JONNY Maxted has been described as one of the best penalty-savers around as Guiseley bask in the limelight of making FA Cup history.

The Lions are licking their lips at the prospect of facing boss Paul Cox's former club Mansfield in the second round on Sunday, December 3 – the furthest they have ever reached in the competition.

Keeper Maxted was the star of Tuesday night's dramatic replay win at Accrington, pulling off a string of saves and then denying Billy Kee and Scott Brown during the 4-3 shoot-out win after the game finished 1-1 after extra time.

That followed his two penalty saves at the weekend against Bromley – and confirmed Cox's view that Maxted is right up there when it comes to stopping spot-kicks.

He has acknowledged how the keeper has come on leaps and bounds since the club took the plunge to go full-time.

Cox said: "We know we've got one of the best penalty savers in football. Going full time has really helped him. He's like a man possessed in training now.

"It's amazing how Jonny has developed in a short space of time. But it's no fluke because of the way he works.

"I had a one-on-one with him after training on Monday. You see his desire to become better, his desire to work above and beyond what his role is.

"People say some of the saves he made were flukey but I see him do that every day in training.

"He's a very good goalkeeper that probably mentally wanted an arm round his shoulder. He needed reminding how good he is.

"I don't think you have to coach natural footballers like that. It's just sometimes right for a manager to show a bit of belief.

"The best goalkeepers in the world are the ones that psychologically think they are unbeatable. He's developing that through his hard work."

Cox took Mansfield to the FA Cup third round as a non-League team five seasons ago, where they were edged out 2-1 by Liverpool.

Now he has achieved a new milestone for Guiseley as they plan for a trip to face Steve Evans' Stags next month.

He said: "We'll go and enjoy it. The cup game is a bit of fun. The pressure for us is in the league and we've got to put a run of results together.

"I met some fabulous people at Mansfield and there are some lovely ones still behind the scenes.

"I loved my time there and keep in touch with the chairman and his wife. It will be a great day.

"The club have had such a bad run of form in the early stage of the season, sometimes players forget how to celebrate. You have to enjoy winning and we'll do that."

Guiseley returned to earth today to prepare for Saturday's trip to Dagenham. They will be missing centre half Chris M'Boungou after his contentious red card for two bookings at Accrington.

Referee Charles Breakspear produced the second yellow for the "aggressive manner" in which the defender approached him after conceding a foul.

Cox said: "If that's the case, this sport is going soft. I could understand it if he's pushed the referee but it was harsh.

"Refs have got to use a bit of common sense. In a fiery cup tie, it's going to be physical and people have paid good money to watch it."

Breakspear gave Guiseley's ten men a penalty lifeline late on when he spotted Jordan Thorniley's pull on Jean-Yves Niate – which few others in the ground did, including the manager.

"I'd turned around and just thought the referee had made another strange decision," said Cox.

"Did he even it up with the penalty? I'm not too sure. Somebody on our bench said Niate had been dragged down.

"But I'd told the players when we were down to ten men that we were winners anyway. So, let's go for it.

"It's no fluke Accrington are second in League Two. They are a very good side but even with ten men we kept our shape and were still a threat.

"Even if we'd lost late on or through penalties, we'd still have won in my eyes because of the amazing learning curve we came through in this game."