IF the avowed intention of the management team was for Guiseley to win Tuesday's West Riding County Cup final then the message was clearly lost in translation given the lacklustre display from a strong Lions team who lost 2-1 to Ossett United, who play two divisions below them.

Ossett were good value for their win as goals from Tom Greaves and Aidan Chippendale put the home side in control.

Despite a late consolation from Will Thornton, the home side never looked like relinquishing their advantage.

The visitors had their first opportunity after just five minutes but Andy Halls free-kick went straight into the wall.

Halls then played a precise ball through to the returning Lewis Archer, but the striker was just off-side.

Having absorbed a couple of early attacks, United then took the game by the scruff of the neck and were only denied from taking the lead by two good stops in quick succession by keeper Jon Worsnop on the quarter hour.

The Lions then suffered a blow when Archer looked to have a recurrence of the same injury from a couple of weeks ago, as as he limped off to be replaced by Curtis Morrison on 20 minutes.

Ex-Farsley striker Adam Priestley tested Worsnop from range before Josh Langley lost the ball in the corner and when it fell to ex-Lions striker Tom Greaves he fired past Worsnop for the opener on 31 minutes, much to the delight of the large home contingent in the crowd of 1,100.

The visitors' reply came through Jack Dyche who hit a free-kick way over the bar from 20 yards out.

Ossett nearly doubled their lead just before the break as Priestley took advantage of a miskick to fire inches wide of Worsnop’s left-hand post.

Guiseley opened strongly on the restart, as Halls ball found Fowler but his header was wide of the mark and the Burnley man then put another effort over the bar.

Despite these two efforts, the game was effectively over on the hour as some horrendous defending let in Chippendale, who walked the ball into the net to double United’s advantage.

In an effort to freshen things up, Kayode Odejayi replaced Fowler and there was a brief glimmer of hope as a Dyche effort went close and Langley should have done better than put his shot over the bar and into the car park after a corner was cleared to him on the edge of the area.

Thornton did eventually pull a goal back, as he headed home Morrison cross with five minutes remaining, but despite five minutes of added time the home side restored their grip on the game and saw the remaining minutes out to ensure some silverware in their inaugural season following the merger of Town and Albion in June 2018.

In complete contrast, Guiseley now turn their attention to the crucial relegation six pointer at home to Ashton United on Saturday where an improvement on tonight’s dismal performance is a must.

Guiseley: Worsnop, Halls, Heaton, Digie (Purver 82), Langley, Thornton, Felix, Barkers, Fowler (Odejayi 65), Archer (Morrison 20), Dyche. Subs: Garner, Purver, Odejayi, Morrison, Dewhurst.