STEVE Kittrick might be able to get his head round on-field matters but is baffled as to why his team have to make the 358-mile round trip to face Gloucester City on Saturday in the Blue Square Bet North.

“Being so far south, I cannot understand why they are in this division,” said the Lions manager.

“We are only part-time and have to travel down on Saturday morning. The club can afford to pay us to go down on Friday night but that wasn’t possible because of players’ work commitments.”

City, who are in the section because of a knock-on effect of southern-based teams being relegated last season, are in eighth position – two places and three points below Guiseley, who have begun the campaign with four wins, three draws and only one defeat.

Guiseley now know who they will be playing a week on Saturday in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup sponsored by EON.

Colwyn Bay defeated Marine 2-0 in their first qualifying round replay on Tuesday night, goals coming from Gareth Evans in the 53rd minute and Ian Sheridan in the 70th, so the Lions have a trip to North Wales to face a team who are currently lying fifth in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.

Colwyn Bay returned to the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division this season courtesy of the play-offs after a fourth-place finish and secured promotion with a victory over Lancaster City in the final.

Manager Neil Young decided to leave Colwyn Bay for pastures new at the end of the season and Dave Challinor was promoted to player- manager for the new season with Colin Woodthorpe as his assistant.

“I haven’t watched them yet but they are playing at Chasetown next Tuesday in a league match and I will go and watch them then,” said Kittrick.

“The glamour of having a run in the FA Cup is important but so is the money that such a run can generate, so both of them are important.”

Guiseley’s latest victory was a 2-1 success at Hinckley United last Saturday, and Kittrick said: “The great thing was that they had to alter their formation to try and combat us.

“I try and win every game that I am involved in as a manager, and the thing is that we try and win away matches.

“If we don’t look like getting three points, then we will look to get a draw but we try and play football and be positive.

“For example, Matty James could have scored two late goals on Saturday nad made it 4-1 but we could have scored five or six in the first half.

“They changed their formation at half-time because we were nullifying them, and that is a great compliment. However, they could have nicked a point.”

The victory over Hinckley not only maintained Guiseley’s unbeaten record but temporarily put them into joint fifth with Droylsden.

One of the reasons the Conference League newcomers have enjoyed such a good start has been the form of striker James Walshaw.

He put the Lions into a position from which they won the points within the first quarter of this game. Although, in a wind-affected first half, he was not the first to threaten.

A shot from Gavin Rothery in the first minute hit the crossbar and came back.

Walshaw was soon in on the action and, while his first effort was wide, he tucked the next one home from a Warren Payton through ball.

Next, a Walshaw shot from just inside the area hit the post and rebounded into play for Joe O’Neill to net from close range.

It was not the last time the woodwork would have a part to play as a later Hinckley effort struck Guiseley’s bar before the break.

The home keeper was under pressure again early in the second half, denying Walshaw and then saving a Liam Needham drive.

Hinckley got a foothold when they reduced the arrears in the 73rd minute with a well-taken goal.

A long forward ball found Daniel Gray in the area and he made the most of the time and space allowed him before finishing well.

Any hopes of a comeback ebbed away as the Lions finished the game strongly, however.

When a Danny Boshell free-kick was deflected for a corner, the Hinckley keeper made a smart save from James, who was also thwarted in the last minute when he was one-on-one with the keeper.

Striker Simon Johnson has gone on a three-month loan to Solihull Moors The striker has returned to the club that Guiseley signed him from last season with a view to a permanent transfer. If that happens, the Lions will receive compensation.