GUISELEY exited the Emirates FA Cup after a defiant performance that more than matched their League One opponents over 120 minutes, writes Edward Robertson.

Penalty shoot out heartache followed despite a courageous display from the Lions at Stevenage.

Manager Mark Bower was immensely proud of his charges. “Proud of everyone who contributed to that performance. Some things in the game we’re aggrieved by, because of the momentous occasion and the noise made by the fans and the effort the boys put in.”

It was almost the perfect start for the visitors. It appeared Guiseley had broken the deadlock against the odds with only five minutes gone. An accurate cross was latched onto by the head of Will Longbottom, who steered home to guide Guiseley into the lead. However, the referee picked out a foul and the goal was chalked off, much to the travelling fans’ dismay.

Boro grew into the game. With just under twenty five minutes gone, Jamie Reid fired towards goal. His shot was confidently caught by Joe Cracknell.

Two minutes later, Stevenage challenged again. Nick Freeman’s cross picked out Jordan Roberts who mistimed his finish.

Guiseley were dealt another blow as Leo Farrell limped off the pitch injured after recently returning from the sidelines.

But Jack Emmett provided a quality replacement. Some neat interplay released Liam Ridealgh whose swerving cross found Longbottom but his effort blazed over the bar.

Shortly after the break, the indomitable Lions defence was finally broken. Dan Kemp’s through ball was slotted home from close range by Reid.

Guiseley were undeterred. A battling run from Longbottom found him through on goal before the ball was gathered by Murphy Cooper.

With only fifteen minutes remaining, an unlikely equaliser seemed possible. John Lufudu raced to the byline and squared the ball to Gabriel Johnson. His attempt was hurriedly cleared off the line. Longbottom’s subsequent back-heel nearly sneaked past Cooper but a defensive clearance denied the visitors.

The Lions continued to pile on pressure on their hosts. A curling Longbottom free kick was headed across the face of goal by Jake Lawlor but to no avail. Moments later, Lebrun Mbeka’s long throw in was beaten away by Lewis Freestone. The subsequent speculative effort by Ollie Brown could only shave the crossbar.

As the game entered its final stages, the Lions scored a momentous goal. Gabriel Johnson snuck in between a defender and goalkeeper Cooper on the counter attack and threaded the ball to Longbottom. The in-form forward rolled the ball into an empty net sending the South Stand into delirium.

The game would enter extra time. It would take a colossal effort from Guiseley to resist the pressure the Football League side would mount.

Yet the Lions were more than equal to the task.

With one hundred minutes of football gone, Lufudu’s cross into the path of Longbottom was beaten away by Cooper.

Boro threatened on the counter attack. Reid’s ball into Freestone narrowly bounced wide of the post.

Arguably Guiseley’s biggest chance of extra time came with one minute remaining before the break. Jack Emmett’s neat ball into the path of substitute Joe Ackroyd who was sent clear but could only drag the ball past the post.

The second period of extra time saw the Lions sink deeper into their own territory amidst a flurry of chances from the hosts. Roberts and Reid saw their chances saved by Cracknell.

In tense anticipation, penalties awaited at the Lamex Stadium for a place in the Second Round of the FA Cup.

Despite taking an early lead in the shootout, it proved to be a lottery where Lady Luck was not on the Lions side, as the hosts triumphed 5-4 in sudden death.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for Guiseley in a performance that left the away contingent providing a deserved standing ovation at the full time whistle.

The manager concluded, “I’m gutted we’re out the cup but I’m so, so proud of the club today. To win games though, you need a bit of luck and we certainly didn’t get it today.”