Giant-killing Guisborough stun Pontefract in FA Cup

Last week, Guisborough Town FC pulled off a remarkable 3-2 FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay victory at Newton Aycliffe FC. On Saturday, in the next Preliminary Round of the famous competition, 11 Guisborough super-stars emerged after another scintillating performance. For this 3-1 victory at Pontefract – achieved against higher league opposition for the second consecutive game – surpassed even that memorable win against Aycliffe just a few days earlier.

The only unfortunate incident to overshadow the game, somewhat for the Priorymen, came in the second minute of stoppage time when Guisborough’s fine young teenage defender James Boucher suffered a suspected broken arm and eventually had to be stretchered off and taken to hospital. Then, with the Priorymen battling on so bravely, they somehow found the energy and determination to score a third and conclusive goal through super-sub Cole Kiernan.

It took Guisborough just eight minutes to storm ahead against Pontefract with the lively Joe Pickett scoring with another clever long-range free kick that was virtually a carbon copy of the brilliant free kick he scored five days earlier against Newton Aycliffe. It was awarded about 25 yards out and once again Pickett deceived the opposition goalkeeper by smashing the ball home past the near post when a far post cross was expected.

Guisborough striker Ty O’Neill is manhandled by a Pontefract defender

Pontefract equalised in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a free kick outside the Guisborough penalty area. Guisborough ‘keeper Will Cowey did well to stop the resulting kick but he couldn’t hold on to the ball and it ran loose for Adam Haw to sweep the ball home for 1-1.

That’s how the score remained at half-time but the Priorymen came out for the second period with great determination and were rewarded with goal from Kurt Howes on 53 minutes. He and Pickett linked up superbly down the right and conjured up a superb one-two with Howes finishing off Pickett’s Cross for 2-1 to the Priorymen. Guisborough continued to make most of the running, although they were indebted to ‘keeper Cowey in the 74th minute when he made an unbelievable point blank save to preserve his side’s 2-1 lead.

Then came Boucher’s distressing suspected broken arm, which resulted in a long delay. Pontefract were reduced to ten men late on when defender Jack Greenhough was sent off for a second yellow card.

Incredibly, in the 108th minute, Cole Kiernan wrapped up a conclusive 3-1 victory with a fantastic solo goal, cutting in from the right, beating several defenders and rounding the Pontefract ‘keeper before gleefully smashing the ball into the empty net. It was an amazing winner which sent Guisborough’s sizeable band of fans in a crowd of 242 into rapturous delight.

Guisborough defender James Frazer (left) defies the pain barrier from an ankle injury to make a timely sliding tackle

After the game Guisborough manager Steve Bell said: "I thought the lads were outstanding again today. Once more we had a severely depleted squad of walking wounded players who did magnificently to get us through to the next round of the FA Cup preliminaries. Under normal circumstances, at least two or three of them would not have played due to their injuries. We did well to go in at half time all square at 1-1 with the wind in our faces as well as a blinding sun in our eyes. But with the wind at our backs for the second half I thought we carried a big threat against our opponents.

“Overall, the lads were immense today, and none more so than young James Boucher who before his arm injury had an excellent game playing at left back – a position he wasn’t accustomed to playing in. Unfortunately, the only other real downside to today’s terrific performance was that three or four of the lads sustained further serious injuries so we’ll have to wait and see what kind of team we can put out for the important home league game against Bishop Auckland at the KGV."