Lincoln City 3 Guiseley 1

GUISELEY battled well against promotion-chasing Lincoln City for a second game on the bounce but ended with nine men as they were eventually beaten.

It was certainly an eventful last ten minutes in the National League clash at Sincil Bank on a bitingly cold New Year's Day.

After Guiseley had taken a 1-0 lead into the break, Danny Cowley's hosts had levelled – but with the game still balanced ten minutes from time, Adam Boyes was given his marching orders.

The Lions striker had picked up a yellow card in the 15th minute and received a second for 'simulation' after going down in the Lincoln area.

The home side took the lead two minutes from time in controversial circumstances following a corner. In the aftermath, Guiseley defender Danny Lowe was also shown a second yellow card and manager Adam Lockwood was sent to the stand for something he said to the match official when disputing the decision to allow the goal.

The Imps cemented the win that took them back to the summit of the table with a third goal in the last minute before the Lions had to endure six minutes of time added on two men down.

Lockwood was pleased with his players but unimpressed with the referee and said: "My frustrations, and the frustrations of my players, came about because of the decisions as we tried to keep things tight.

"I'm passionate about my club and I don't know if I'll get an explanation. I've asked for one and I'm waiting for one.

"You couldn't meet a more genuine guy than Adam Boyes and he was trying to score a goal – now he's suspended.

"Life's not fair and this week hasn't been fair and I said that after we'd won the previous game, so it's not just frustration that we've lost. I just don't know what's going on. The decisions that went against us here have flipped the game on its head.

"Fair play to Lincoln for taking the opportunity to pounce on them – they have made us pay. They are a good side who do things consistently well and that's why they're top of the league. But I'm pleased because we've competed with them in both games."

Guiseley's 2-1 victory over Lincoln on Boxing Day had cost Cowley's men top spot, so they were always going to be keen on revenge in the return fixture.

Yet it was the Lions who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, although somewhat fortuitously as Imps defender Sam Habergham sliced Jake Cassidy's cross into his own net.

The home side pulled level from the penalty spot just before the hour mark after Ashley Palmer had fouled Lincoln substitute Adam Marriott in the area, with Alan Power converting.

The corner that led to the late controversy was awarded in the 88th minute and Lockwood and his defenders were complaining about players being blocked off before Sean Raggett eventually bundled the ball over the line.

When a later Marriott shot was blocked, Nathan Arnold fired the loose ball into the net to put the gloss on the hosts' victory.