Kittrick's men looking to clash with Blyth

Steve Kittrick’s men had some nervous moments on Saturday but overall were in control of their Blue Square Conference North opponents.

Guiseley were the more positive of the two sides and should really have won by a wider margin on the chances they created.

Guiseley not only won a place in the next round but also £5,000 in prize money.

Kittrick said: “I thought we played well and deserved it and that was down to a great reaction from the players following our disappointing mid-week league defeat by North Ferriby.”

“We played poorly last Tuesday night and we needed a comeback like this to put that behind us and move on.

“This is a huge result for the players in terms of that and a massive one for the club because of the progression in the competition and the financial boost.

“I didn’t worry too much towards the end when we were under a bit of pressure because Danny Ellis and James Cotterill had been so commanding for us. They won virtually every header and through-ball Redditch sent in – they were magnificent.”

A scoreless first-half was full of goalmouth action as both sides played expansive football.

Redditch’s first effort on goal brought a good save from home ’keeper Jon Worsnop and they forced some early corners.

Guiseley however started to find their range and from the mid-way point of the first-half it was one-way traffic towards the Redditch goal.

Mark Bett was involved in most of Guiseley’s forward forays while Steve Burton, Adam Muller and the tireless James Walshaw all caused problems for the visitors’ defence.

Former Park Avenue striker Bett came closest to breaking the deadlock when his header from Burton’s free-kick shaved the bar.

Walshaw led the line as a lone forward and in the second-half he was a constant threat, despite always coming up against a packed Redditch defence.

Guiseley gained their due reward when they opened the scoring in the 62nd minute.

Walshaw flicked on a Burton free-kick and the ball fell to centre-back Ellis, who lashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

Guiseley withstood a late flurry from their higher-ranking visitors but at the end of the day it was Guiseley who went into the draw for the next round - the only UniBond club to survive this far.

Guiseley 3 Hucknall Town 0

GUISELEY raced into a three goal lead against a Hucknall Town side who looked anything but up for this mid-week game.

James Walshaw rattled them with a first minute strike, a superb diving header from an excellent Dave Merris cross, and went 2-0 up with a bizarre own goal.

A Hucknall player rolled the ball into the far corner of his net from outside the box with great precision leaving his ‘keeper standing looking on incredulously. The third was a brilliant strike from Steve Burton with a volley from the edge of the area after a Merris corner.

The game then faded as a spectacle with Hucknall obviously seeing it as too much of a mountain to climb and Guiseley content to coast home, although they did create a string of further chances which could have enhanced their goal difference.

Guiseley controlled this game from the from the off but 3-0 up within half an hour saw them take their foot off the gas with the three league points in the locker.

Manager Steve Kittrick was able to give substitutes Simon Ainge, Harpal Singh and Lee Askham a run.

Lee Tuck harassed their defenders into errors all game, while Walshaw was just too slippery for their defenders.

For Burton it was a stroll in the park with some classy, nonchalant skills on display but the man who really caught the eye was veteran midfielder Chris Holland who controlled everything.

l Guiseley’s league game against FC United of Manchester will, on police advice, be played on Sunday with a noon kick-off. There will be a big police presence in the area and fans will be segregated.

Home supporters will have use of the main stand and the Ings Crescent side of the ground and should enter via the turnstiles at that end of the ground. The clubhouse bar will be closed until after the game.