FA Trophy: Dulwich Hamlet 1 Guiseley 2

Mark Bower’s Lions are in tomorrow draw for the last 16 of the FA Trophy after negotiating a difficult second-round tie in London.

Dulwich Hamlet gave Guiseley a scare or two along the way at Champion Hill but the Vanarama National League outfit saw the job out.

The Lions opened up a two-goal lead but were pegged back before the break and frustrated in the second half.

Bower said: “We knew we were going to a side that were top of the league they’re in, playing well and would be backed by a big following.

“They had nothing to lose as they were playing a team two leagues above them and they could play with that freedom.

"They came at us but I thought we weathered that early storm very well and began to get control of the game.

“We went 2-0 up and had three or maybe four really good chances to make it 3-0, and 3-0 would have finished the game I think.

"I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t finish it off.

“We let them back in it with a poor spell when our decision making let us down and we got a bit sloppy, especially in the two or three minutes before their goal.

"That made it a difficult half-time for us. There were words and I felt a few of the players needed to pull their fingers out, so to speak.

“Hursty (James Hurst) had a great chance to put us 3-1 up early in the second half, and from then on I thought we were comfortable until the fifth of the four minutes added on.

“The ball bounced across our goal a couple of times but I thought we saw it out quite comfortably and impressively.

"It was a tricky, tricky tie and I’m glad we don’t have to go through a replay, so I’m pleased we’re in the draw and I’m hoping for a home draw now for a change.”

Once Guiseley got into their stride in front of almost 2,000 fans, they broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Hurst left home keeper Phil Wilson flat-footed with a superb volley from the edge of the area.

The Lions were two goals to the good before the half hour after Anthony Dudley doubled their lead.

It was the youngster’s first goal and first appearance since returning from Bury for a second loan spell this term.

Hurst had a chance but was off target, and Adam Boyes was denied twice by sharp saves from Wilson as the visitors pressed for a third.

The home side then grabbed a lifeline just at the right time as Mitchell Nelson’s powerful header converted a free-kick just before the interval.

Guiseley huffed and puffed in the second half while Dulwich looked to hit back on the break, but the second half remained goalless.

Bower added: “The first goal was a great finish.Hursty took it really well and it was a great start for us.

"It took the wind out of their sails but we know he’s capable of pulling something like that out of the bag.

“He played a bit more of an advanced role for Torquay but we put him out on the left and he’s doing well.

"I was very frustrated with the set-piece goal we conceded. We had warned our players about their lad who had scored in their last two games.

“The ball came in and faded a bit so Drenchy (keeper Steve Drench) half came and then didn’t, and the kid drifts in and the ball’s in our net.

"It had been coming though and Drenchy had made a great save just a couple of minutes before the goal.”