Adam Lockwood’s delight at seeing his Guiseley side topple National League leaders Lincoln City was tempered by the sending off of Michael Rankine.

The striker was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 84th minute of the 2-1 win which was sealed with two goals by Will Hatfield in front of a record crowd of 2,446 at Nethermoor on Boxing Day.

Referee Andrew Miller, who sent off Lincoln’s Elliott Whitehouse four minutes later, ruled that Rankine had blocked an attempted clearance by keeper Paul Farman.

Manager Lockwood, who has been frustrated with the standard of officiating in recent games, said: “I thought it was very, very, very harsh.

“Ranks wasn’t even looking at the ball and he didn’t make any movement. From that decision now he loses a game of his livelihood. It’s his wage, that’s what really disappoints me and I don’t think people understand the magnitude of the decisions that are made.

“He now misses a game. It costs him an appearance, costs him the chance to put food on the table for his children. It really, really disappoints me when it is so easy to make those decisions. Are they the right ones, I am not too sure.”

Lockwood said that Guiseley were unlikely to appeal: “If we go down the route of appealing we won’t go very far with it. We have to choke on it and take it. You might not agree with it or be very disappointed with it, but you have to accept it.”

Lockwood will be hoping his side can repeat Monday’s performance when the clubs meet again at Sincil Bank on Sunday.

The Imps will be seeking revenge after seeing their unbeaten run of 17 matches halted by Hatfield’s last-minute match winner.

But the Lions, now two points from safety and having enjoyed a run of five games without defeat, will go into battle buoyed by what must rank as their best National League win.

Lockwood was full of praise for the performance which helped unseat Lincoln from top spot. I asked our lads to test themselves against the best in the division and they have done.

“To be honest I thought our guys were great in all aspects of the game,” said Lockwood. “All I can ask my guys is to try and go out and put together our game plan that we work hard on.

“We are doing the right things we have been working hard on since I took over and I am seeing that on a consistent basis now.

“I said it last week at Woking when I felt we were hard done by with something not dropping for us, but the performance levels were the same.

“That is where I want to get to week in week out. Some time you will have off days but now we are performing very well and very consistently. As a manager that’s what you want.

“We made it a difficult afternoon for the league leaders. For me it is about the performance no matter who we are playing, At times we can be better as well. We have played a lot better than that. Some time you get things some time you don’t.”