Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Guiseley 2

GUISELEY climbed further away from the National League relegation zone with a superb win over ten-man Dagenham & Redbridge.

The Daggers are chasing promotion to the Football League and could have gone level with leaders Lincoln City with a home win at Victoria Road.

The Imps were busy pulling off yet another giant-killing, winning 1-0 at Premier League outfit Burnley to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The Lions’ achievement of beating second-placed Dagenham wasn’t quite as spectacular but just as unexpected.

Adam Lockwood’s men had already hauled themselves out of the bottom four following their midweek win over Sutton United, another side headlining for their FA Cup heroics.

Guiseley made the long journey south knowing that they were taking on one of the best clubs in their division and having won away only once in the current campaign.

That statistic looked likely to change when the Daggers had Corey Whitely sent off in the 12th minute.

He was dismissed following a clash with Lions’ defender Connor Brown just a minute after Guiseley had taken the lead – Jordan Preston curling a shot past home keeper Elliot Justham after a solo run had taken him past two defenders.

Preston made it a match-winning brace seven minutes into the second half as he cut inside following another surging run to fire past Justham for a second time.

The Daggers should have gone into the break on level terms after Lions defender Danny Lowe handled a ball in the area but visitors’ keeper Jonny Maxted saved Oliver Hawkins’ penalty.

Hawkins somewhat atoned for that miss when he pulled a goal back for the ten men, but it was little more than a consolation as it came in stoppage-time.

Lockwood was delighted and had special praise for match-winner Preston.

The Lions boss said: “Any three points is good in this league and Dagenham & Redbridge are a good side who are where they are through merit.

“But we prepared well and I thought, at times, we were outstanding. I bang on about it being a squad game but I know it’s hard for the lads not playing and we like to give people chances.

“That’s why I think Jordan deserves a special mention. He’s got bags of ability but he’s got loads to learn in the game and he knows what I mean by that. He got the two goals and, for me, he could have had more.

“He’s proved what he adds to the squad and I thought a few decisions went against him.”