Guiseley 0 Crawley 5: Brodie leads Cup blitz

STEVE Kittrick experienced a five-goal trouncing for the first time in his managerial career but refused to read the riot act to his "bullied" Guiseley players.

Big spenders Crawley Town, who are making a strong bid for Football League status next season, showed Kittrick's side no mercy as a Nethermoor crowd of 1,609 saw Guiseley's FA Cup first round jinx strike again.

In five attempts Guiseley have never progressed into round two, conceding 20 goals and scoring just once in the process. Yet Kittrick knows promotion from Blue Square North is his club's priority this season and he is determined not to let Saturday's result affect his players' confidence at Workington tomorrow night.

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It was Guiseley's first defeat since they lost at home to Nuneaton on the season's opening day and Kittrick said: "It is all about the character of the team now. I will find out who fancies it and who doesn't.

"Crawley are full time and they have spent a lot of money but that is the first time I have seen us bullied. I asked my players how it felt to get beaten and told them: 'that is the last time I want us to feel like that this year'.

"I am disappointed at conceding five. It is the first time I've had more than three put past me as a manager but we can't be too downhearted. After 16 good results a bad one was bound to come along. The players know they haven't played well but we have to bounce back and be positive.

"If we lose two or three on the bounce I will have to look at it again but I can't see that happening because we have a good atmosphere in the dressing room and a good set of players."

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Guiseley created little, with visiting centre-backs Pablo Mills and Kyle McFadzean in commanding form. One of the few home opportunities came as early as the second minute when captain Simon Ainge headed Warren Peyton's free-kick narrowly wide.

James Walshaw brought an excellent save from former Brighton goalkeeper Michel Kuipers with nine minutes left but Crawley dominated proceedings with intelligent running on and off the ball as their class told.

Steven Drench had already made two desperate saves before striker Matt Tubbs finished off slick passing for the opening goal in the 15th minute.

Tubbs set up the second for Scott Neilson in the 36th minute and right-back Danny Hall hit his first goal for the club 11 minutes into the second half. Then two goals in three minutes left Guiseley an impossible task, former York City striker Richard Brodie pouncing in the 72nd minute and fellow substitute Sergio Torres heading the fifth.

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Guiseley: Drench; Toulson, Ellis, Ainge, Merris; Sharry (Boshell 59), Peyton, Needham; O'Neill (Stamp 74), Walshaw, Rothery (James 59). Unused substitutes: Cotterill, Fitzgerald, Scarsella, McEneaney.

Crawley Town: Kuipers; Hall, McFadzean, Mills, Rents; Neilson, Bulman, Masterson, Howell (Torres 46); Tubbs (Brodie 48), McAllister (Cook 79). Unused substitutes: Smith, Cogan, Flood, Jordan.

Referee: P Bankes (Bootle).

Man of the match: Steven Drench.

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