Vanarama National League: Guiseley 0 Dover Athletic 4

GUISELEY were left looking over their shoulders again after contributing to their own downfall in a big home defeat to promotion-chasing Dover Athletic in the Vanarama National League.

Adam Lockwood’s Lions have been on a good run that had lifted them clear of the relegation places but they suffered a humbling loss at Nethermoor as they lacked a spark and conceded two late penalties.

The Guiseley manager was left disappointed, saying: “We knew it would be tough, but the first thing that I said in the dressing room after the game was that the lads had been magnificent for a number of games.

"We came up short against Dover but they are a very good side.

“It’s been a tough week but that’s not an excuse. Should I have freshened things up and made changes? You have to ask questions of yourself – but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

“It was a poor performance but Dover are a tough side and a lot of teams in this league have had problems against them.

"We will look at it, analyse it but on first impression the main thing is that we’ve conceded goals that were avoidable.”

Dover broke the deadlock on the quarter-hour through Ricky Miller after he had shown good control before drilling a shot on the turn into the bottom corner.

That goal - the only one of the first half - stemmed from a free-kick.

There were chances for both sides either side of the break before the visitors doubled their lead in the 67th minute.

Miller had almost bagged his brace a minute earlier when his deft lob fooled Guiseley keeper Jonny Maxted but came back off a post.

There was no woodwork involved, however, as Ricky Modeste headed home a Moses Emmanuel cross from close range.

The Whites were cruising and a third goal was on the cards.

Maxted stalled it with a superb save to deny Miller from a from a free-kick but he was powerless as the Dover man finally claimed a double from the penalty spot after being tripped in the area.

Dover put the gloss on their victory with a fourth from a stoppage-time spot-kick.

Ross Lafayette also stood up after being fouled, and the substitute, who had replaced Emmanuel, sent Maxted the wrong way.

Guiseley dropped one place to 17th following their home reverse but, with six games remaining, they still have a six-point cushion over the clubs in the relegation places.

Lockwood added: “I think that 99 per cent of the time we’ve been right this season and I aim to keep that ratio up until the end of the season.

"One thing in football is inevitable – you will get beaten. It’s the way we lost this game that disappoints me.”