Guiseley 3, Histon 0

In-form Guiseley booked their place in tomorrow’s lunchtime FA Trophy first-round draw with a deserved home victory over Conference North rivals Histon.

The Cambridgeshire outfit had visited Nethermoor for a league game earlier in the season and earned a point from a 1-1 draw.

Histon arguably played better in this third qualifying-round tie – but this is now a much-improved Lions side.

Guiseley boss Mark Bower was pleased with the win but admitted the final score was harsh on the visitors.

“I thought we were the better side and deserved to go through but we were slightly flattered by the score,” he said.

“Histon are a decent side and they had the better of the first half. We had a word with our lads at half-time and pointed out a couple of things we could be doing better and they took it on board.

“I thought we played very well in the second half and even when Histon pushed forward they didn’t really threaten our goal.”

Guiseley led at the interval thanks to a stunning goal from Danny Hall. A 25th-minute Gavin Rothery free-kick was headed out but only as far as the taker, who crossed back in and Hall’s volley from the edge of the area zipped into the top corner.

The big centre back went up for a later corner but although he got his head to Rothery’s delivery, he landed awkwardly and needed treatment. Hall continued until half-time but did not reappear.

Rothery continued to make life difficult for the Histon defence and he fed Alex Johnson, whose shot was blocked for a corner from which Hall’s replacement Jake Lawlor fired over.

More chances followed before Johnson did double the Lions’ lead. Rothery was again the provider as his cross from the left was slid in by Johnson as the visitors’ defence momentarily switched off.

Histon almost pulled a goal back before the hour mark as the ball seemed to have crossed the line following a Eugene Libiertucci corner into a packed area.

The perfectly-positioned linesman never flinched and there were no great protests from the visitors as play went on and Guiseley cleared their lines.

Wayne Brooksby put the gloss on the win with the third goal in the last minute. He fired a volley into the ground and the bounce beat Histon keeper Calum Kitscha, with Rothery again providing the assist.

Bower said: “Obviously we lost Danny at the break, although it doesn’t look like a bad injury, and Jake slotted in as though he plays there every week.

“I think we have been fortunate by getting home draws in the cups and I hope that continues. You always have a chance at home.”