GUISELEY remain rooted to the foot of the National League table after Sutton United eased to a comfortable 4-0 win at Gander Green Lane.

Despite not being at their best, the home side built on a slim first-half lead to stay on the tails of leaders Macclesfield Town.

The Lions' day was summed up when Sutton's fourth went down as an own goal by keeper Luke Coddington after caretaker-boss and player Sean St Ledger had substituted himself.

St Ledger had experienced the highs and lows of management in his first four days in the job.

Having lost 3-1 to mid-table Maidenhead United the previous Saturday in his first game in charge, the former Republic of Ireland defender won his second as he helped beat promotion-chasing AFC Fylde 1-0 on Tuesday.

Neither would have prepared him for a tough away game at second-placed Sutton United but his side did hold their own in the first half.

It was a tight affair and Paul Doswell's side were glad of their 34th-minute opener.

Coddington, on loan from Northampton until the end of the season, blocked an effort only to see Tyrell Thomas tuck the rebound past him.

There had been some brief glimpses of Guiseley on the attack and Sutton keeper Jamie Butler had done well to save from John Rooney.

The home side needed just five minutes of the second period to double their advantage as Byron Harrison, on loan from former Guiseley boss Paul Cox's old club Barrow, netted a loose ball after a goalmouth scramble.

It was 3-0 soon after as Craig Eastmond slotted in from Tom Bolarinwa's lay-off.

Not long after that, St Ledger – who had been in the dugout for game one of his tenure but started the second as an emergency right back after Victor Nirennold picked up an injury in the warm-up – was replaced by former Leeds midfielder Alex Purver.

Sutton claimed their fourth goal with just a quarter of an hour remaining – and it was the most bitter of pills for the Lions to swallow. Substitute Harry Beautyman's deep, inswinging corner struck the far post, hit Coddington and rebounded into the net.

Guiseley are still propping up the rest, two points adrift of second-bottom Torquay and 11 points off the current safety line.

The club just above the drop zone is Barrow, who head to Nethermoor on Tuesday for a rearranged fixture.

Sutton, meanwhile, retain second spot and have a two-point cushion over third-placed Tranmere Rovers and another point advantage over fourth-placed Aldershot Town.