The Lions went down to a second consecutive defeat as a solitary strike from Gavin Cowan settled this subdued game at Northolme. The result sees Gainsborough leapfrog the Lions, who drop to fourth.

Simon Ainge and Danny Boshell returned to the starting line-up but it was nearly half an hour before the visitors’ first goal attempt as Simon Baldry headed wide, followed by a shot from Alex Davidson that flashed just past the post.

Ryan Williams lifted a chance way over the bar from a good position early in the second half, as the Lions continued to struggle to replicate the fluent football that has been the hallmark of their progress to date.

Even when Gavin Allott and Joe O’Neill replaced Baldry and Alex Davidson the passes continued to go astray, and the situation was compounded when Boshell limped off on the hour with a hamstring tweak to be replaced by Peter Davidson. Shortly afterwards, the home team were awarded a corner on the left which Guiseley failed to clear and as the ball ran loose home skipper Cowan put a left-foot shot beyond the reach of Steve Drench.

Even though they showed plenty of endeavour after the setback, the visitors were unable to craft a clear opening and now face a tough game at Stalybridge next Saturday in the FA Cup.

Manager Steve Kittrick said after the match: “You could see what was going to happen. They were getting deeper and deeper, we weren’t getting in behind them and at the end of the day it was always going to be one goal which would win it.”

“I wasn’t happy with the lads upfront and I’ve told them in there that they’ve got to start doing better.”

Kittrick confirmed that it was too early to tell the extent of Danny Boshell’s injury but that Danny Forrest should be available for the Stalybridge match on Saturday.

Team

1 – Drench
2 – Clarke
3 – Merris
4 – Toner
5 – Ellis
6 – Ainge
7 – Baldry (O’Neill 59)
8 – Boshell (Davidson P 62)
9 – Ellington
10 – Davidson A (Allott 59)
11 – Rothery
12 – Burns
14 – Davidson P
15 – O’Neill
16 – Allott
18 – Giles