GUISELEY slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Chester and remain firmly at the bottom of the table.

They now have ten games left in which to save their National League North status with just one team relegated from the division this season.

It was another poor performance by Guiseley, their eighth successive game without a win and their all round performance needs to see a big improvement if they are to have any hope of hauling themselves to safety.

In a season hit by injury they have struggled to find any consistency and with two further signings prior to this game it takes the tally of players so far to 46, including 13 current academy players.

This game saw new loan signing Scott Moloney, a goalkeeper with Barrow, take a place on the bench with midfielder Ethan Cartwright, on a dual registration, staying with Irlam until they complete their season.

Unavailable for selection due to injury were Andy Kellett, Scott McLean, Jamie Spencer, Jason Sraha, Bailey Thompson, Shaun Tuton, Lewis Hey and Hagie Damba.

Josh Stones was away playing for the English Schools FA against Northern Ireland in Belfast where he scored the winning goal, his sixth in five games for his country.

Against Chester, Guiseley were second to nearly every ball and tackle and their first-half performance was lacklustre to say the least.

All too often the midfield went AWOL with the exception of Prince Ekpolo.

Too often balls were hoofed out of defence, either into touch or or up to Kaine Felix and James Gale in the hope that one of them would get a break, which was never going to happen against Chester's well-marshalled defence.

Chester made the breakthrough on 16 minutes when Declan Weeks took a pass from Matt Sargent and smashed the ball home from 20 yards out.

The Lions almost went further behind shortly after but Owen Mason used his feet to good effect to deny Matty Waters as the visitors pressed for a second in a scrappy affair.

The second half saw marginal improvement from the Lions and they eventually managed their first effort on goal on 51 minutes but Gale’s shot across goal was just wide of the far post.

Felix then produced a cross which was just begging to be converted but no-one was on hand to capitalise and despite a period of pressure the Chester defence held firm.

It was only when substitutes Adam Haw, Ollie Brown and Andy Hollins came on in the latter stages that the home side looked as though they might rescue something.

In desperation captain Hamza Bencherif was pushed up front as a last throw of the dice.

Chester however were not finished and with two minutes left on the clock Darren Stephenson took a ball down the right channel, cut in and gave Mason no chance with a fine shot.

Guiseley: Owen Mason; George Cantrill, Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Prince Ekpolo, Hamza Bencherif, Lebrun Mbeka, Kaine Felix, Regan Hutchinson, James Gale (Andy Hollins 81) , John Johnston (Ollie Brown 70), Dom Tear (Adam Haw 70). Subs not used: Scott Moloney.

Guiseley need to find some form and a siege mentality ready for their visit to fifth-placed Chorley on Saturday.

Victory Park was the scene of one of the Guiseley club's greatest achievements back in 2014-15 when they won promotion to the Conference National, later re-named the National League.