WITH two teams sharing the same Lions nickname, it was the pride from Guiseley that triumphed at Holt House this afternoon courtesy of a Jordan Thewlis strike seven minutes from time.

Wanting to avoid an early exit from the world’s oldest cup competition against a team two divisions below them Guiseley started strongly without creating any clear cut openings on a lush but uneven pitch with a pronounced slope from goal to goal and from the top left across to the bottom right hand corner that doesn’t make for good football.

Indeed, Colne had the best chance of the half that came after some desperate defending had kept them out before Charlie Russell found himself unmarked with the goal at his mercy but somehow contrived to hit the ball over the bar and the covered terrace behind the goal.

Having survived this scare Guiseley hit back through Regan Hutchinson but Hakan Barton was smartly down at his near post to smother his effort.

Debutant goalkeeper Luke Jackson was hardly tested and Jake Day was occupying the attentions of the home defence while the returning Jamie Spencer was his usual busy self but the Lions ultimately lacked purpose and penetration going forward.

With both sides struggling to impose themselves on the game it wasn’t until the 66th minute that Guiseley put together a meaningful move that ended with Jake Hull’s header dropping just wide of the post.

Six minutes later and another well-crafted move saw Brad Nicholson find Hutchinson but he couldn’t get enough on the cross as the Lions at last began to find some momentum.

As it played out, a double substitution on 75 minutes proved to be the turning point that eventually broke the deadlock, Jordan Thewlis and Bailey Thompson replacing Jake Day and Kaine Felix.

As the visitors cranked up the pressure Spencer’s effort took a deflection and Thompson’s deft flick looked to be heading goalwards but the defence cleared.

Spencer was replaced by Jacob Gratton in the 79th minute and three minutes later the crucial breakthrough was made courtesy of Thewlis.

The former Boston striker was on the end of a move down the left channel where he cut inside and shot through a posse of defenders where the ball seemed to take a slight deflection to wrong foot Burton and end up in the back of the net and put the visitor’s one up.

Guiseley played out the remaining minutes and Gratton had one last shot as the clock ticked down but Burton was equal to his effort.

This was not the most convincing victory by Guiseley but they did avoid the ignominy of AFC Telford United and Farsley Celtic who both went out to lower league teams and they now await the draw on Monday lunchtime to discover who their next opponents will be.

Report: Via Guiseley