Home defeat drags Guiseley back into relegation dogfight

The Lions were not helped by the dismissal of Jake Cassidy shortly after the break for the alleged use of an elbow in a challenge with centre back Mark Ellis.

It had been an encouraging start for Adam Lockwood’s men in what was a very open but even game.

The two sides jousted in the opening quarter of the encounter with chances at either end.

Rovers threatened from an early corner but the Lions’ defence cleared the danger after a strong challenge on goalkeeper Jonny Maxted.

Just minutes later, it was the visitors’ goalkeeper Sam Russell who was in action, saving a Kevan Hurst header following a good cross by Connor Brown.

Maxted was soon back in the game when he parried a shot from Shamir Mullings before the loose ball was cleared by Brown.

Maxted smothered a shot from Drissa Traore before the Lions launched a counter-attack that led to Russell tipping a dangerous cross from Hurst over his bar.

The first goal was always going to be important and Guiseley almost nabbed it twice in quick succession.

A Will Hatfield shot from distance had Russell worried and, minutes later, a James Wesolowski cross picked Cassidy out but his effort flew over the bar.

In the blink of an eye, the Lions were a goal down as a deep cross from Charlie Cooper was headed across the area by Dan Wishart, and Christian Doidge glanced a header over Maxted.

Doidge was always going to be the danger man as he is Rovers’ leading scorer and currently the division’s second top scorer. His goal proved to be the match-winner despite a spirited effort from the Lions’ ten men.

Rovers could have doubled their lead in stoppage time when Cooper – on loan from Championship side Birmingham City – placed a shot wide with Maxted rooted to his line.

Guiseley’s next game is on Good Friday away at Braintree Town, who dropped into the relegation places at the weekend following a 2-1 home defeat to promotion-chasing Dover Athletic.