Guiseley 2, Hyde 0 Guiseley consolidated their third place in the table by inflicting a first league defeat of the season on Hyde at Nethermoor.

The Lions had chances in the first half, with Ciaran Toner, new signing Kevin Gall and Gavin Rothery all causing problems.

Toner’s ninth-minute shot was just over and Rothery’s effort was saved as the visitors’ keeper stuck out a leg at the last minute.

But they broke the deadlock just before the interval when Lee Ellington converted a Jamie Clarke cross with a well-placed header.

The start of the second half was delayed by ten minutes because the referee was taken ill during the interval and had to be replaced.

Once the game was back under way, Gall soon had a chance when he latched on to a poor back pass but the Hyde keeper was alert and raced out to narrow the angle. Gall’s shot from an angle zipped just wide of the post.

Rothery had an effort saved before Gall missed a gilt-edged opportunity just before the hour.

He made way later for Gavin Allott and the substitute gave the Hyde defenders just as much trouble. He was close with a header to a Dave Merris cross soon after joining the fray before making the game safe with Guiseley’s second, firing in a left-foot shot three minutes from time.

Guiseley spokesman Stuart Allen said: “We had plenty of chances in the second half and deserved the victory because we played well and it could have been by more.

“But we will settle for a 2-0 win over a team who hadn’t lost so far.

“We wish the referee all the best because we were told he had a pre-existing kidney complaint that had flared up again.

“A nurse came in to see him at half-time but he wasn’t well enough to continue, so we all hope he makes a quick recovery.”

The loss cost the visiting Cheshire outfit the leadership because Stalybridge Celtic humbled Lee Sinn-ott’s Altrincham to snatch their opportunity and rep-lace Hyde at the top.

Hyde’s neighbours Celtic strolled to a 5-1 home win over Sinnott’s latest club.