Vanarama National League: Guiseley 0 Dover Athletic 1

AN early goal consigned Guiseley to another home league defeat and they ended with ten men in their fourth clash of the season with Dover Athletic.

The Whites stay fourth in the table and well inside the play-off places, and they have Stefan Payne’s sixth minute strike to thank for the points they took from Nethermoor.

The Lions defence failed to clear a corner and Payne picked up the ball just outside the area and hammered a low shot past home keeper Dan Atkinson into the bottom corner.

Atkinson had already made a very fine save as the game began at whirlwind pace, and his opposite number Mitch Walker was also busy as he made saves from a Will Hatfield volley, a James Hurst effort and Adam Boyes, who was sent through by Hurst.

It was the lively Hurst who was sent for an early bath when he picked up a yellow card deep in the second half, having been booked in the first half for what looked a nothing challenge.

Lions substitute Oli Johnson went close and Walker was equal to another good effort from Hatfield as, even with ten men, the home side forced openings.

Guiseley boss Mark Bower said: "I’m obviously disappointed to lose as I thought we matched them – they got that goal in the first ten minutes but after that it was quite even.

“We created some chances and hit a post again in the second half. We did well even with ten men and we had the ball bouncing around in their area.

"It just won’t go for us at the moment but they are a very good, strong side and I think we’ve seen that in the other games against them this season.

“Then the red card, and once that happens it makes it even more difficult, but, as I’ve said, even then we had opportunities.

"I thought it was evenly matched but the reason why they are up there flying and we are where we are is a lack of goals.

“We’re just not getting enough and we have to look at ourselves on that. I can’t fault the effort of the lads but the brutal facts are that we are not putting chances away.”