The Lions went down to their first defeat of the season to a lively Droylsden side who secured the points in the second half through a Jamie Clarke own goal and a decisive strike from Danny Rowe.

The home side had the ball in the net after just five minutes but Hardiker’s header was disallowed for an infringement. In an even first half Danny Forrest went close with a delightful curling shot but it was just the wrong side of the upright and Danny Boshell brought a fine save from Phillips with a low drive that the keeper pushed away at full stretch.

Forrest nearly squeezed a header in at the far post just before half time but Phillips managed to hang on to the ball.

Droylsden, playing the ball down the flanks whenever they had the opportunity, were stretching the Guiseley back line and were giving Steve Drench far more work to do than he had on Saturday against Hinckley.

Joe O’Neill pulled away from his marker at the start of the second period but his ball across the six yard box went begging but the home side were beginning to assert themselves and when Killeen got free down the right channel the opener looked a certainty but to the Lions’ relief he pulled his shot wide.

Manger Steve Kittrick sent on Gavin Allott and Michael Burns in place of Lee Ellington and Danny Forrest to offer some different options and for a while the visitors regained their first half momentum. Allott forced his way through but instead of going for goal himself he slipped the ball to O’Neill and the chance was lost.

Shortly afterwards Brown beat the offside trap and as Clarke slid in from behind he diverted the ball past Drench for the opener on 71 minutes. Six minutes later Logan skipped over three challenges before slipping the ball to Rowe who fired into the corner to wrap up the three points.

Even then there was time for Drench to pull of a superb one-handed reactive stop to deny Droylsden a third after the Lions had failed to get to grips with the home side in the second half and allowed them far too much time on the ball, for which they paid the consequences.

Still, with 40 games left the team have more than enough time to put tonight behind them!