Match Report

‘Magnificent Seven’ straight home wins for rampant Priorymen as they climb up the league

Guisborough Town 2, West Auckland Town 1

(Northern League – Division One)

Guisborough Town’s magnificent home form which has seen them turn the Kevin Edward KGV Stadium into a fortress continued on Saturday when they clocked up their seventh league win on the trot with a 2-1 win over West Auckland Town.

It was the Priorymen’s second 2-1 home win in succession which inched them to within one point of league leaders Whitley Bay, who Guisborough had defeated three days earlier by that same 2-1 scoreline.

The winning goal against West Auckland was scored in the 83rd minute by Guisborough’s highly promising youngster Jack Spears who glanced a brilliant far post cross by another substitute Elliott Beddow just inside the past to seal all three priceless points for the Priorymen.

Twenty minutes earlier West had pulled level when Adam Mitchell was allowed to advance unchecked on the Guisborough goal and his shot from just outside the penalty crept home just inside the right hand post for 1-1.

Earlier, Guisborough had taken a 33rd minute lead when Josh MacDonald lifted a high free kick towards the far left hand post where big defender James Frazer leapt high to head home for 1-0 to the Priorymen.

The result and performance delighted Guisborough Manager Nathan Haslam – as well as another good KGV crowd of 283 who braved the atrocious incessant heavy rain.

After the game Nathan commented:  “Yes, delighted with another win at home – that’s seven out of seven now.  I thought we dominated the game overall and created lots of chances. I was slightly disappointed it was only 1-0 to us at half time given all the scoring opportunities we’d created.

“West came back into it after the break and levelled things with a great equaliser.  But we showed good character to come back as the game ended up being a bit like a game of basketball flowing end to end.

“But we showed some class to see it through – you’re not going to have it all your own way against a good team like West Auckland who are probably going to be there or thereabouts by the end of the season.

“You can’t fault either team for the display they put on in atrocious conditions like today.  It can be energy sapping but credit to both teams for putting on a decent show today,” said Nathan.

He said it was a relief that the two games a week schedule had come to an end to give the players some proper recovery time between games.

He said Guisborough full back Dylan McAvoy was a case in point – he started the game against West despite picking up an injury in midweek against Whitley Bay but had to be substituted in the first half.

“Dylan’s like the proverbial tin man with his resilience – he’s been outstanding for us all season but today’s game was a step too far for him so we brought him off as a precaution.

“Hopefully now as we enter a period of one game per week the lads can cope with the demands of the game.  It’s easy to forget that they have jobs outside of football as well as playing up to two games a week which can take its toll,” added Nathan.

As Nathan indicated, Guisborough have no midweek game next week but look forward to another home fixture next Saturday, 27 September against Newcastle Benfield (KO 3pm).

Report by Bill Perfitt.