This Saturday saw gibfootballshow losing its virginity in two football areas, my first ever Non-League match and also my first ever FA Cup match, what better way to lose my FA Cup cherry than watching local Blue Square North side Guiseley AFC take on the “Man City of Non-League” Crawley Town, riding high in the Blue Square Premier it was always going to be a tough ask for the home side.

A decent crowd turned up at Nethermoor Park, the capacity later revealed as 1,600 helped in part by the big away support and most likely a few people like myself were just there for the day out. With the minimum expectation just to see a decent match and be entertained an increased ticket price of £12 didn’t seem too steep.

After finding a decent spot to stand the game was quickly underway, The away side lined up in the 4-4-2 formation. Top scorer Matt Tubbs upfront partnered by Scot Craig McAllister. Guiseley started in a narrow 4-3-3 (as corrected by ) with the intelligent looking Warren Peyton controlling the midfield.

Both team started well, Guiseley getting the ball down the wings and trying to get the forwards into the game, most of Crawley’s early moves coming down the right the combination of Sam Rents and experienced pro Dean Howell working well.

It was the away side that opened the scoring, good work down the right by Scott Neilson put McAllister in, his square pass gave Tubbs the easiest of tap ins. Guiseley responded well to the goal, charging forward but couldn’t find that final ball to threaten the Crawley defence, and too often Guiseley’s passes were heavy and hard to control. Crawley were starting to get into their rhythm, attacking down both flanks with the powerful duo upfront causing problems.

The second goal wasn’t far away, and it came on the 25th minute, worked from left to right it found Neilson free on the right, he drilled his shot across goal, Drench couldn’t react and the net bulged for the second time. You could feel the sense of expectation exhumed from the home crowd, even the most optimistic fan knew this was over. Crawley Town were just stronger, fitter and faster than their Yorkshire opponents.

At half time I decided to change my vantage point, moving behind the goal Crawley Town would be attacking, it was no disrespect to Guiseley I hope to return a few more times this season (being my local team that aren’t Leeds United). However you could tell the away side had more goals in them and it could prove a nice spot for some pictures.

Fair play to Guiseley they came out fighting in the second half, taking the game to their opponents, but ten minutes in and the game was over Danny Hall cut in from the right went past two men and lashed the ball into the net, Drench could have possibly done better but Crawley didn’t care and the quickly went looking for more goals.

Guiseley had given their all but tiredness was kicking in, gaps began to appear more and more, with every Guiseley attack came a Crawley Town counter, McAllister was released down the left, he drilled the ball across goal and the impressive substitute Richard Brodie made it four with 18 minutes still left on the clock.

Another substitute the Argentine Sergio Torres made it five when Brodie beat keeper Drench to the ball out wide, he clipped the cross in and Torres was left unmarked to apply the finishing touch. The former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder was very impressive when he came on creating chances with some little moments of magic, lighting up the dark Yorkshire evening.

In the end it was a cruel score line for Guiseley, Crawley Town were very impressive, and it would not be a surprise to see them in League Two next year. Guiseley can’t afford to dwell on this result, at times the performance was very good, the possession percentage would be closer than expected, just a shame the score line wasn’t