A performance of real grit and determination, with a dash of quality at the right moment, saw Guiseley through to the first round of the Emirates FA Cup at the expense of full-time Vanarama National League North side, Kidderminster Harriers, writes Ivor Timmis.

The Lions will now travel to Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium and the game will be played between Friday 1 November and Monday 4 November 2024.

A vocal Guiseley contingent of 126 supporters got behind their side from the outset, but it was hosts Harriers who dominated the early exchanges and, in truth, the entire first half.

Amari Morgan-Smith was a threat in the air and the tricky Maz Kouhyar was a thorn in the right side of the visiting defence with some penetrating runs and dangerous crosses.

The Lions could not gain meaningful possession and had to resort to Liam Ridehalgh long throws from the left back position to get the ball forward.

Harriers made a number of openings in the first quarter of the game, but keeper Joe Cracknell was equal to the task.

There was a real scare when Adriano Moke was dispossessed in midfield and the Harriers broke forward incisively, but Ashley Hemmings fired wastefully over the bar.

There was soon a further chance for Kiddy when Kouhyar went past Ollie Brown and Lebrun Mbeka, the latter hauling him down on the edge of the area to earn a yellow card.

Hemmings’ effort from the free kick was feeble though and Guiseley survived.

The Lions finally broke forward and a lovely jinking run by Joe Ackroyd found John Lufudu but his cross was over-hit.

Mbeka then got on the end of a Will Longbottom free kick, but his diving header did not trouble Christian Dibble in the Kiddy goal.

A key moment in the game arrived just after the half-hour mark.

Kouhyar broke into the area and played a low cross, which saw Mbeka slip, with the ball catching his trailing arm.

The referee pointed to the spot but Hemmings fluffed his lines from 12 yards when he tried and failed with a stuttering run-up, as Cracknell was unmoved and saved easily.

Joe Cracknell has been vital to Guiseley surprisingly seeing off both Scunthorpe United and Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup over the last fortnight.Joe Cracknell has been vital to Guiseley surprisingly seeing off both Scunthorpe United and Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup over the last fortnight. (Image: Alex Daniel.)

A post-match interview revealed that pre-game research by Cracknell and goalkeeper coach Danny King played an important role in the save.

Two well worked Kiddy set pieces led to shots fired narrowly wide of the Lions’ goal, while a break saw Lufudu volley over a Ridehalgh cross, as the sides went into the break goalless.

In the second half, Kiddy continued to dominate possession, but, as manager Mark Bower later revealed, a couple of tweaks at half time led to the hosts making far fewer openings.

In his post-match interview, Kiddy manager Phil Brown, formerly in charge of Hull City in the Premier League, praised the Lions’ ‘resilience’.

Brown started to get the better of danger man Kouhyar to the point where the latter was substituted.

The Lions began to grow into the game and Alex Penny earned a yellow card when he manhandled Lufudu to the ground as he sped past him.

Jake Lawlor miscued a volley when a Longbottom free kick found him unmarked beyond the far post, while the best Kiddy had to offer was a near post shot by Kouhyar which Cracknell saved smartly.

On 77 minutes, Ridehalgh underhit a back pass but Cracknell was alert to the danger and cleared safely.

By this time, Lufudu had switched to the left and had already shown that he had the beating of Joe Foulkes.

Kiddy did not heed the danger and a driving run by the Guiseley winger took him into the area.

A low left footed cross found Longbottom a couple of yards out and he gleefully fired the ball in to the roof of the net rippled to create pandemonium in the Guiseley section of the crowd.

Stunned at falling behind to their lower-league opponents, the expected Kiddy onslaught in the last few minutes never materialised.

Instead, the Lions almost added a second when Jack Emmett was put through by Longbottom but Christian Dibble saved well.

When the final whistle went, there were jubilant scenes as players joined fans in celebration of a brilliant victory.

Guiseley will find out who their first-round opponents are this evening.

The draw will take place at Valley Parade from 7pm.