Crook Town 2, Guiseley 3

A HAT-TRICK from rookie copper Ryan Senior arrested Crook Town's efforts to overcome the UniBond side in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The pace and power of the big forward warmed the hearts of the Guiseley following on a day when there was little else to cheer them.

After a promising start Guiseley almost let this game slip from their grasp and they were very lucky to leave town with the victory after almost ending their FA Cup journey before it had started.

The FA Cup runs have proved a valuable lifeline in financial terms for clubs such as Guiseley and Harrogate Railway over recent years but Guiseley almost blew it at the first attempt this season.

With new on loan striker Iain Dunn prevented from playing in the cup tie for Guiseley by his club Harrogate Town Guiseley looked to Senior to fill the gap. He has yet to make a league appearance this season, although he did appear in one of the pre-season friendlies - due to his training to become a police officer.

Senior looked as if he had never been away and it was his hat-trick that swept Guiseley through to the next round albeit his winner came just as a re-play looked a certainty. Senior's almost shoot on sight policy created a number of chances for Guiseley and some may criticise the number of misses but that is the nature of his game.

Where others seem afraid to shoot a confident and in form Senior looks to score every time. Indeed he looked the only man in a Guiseley shirt likely to score with Mark Stuart failing from the penalty spot with a tame shot which the 'keeper saved.

All looked to be going well for Guiseley when Scott Jackson latched onto a ball over the top and hit against the post with a defender on the line. Senior opened the scoring after five minutes with a fine strike from all of 25 yards. He then tried his luck with a chip that went over.

Dave Henry fired well high before providing an excellent crossfield ball which was picked up by the combative Andy Shuttleworth and as he battled his way into the penalty area he was brought down.

Mark Stuart stepped up to take the penalty but his tame effort was easily saved by Michael Sanderson.

A couple more chances fell to Senior - one he waited too long to get his shot in and the other he put wide. Goalkeeper John Lamb then twice failed to get to the ball leaving Andrew Morris with an open goal but he blazed wide.

Chances were coming a plenty as Jackson lobbed the 'keeper but the ball went wide, Senior pulled the ball back for Jeremy Illingworth but he took too long on the ball and his effort was blocked for a corner, Andy Shuttleworth then had a header blocked on the line. Gary Shaw headed a chance over and Senior's long low drive was held by the 'keeper.

Half-time arrived and Guiseley only had the one goal to show for their dominance over a very average side.

Senior was soon to make that two as the second-half started. Things started to go wrong then for Guiseley who seemed to believe that victory was theirs without having to work for it.

Only a handful of players showed the battling spirit needed as Crook worked their way back into the game. Gary Shaw's challenge became a tackle from behind and a penalty was conceded which Paul Dalton took but his effort was saved by Lamb.

Henry dragged the ball wide of the far post before Mark Stuart played the ball across his own area and Michael Sutcliffe nipped in to make it 2-1. Senior had an effort blocked and when the ball came back out he met it with a diving header which hit the post.

Crook had a near miss before equalising with Sutcliffe's effort being helped over the line by Stuart after 68 minutes.

Panic set in in the Guiseley rearguard with Gary Shaw being replaced by Peter Atkinson. The long serving player took up the right-back position with Nathan Hay moving into central defence but this exposed a weakness in height and Senior had to be called back to defend at corners.

Lamb back-pedalling into his net fingertipped the ball over the bar and now Guiseley were hanging on. Some players did just not seem to want to battle and Crook came into the ascendency.

Even the Guiseley supporters felt for them when Senior netted an injury time winner to complete his hat-trick after a good ball from Airdrie.

Guiseley will have to perform better than this if they are to make progress in the cup competitions this season.

Guiseley: John Lamb; Nathan Hay, Gary Shaw (Peter Atkinson), James Nettleton, Mark Stuart; Dave Henry, Jeremy Illingworth, Andy Shuttleworth (Stewart Airdrie), Richard Chattoe; Ryan Senior, Scott Jackson (David Cooke). Subs not used: Peter Sumner, Lee Ashforth.

On Saturday Guiseley entertain Bamber Bridge (3 pm) and during the afternoon almost 150 young players who now form the Guiseley AFC Juniors will be introduced to the crowd. The Reserves travel to Ellesmere Port to take on Lancashire League newcomers Vauxhall Motors (noon kick-off).

The youth team lost a bruising battle at Farsley Celtic on Sunday by 3-1 with Scott Williams scoring their goal. Next week's game depends on the result of the FA Youth Cup tie between Wakefield and Emley and Bradford Park Avenue. If Avenue are the winners they will play at Guiseley on Thursday in the next round but if Emley are the winners Guiseley will entertain Eccleshill in a league game on Thursday and play Emley at a later date in the cup.