Stalybridge Celtic 1 Guiseley 2

 A goal deep into injury-time may have sullied Guiseley’s clean sheet on Saturday but it did not prevent them from marching through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The two Blue Square Bet North Division rivals went head-to-head in an enthralling encounter.

Guiseley had to defend well in the second half and were never sure of victory until the whistle went after six minutes of stoppage time.

The visitors had the first chance in the third minute when Ciaran Toner released Simon Baldry down the flank. Baldry’s cross was inch perfect and met by a header from Gavin Rothery that the home keeper just managed to tip over his bar.

Toner fired another chance over the target but the Lions did get the only goal of the first half. A cross from Rothery was converted by a header from Lee Ellington in the 24th minute.

Joe O’Neill had to replace Alex Davidson at the break. There was speculation that the oppressive heat of the hottest day in October on record had got to him.

O’Neill was on the end of Guiseley’s first attack after the interval but he shot wide.

Rothery had two shots well saved by the home keeper and Northern Ireland international Toner had one effort cleared off the line before the late flurry of action.

Two goals were scored in time added on, the first when Lions substitue Gavin Allott rounded a defender and the keeper and, although his shot was hacked off the line by a covering defender, he still managed to tuck home the rebound.

As the sixth minute of injury-time was ticking away, Phil Marsh netted an overhead kick for the home side.

The failure to keep a clean sheet was not the only blot for the Lions as defender Danny Ellis was substituted in the second half after dislocating a shoulder.