Vanarama National League: Guiseley 0 Sutton United 2

GUISELEY suffered a third consecutive league defeat on the spin and dropped to second from bottom in the Vanarama National League after a home loss to new leaders Sutton United.

The U’s came to prominence last season with their stunning run in the Emirates FA Cup, culminating in a fifth-round home tie against Arsenal.

Sutton now top the country’s fifth division as they claimed three points at Nethermoor, while Wrexham were losing by the same scoreline at Aldershot Town.

It was fortunate for the Lions that keeper Jonny Maxted was in top form, otherwise it would have been a much heavier home reverse for Paul Cox’s men.

The visitors broke the deadlock when Craig Dundas headed Kieran Cadogan’s deep 13th-minute corner past Maxted, but Guiseley had a glorious opportunity to equalise soon after the half-hour.

The Lions were awarded a penalty for handball and, after indecision, Lee Molyneux stepped forward to spot the ball, and struck it well but U’s keeper Jamie Butler launched himself to make a good save.

Minutes later, Sutton were two goals to the good as Tom Bolarinwa nipped in to beat Maxted to a through ball from Cadogan and steered it into the open goal as the Guiseley defence looked around for who was to blame.

Cox made a double substitution at half-time, with Andy Haworth and Raul Correir replacing Molyneux and Kayode Odejayi, but they continued to struggle to impose themselves.

Maxted made saves to deny Bolarina, Dundas and Ross Lafayette, and Lions skipper and centre back Ash Palmer made some superbly-timed blocks to ease the workload of his keeper.

Butler made saves from late attempts by Mike Fondop and Haworth but had either gone in it wouldn’t have papered over the cracks.

With a big second-round FA Cup tie looming next Sunday at Sky Bet League Two Mansfield Town, the Lions boss was unimpressed with his side’s display.

Cox said: “I’ve got no complaints about the scoreline and, once again, when I first came here we talked about changing cultures and the mindset, but this performance was everything we don’t want to be.

“I think there was a lack of application – there was a strong wind blowing in that first half but we’re talking basics there. Overall we weren’t good enough from the first minute to the last.

“The FA Cup is not in my mind - whether or not it’s in the players, I don’t know. I don’t mind losing games but there’s no excuse for this performance. It’s not good enough for the football club or for me. It might have been good enough for the club in the past but not anymore.

“If there was a feeling of we are a bottom-four or five club in the past then we have to get rid of that, and the rubbish that goes with it - the quicker the better.”