Vanarama National League: Guiseley 0 Cheltenham Town 2

GARY Johnson’s Robins maintained their title bid with a 2-0 win at Nethermoor but they had to net two late strikes to beat the defiant Lions.

Cheltenham could be playing their football in Sky Bet League Two next season and are a step closer following a result that left Guiseley looking over their shoulders at the relegation places.

Both of the visitors’ goals came in the last ten minutes, and that left Guiseley manager Mark Bower deflated.

He said: “It was a tough, tough last ten minutes and I think that was harsh on our players.

“They’re a free-scoring side but we restricted them to nothing much in front of goal and then they take the lead from a free-kick that I thought was a poor decision.

"I think their player conned the ref a bit there and then they’re in front.

“It hasn’t done too much damage because none of the clubs around us won, so we still have that two-point cushion over the teams in the relegation places, but we can’t keep relying on that – we have to start picking up points again and we go again tomorrow.”

Cheltenham skipper Kyle Storer took the free-kick that was awarded near the touchline, and his delivery to the far post was powerfully headed past Steve Drench by Rob Dickie.

The Robins’ Harry Pell got a yellow card minutes later for wrestling Will Hatfield to the floor just inside the Cheltenham half, breaking up a Guiseley attack.

The killer goal came in the penultimate minute when Dan Holman, who had been causing the Lions’ defence problems all afternoon, guided a low cross past Drench from close range.

There was an explosive end to the game after an off-the-ball incident in stoppage time involving Pell.

There was a melee, and when the referee had restored calm he consulted both of his assistants before giving Guiseley skipper Ben Parker and Oliver Norburn yellow cards.

The two Guiseley men were booked for their reaction, while Pell was red carded for his part in the melee.