ON their first visit to York's new LNER Stadium Guiseley were up against it after having midfielder Prince Ekpolo sent off after just eight minutes. From then on it was an uphill battle for a Guiseley side giving a debut to striker James Gale, on loan from Mansfield Town.

Guiseley's ten men battled hard to produce a first-half performance that frustrated their hosts, that was until they were undone just before the break when York were awarded a dubious free-kick which was partially cleared to Jack McKay on the edge of the box. Although his shot looked to be heading wide Lenell John-Lewis intervened to bring another terrific stop from Owen Mason only for Paddy McLaughlin to fire the loose ball into the net.

Gale partnered fellow loanee David Bremang up front in an unfamiliar Guiseley line-up with skipper Hamza Bencherif again on the bench. After Ekpolo's dismissal things became difficult for Guiseley with Bremang playing the role of lone striker.

John-Lewis brought a diving save from Mason and Ollie Brown did well to stop McKay from getting in a cross from the byeline. At the other end Guiseley won a free-kick but Dom Tear's cross left much to be desired and the chance was wasted.

City’s new striker John-Lewis was taking up some good positions but put two headers well wide of the target as York struggled to breach the Lions' defence. Breach it they did though with McLaughlin's poke home to lead at the break.

Guiseley started the second-half on the front foot and forced three successive corners, none of which came to anything. Olly Dyson went close for the Minstermen and they put the game to bed on the hour when, in attempting to play the out of defence, the ball was presented to McKay who set up Mitch Hancox to net with a low shot beyond Mason. The same player then found himself in a similar position two minutes later and he put the result beyond any doubt with City’s third.

Guiseley: Owen Mason; George Cantrill, Jason Sraha, Prince Ekpolo, Andy Hollins (Bencherif 68), Lebrun Mbeka, Ollie Brown, Dom Tear, David Bremang (Hutchinson 72), James Gale (Haw 85), Thierry Latty-Fairweather. Subs not used: Lewis Hey, 5. Hamza Bencherif, Brad Nicholson.

On Saturday Guiseley travel to Kettering Town for a 3pm kick-off. This is followed by a re-arranged home game against Brackley Town on Tuesday, March 8th, kick-off 7-45pm.