ACCRINGTON 1 GUISELEY 1

(Guiseley won 4-3 on penalties)

DON’T let anyone tell you that the FA Cup is on its last legs.

Any doubters that this proud competition has lost its shine should have been at Accrington’s Wham Stadium last night for an utterly bonkers tie that had just about everything.

Chances galore, worldy saves, a ridiculous red card, disallowed goals, a head-scratching penalty decision – and the dream finale in the shoot-out.

As the dust settled on an unforgettable occasion, Guiseley can look forward to a history-making appearance in the second round.

Boss Paul Cox had gushed about the romance of the FA Cup – and that love affair will continue with a date at his old club Mansfield.

Keeper Johnny Maxted should go down in Lions folklore after a dominant display in goal, capped by two saves in the penalty shoot-out. Then again he does like a spot-kick save!

Guiseley’s heroics after playing 76 minutes with ten men took the spotlight away from two incredible decisions from referee Charles Breakspear

A pulsating tie looked to be heading only one way when Breakspear reached for his red card to dismiss defender Chris M’Boungou.

It was a ridiculously harsh call, based on two yellows in a six-minute spell, and tipped the scales irreversibly in favour of Stanley.

But he levelled matters with an equally inexplicable penalty call that John Rooney greedily gobbled up to force extra-time.

The first tie, although goalless, had been packed with incident – but the bonkers first half last night easily topped that.

From the first minute when Aaron Chapman, Stanley’s saviour at Nethermoor, produced a stunning one-handed stop from Jean-Yves Niate, the pace never slackened.

The hosts hit straight back as Sean McConville’s deep free-kick was glanced against the post by Mark Hughes.

But Guiseley had thrown down the gauntlet and threatened twice more to break the deadlock.

Mike Fondop sent a first-team screamer soaring inches over from 20 yards. Before Chapman rescued Accrington again with a diving save to deny Jake Lawlor.

Lee Molyneux had a couple of shaves as the Lions kept coming until Accrington kicked up a gear. And suddenly it was all the other way.

McConville, a class act for Stanley, looked poised to score when he skipped past the advancing keeper Jonny Maxted. But Connor Brown got a goal-saving block on the shot as the empty net beckoned.

One floodlight went out for a few minutes but there was no dulling the madcap action as Kayden Jackson rattled the inside of the post and the rebound pinged back to the relieved Maxted.

But there was no luck involved as the Lions keeper pulled off an incredible point-blank save from a Mark Hughes header.

Billy Kee finally thought he had broken through for Accrington but saw one effort chalked off by an assistant’s flag before his header hit the underside of the bar and stayed out.

It was the third time the woodwork had saved Guiseley – the striker had even wheeled away to celebrate.

But Guiseley were dealt a hammer blow in added time when M’Boungou was sent off for back-to-back yellows. He looked to have slipped when committing the second foul.

It  took Accrington less than three minutes to take advantage as McConville’s downward header from Callum Johnson’s cross found the bottom corner.

Guiseley were expected to subside but should have levelled on the hour, Fondop blazing wildly over the bar from a couple of yards out after Chapman spilled the ball. The 219 away fans behind the goal just gaped in disbelief.

But the whole ground were shaking their heads when Breakspear handed the Lions a lifeline ten minutes from the end. Jordan Thorniley was adjudged to have pushed in the box as the ref pointed to the spot to the amazement of everyone.

Sub Rooney left no doubt with the penalty which he drilled down the middle to send that end wild.

Extra-time was all about survival for Guiseley and Maxted twice superbly thwarted McConville. That was the warm-up act for the penalties, the keeper blocking two more before Fondop finished the job.

Rooney, Andy Haworth, Connor Brown had already successfully converted as the big striker stepped up to seal a night that nobody connected with the club will ever forget.

ACCRINGTON: Chapman, Donacien, Hughes, Richards-Everton, Thorniley, McConville, Nolan, Sousa (McLeon 10min; Wilks 91min), Johnson (Brown 80min), Kee, Jackson. Subs (not used): Forbes, Edwards, Rawson, Conneely.

GUISELEY: Maxted, Brown, Niate, M’Boungou, Holden, Hurst (McFadzean 107min), Lenighan, Lawlor, Molyneux (Haworth 89min), Fondop, Odejayi (Rooney 46min). Subs (not used): Lowe, Thompson, Correia, Green.