FA Trophy: Halifax cruise through and Guiseley also make progress

DOUBLE DELIGHT: FC Halifax's Kingsley James.

It was Halifax’s first clean sheet – barring the West Riding County Cup – for the first time in 35 games, and their nap-hand made it 13 goals in their last four matches.

Two goals from Kingsley James and one each for Shaquille McDonald, Nicky Wroe and substitute Connor Hughes earned Halifax a £5,000 prize for reaching the next round and maintained Jim Harvey’s unbeaten record at the helm.

James got the first with a 20-yard shot and a marauding run by ShaunTuton set up the second, McDonald firing in from a rebound for his first goal in senior football.

Captain Wroe caught a Tamworth defender napping on the ball and tapped home after his initial shot was saved to make it 3-0 after the break.

Hughes added polish to the scoreline when his right-foot shot was deflected in for his first goal since netting in the 2-2 draw with Bromley back in August.

It meant Halifax had scored four times for the third game under Harvey.

Hughes then turned provider for James with a clever cut-back for the former Chester midfielder to blast in his second of the night.

Guiseley also progressed to the next round albeit less convincingly and after a replay, defeating Burscough 3-2 on a wet night at Nethermoor Park.

The hosts will next face Dulwich Hamlet, but they had to come from behind after Burscough took the lead, Liam Caddick producing a good finish.

Guiseley equalised when Nicky Boshell was fouled in the area and Gavin Rothery scored from the spot-kick and then went ahead when Rothery’s cross was turned into his own goal by Burscough’s Matty Devine.

Just before half-time Tom Craddock made it 3-1 as he finished calmly.

But the game was far from over with Burscough playing well at the start of the second half, with Michael Monaghan heading just wide.

The away side did get a goal back with Liam Rice hitting in a curled effort, which made for a nervy end to the game for Guiseley.

Stocksbridge Park Steels were eyeing a tie with Eastleigh but fell 4-1 at Gateshead in their rescheduled first-round tie.