A LATE goal from Southport forward Jordan Archer helped sentence Guiseley to their third defeat in their last five, despite a debut goal from Scott McLean.

Guiseley had announced the arrival of McLean from Spennymoor Town prior to kick-off, with the forward joining on a loan deal until the end of the season.

But despite the attacker’s composed strike on the brink of half-time, the Lions were bested by a brace from Archer, who helped the Merseyside team rise into the play-offs.

Speaking to Guiseley Radio after the defeat, joint manager Marcus Bignot was left content with his side’s performance: “You mention the conditions and they were very difficult conditions, high winds, a tough surface to play on and obviously a team that are very much in form and play to their elements.

“So we got challenged mentally and physically, especially after the restart. I lost count of how many long throws and set pieces we had to deal with, they really do put you under pressure but I thought we stood up to it really, really well.

“We lost our task and obviously they tried to take advantage of that first half and to come in at 1-1 was excellent. I wanted us to kick on in the second half but it never quite materialised, we got in some really good areas in the final third but wasted it.

“Credit to them, Jordan Archer did a real good shift for them in the second half.”

Guiseley were on the back line from the start with Southport threatening Owen Mason’s goal, but the Mansfield Town loanee was alert and kept out a teasing cross before tipping a wind-caught corner from bundling into his net,

But the Lions couldn’t prevent Southport for much longer, and Archer netted his first. A teasing cross found the 28-year old, who confidently nodded past the outstretched Mason to grant Southport the lead.

The travelling Lions were eager to get back into the game through George Cantrill and Adam Haw, who both squandered chances from inside the box.

But on the brink of half-time Mclean netted his first for the club, as he retained possession on the edge of the box from a Dom Tear pass, before rifling the ball off of the post and in, gifting Guiseley a much needed confidence boost heading into half-time.

Bignot and Russ O’Neill’s side came out into the second-half facing the wind and struggled to create chances, but defenders Brad Nicholson and captain Hamza Bencherif came close but couldn’t direct their efforts on target.

And with just six minutes left on the clock, Southport cruelly stole all three points through Archer once again. The brother of Aston Villa prodigy Cameron, Archer chased a long ball and amidst a mix up at the back, he calmly lobbed the ball over Mason to snatch the victory and to continue the Port’s impressive home form.

Guiseley will look to return to winning ways next Saturday, as Darlington make the journey to Nethermoor for a 15:00 kick-off.