shot had not been cleared, and then bagged his brace as he curled a low shot just inside a post.

Fondop also ended with a brace as he lobbed Liversedge in the second minute of stoppage time after stealing half a yard on his marker.

Cox added: “I don’t care who we get in the first round - I really don’t.

“It would be nice to get a league team down here and pit our wits against them, but whoever it is - a club from higher up or a club from a few leagues below - we will do our research.

“We respect every opponent, as we did Shildon, and the preparation will be exactly the same whatever, but I do want a run in the competition, and I’ve been lucky in it in the past so let's hope we can bring a feel-good factor to the club.”