Jordan Thewlis dares to dream after Guiseley striker is the FA Cup hero against Sutton United

Thewlis' Guiseley had been the better side against a Sutton United team two divisions higher in the pyramid, but had yet to make it count.

When Zac Kennard-Kettle blew his whistle as Jack Tinker tumbled in the penalty area in the 86th minute, the home supporters in a 1,556 crowd roared their excitement. But it soon turned to disappointment when the referee signalled the foul came just outside the 18-yard box.

The free-kick was worked to Thewlis – like Tinker, a substitute – and ballooned into the night sky.

"I think VAR would have given a penalty,” smiled Thewlis. "We probably got... not robbed a little bit, but it was touch and go, wasn't it? You think everything's going against you.

"I think we got booked quite quickly where they might have not. I think the league team does get favoured slightly on occasions."

Thewlis had been denied his moment before. He equalised for Conference North Boston United in a 2019 round two replay against Rochdale, only to miss a huge day out.

"They were in League One," he recalls. "We drew away and then we played them on a Monday at home and lost to a late penalty, 2-1. The draw had been made so we knew we were going, it was Newcastle away.

"That was a bit of a killer, the closest I've come to a third round."

Now he has another chance.

Because four minutes into a minimum of five added to a game already running 21 late because of a medical emergency, Thewlis picked the ball up on the left and bundled his way so close to goal that once the whistle went again, there was no doubt.

"Fair play to the ref for giving the pen because it would have been an easy one to wave away," said Thewlis of Jake Taylor's challenge.

"It was a bit like when we were schoolboys," said the 34-year-old’s manager, PE teacher Ian Richards. "He's won it, he takes it. Cam Wilson's our penalty-taker but Jordan's good from the penalty spot. I was very calm because it was him.

"He's played League Two, National League, National League North. He's made a career on scoring and coming inside like that, weaving through to get a shot off or a penalty."

According to Thewlis: "I just tried to keep my head as clear as possible. The free-kick a few minutes before that, I've sent nine miles in the air. (I was thinking) just don't do that.

"I was confident I'd score. I was confident he'd go the wrong way."

Spike Brits did.

Northern Premier League Premier Division Guiesley’s 1-0 win over fifth-tier Sutton was fully deserved.

"Chances created, shots on target, we were the better team, possession probably evenish, although they might have edged it,” said Thewlis.

Sutton began stronger but their only shot on target was Omar Mussa’s from about 30 yards in the 92nd minute. It was right at Jack Hall.

As the Lions got on top, Elliot Owen missed a good header from a corner and left-back Ollie Brown put an excellent chance laid on by Jack Emmett beyond the far post.

“Usually if you don't take them you can get punished," reflected Thewlis. "But the chances kept coming."

And Richards made good use of a 36-minute half-time.

"I said don't let this affect you," he recalled. "You've got the momentum, try and get that momentum again.

"I talked about how the No 9 (Temi Babalola) would come on to be a bit more direct, which he did. And we picked up where we left off.

"Even though they moved the ball quicker, we looked more threatening. There were a couple of last-ditch tackles by them in the area and a lot of opportunities to score."

The game restarted as more of an arm wrestle. Usually, the last 20 minutes between full-time and part-timers favour the pros. Not here.

"If you get dominated from minute one to 70, 80, you're tired, but we weren't ," argued Thewlis, a property renovator by day.

"We pride ourselves on how hard we work the players in terms of pre-season and we make the training more about quality and high intensity than quantity," said Richards. "And we utilise the squad. I felt a bit of that, a bit of home advantage and a bit of adrenaline got us through."

"There's not many in our league that could put nine on the bench, never mind the quality that we've got," said Thewlis proudly.

Winger Amir Berchil grew in influence as legs tied and in Harrison Hopper had a midfielder to pick him out. He did well to go past Besart Topallaj in the 80th minute, but when the ball came to Kallan Murphy, he slipped. Sent clear in the first added minute, Berchil shot at Brits.

But Thewlis was not going to be denied again.

"I'd rather a winnable one – another National League team," was his answer to the obligatory question of who he would like in Monday's draw. "And at home, it gives us a chance, doesn't it? You start looking at the third round now.

"I'd rather get to that third round. I've never got to the third round."

Neither have Guiseley, beaten twice in the second.

Now the Lions can dare to dream.

Guiseley: Hall; Odunston, Owen, Mbeka, Brown (Thewlis 78); Hopper, Staniland; Wilson (White 78), Emmett (Tinker 57), Berchil (Iggulden 90+6); Murphy.

Unused substitutes: Roxburgh, Lund, Longbottom, Wadsworth, Sinfield.

Sutton United: Brits; Urpens (Nightingale HT), Kirk, Topalloj, Brookes; Osadebe (Mussa 78), Taylor; Folarin, Knight (Babalola 65), Francis (Ogbonna 65); Carter.

Unused substitutes: Bell, Haigh, Moore-Taylor, Njoku, Amartey.

Referee: Z Kennard-Kettle.

TALKING POINTS

​Day-night game: The time of year and 36-minute half-time break for a medical incident turned the match into a cricket-style day-nighter with the two halves played in contrasting conditions. But whatever light you looked at it, in, Guiseley were the better team.

Star performers: Ollie Brown missed a golden chance, but was otherwise excellent at left-back and in midfield, Harrison Hopper's passing was tremendous, Amir Berchil's wing-play got better as the gam went on and Jordan Thewlis won it from the bench, but all 15 Guiseley players who took to the field were lions.

Draw: The second round draw is on Monday at 6.45pm on TNT Sports and You Tube.