Play-off chasing Chester condemned Guiseley to their first defeat in five games at Nethermoor this afternoon as James Jones early headed goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Jones’ goal came after just eleven minutes when he headed home at the far post from a corner from the right and for the rest of the half both he and Simon Grand snuffed out most of the challenges that a leggy looking Lions perhaps playing one game too many could conjure up.

Indeed, apart from dealing with several corners Chester keeper Russ Griffiths also had very little to deal with before the break as the home side struggled to gain any momentum.

The first of three substitutions on the restart – Scott Smith replacing George Cantrill – added some much-needed impetus to the Lions attack and the introduction of Lee Shaw and Nathan Newall for Gabriel Johnson and Kaine Felix respectively later on saw the Lions have their best spell of the game.

During this Smith went within a whisker of an equaliser but his powerful shot flashed the wrong side of the upright with Griffiths beaten and Newall’s shot was one of several blocked in a frantic closing ten minutes that saw the visitors clinch the victory and the three points.

Attendance: 1029

Team:

1. Marcus Dewhurst
2. Reiss McNally
3. Brad Nicholson
4. Andrai Jones
5. Hamza Bencherif
6. Kennedy Digie
7. Kaine Felix (Nathan Newall 90)
8. George Cantrill (Scott Smith 46)
9. Chris Sang
10. Aram Soleman
11. Gabriel Johnson (Lee Shaw 69)

Subs:

12. Scott Smith
    14. Dylan Barkers
    15. Lee Shaw
    16. Paul Clayton
    17. Nathan Newall