AFC Telford United 4, Guiseley 2

There was an eventful return to action for Guiseley centre back Danny Ellis as he came on from the bench in the first half, almost scored and was then sent off midway through the second half.

Title-chasing Telford took an early lead when Mike Grogan tucked the ball in from Tony Gray’s flick on, before Ellis was brought on to replace the injured Danny Hull.

Just after the half-hour mark, following a corner, Ellis saw his goalbound header cleared. But the visitors did draw level on the stroke of half-time when Ollie Johnson forced a corner and recent signing Adam Boyes opened his Lions account.

Ellis was on the end of a Rhys Meynell free-kick early in the second half but the home keeper saved his attempt.

The Guiseley defender picked up a yellow card just after the hour mark but the Lions took the lead soon after when Gavin Rothery netted a penalty following a foul in the area.

Ellis then picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Mike Phenix, so Guiseley were down to ten men for over 20 minutes. They battled to keep their lead intact but the home side rattled in three late goals.

Phenix headed Telford level minutes after Ellis’ departure, home debutant Shaun Whalley put them in the lead and skipper Simon Grand added their fourth in the last minute.

Lions boss Mark Bower was unhappy with events and said: “At the start we were rubbish – really poor; as bad as we have been.

“We made a change and switched to a different system. From then we finished the first half strongly and got our goal before half-time.

“The penalty was a blatant one and we took the lead. I think the referee decided that because of the penalty he had to give every decision to them from then on.

“Danny was particularly unlucky because he made two fouls in the entire game, got bookings for both and then we were down to ten men.

“It is a disappointing defeat to take because the lads did really well.”