Guiseley’s trip to relegation-threatened Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire coincided with the Lions’ heaviest defeat of the season, and to compound their misery, leading scorer Gavin Rothery was dismissed late on for a perceived elbow in an aerial challenge.

Returning  fans’ favourite James Walshaw was in the starting line up but it was Bishop’s who were out of the blocks first, with goals from Reece Prestedge on 10 minutes and on-loan Arron Wickham after 19 minutes giving the home side a 2-0 half-time lead. The Lions did pull one back on 72  minutes through Lee Ellington but late strikes from Dwight Gayle and Junior Dadson, plus the dismissal of Rothery in between times, ensured a long journey home for the Yorkshiremen.

There was, however, some good news as title favourites Hyde went down 2-0 at Gainsborough and second-placed Stalybridge suffered a 1-3 home reverse to Droylsden and as a result the Lions retain third place in the table as 10-man Nuneaton could only snatch a 1-1 draw with a late goal at Workington which leaves them in fourth place.

Team:  Drench, Clarke, Merris, Ainge, Ellis, Baldry (Boshell 70), Toner, Holdsworth, Rothery, Senior (Ellington 46) , Walshaw. Unused Subs – Giles, Bower, O’Neill. Goal – Ellington, 72

Star man – Danny Ellis

Att – 392