Guisborough Town 3-4 Birtley Town

Match Report

Guisborough Town’s big striker Jason Blackburn looked like he’d come up with the perfect angle for this match report when he scored on his comeback game after more than a year out following a horrific broken ankle injury.

His successful 79th minute spot kick had pulled the Priorymen level at 3-3 in a topsy-turvy, see-saw game – but alas his goal wasn’t enough to ensure a fairy-tale return as just three minutes later Birtley scored a decisive winner to end up 4-3 victors.

After the game a frustrated and bitterly disappointed Guisborough Manager Steve Bell commented: “I’m not going to lie…this one really hurt today.

“We seem to be like the Tottenham Hotspur of non-league at the moment, dominating most games but still ending up on the losing side.

“Today’s game was crazy. It’s no exaggeration to say if we’d walked in at half-time 5-0 up it wouldn’t have flattered us.

“Sadly, instead we conceded a 44th minute goal to go in just one goal up instead of being 2-0 ahead.

“Now look, the weather, the wind and definitely the referee all cranked up a notch in the second half but all three issues together aren’t the reason we ultimately lost the game,” said Steve.

He continued: “Ultimately I’m the manager of Guisborough Town and responsible for the results and we are all in this together. But there are also some occasions when the players just need to sort out a few problems themselves.

“I said to my Assistant Manager Paul Crager that we definitely have the squad to kick on and win seven or eight wins on the bounce…but that needs to start happening soon,” added Steve.

That the game itself was just one of the handful of Northern League games on was a great testament to the superb efforts of Guisborough Town’s volunteer ground staff team.

EXCELLENT CHANCES

As Steve Bell said, despite racing to a 2-0 lead in less than half an hour of the first half, Guisborough should have scored at least double that amount had they converted more of the excellent chances they created into actual goals.

The Priorymen got off to a perfect start by taking the lead after only five minutes when team Captain Jordan Fielding scored with a smart near-post glancing header.

Then they doubled their lead on 28 minutes when defender James Frazer showed what a great utility player he is by getting up front and scoring at the near post with another smart header.

LOOKING FORWARD

Then just as Guisborough were looking forward to going in at half-time with a comfortable lead Birtley pulled a goal back when centre forward Stephen Hall rose unchallenged in the Guisborough penalty area to power home a header for 2-1.

In the second half, Birtley pressed hard for an equaliser and Guisborough were indebted to goalkeeper Robert Dean who pulled off three really terrific saves to keep Birtley at bay.

But alas, they drew level in the 72nd minute when Birtley were awarded a penalty after a Guisborough defender was adjudged to be holding on unfairly and up stepped Birtley centre half Alex Francis to power home the spot kick, sending Dean the wrong way for 2-2.

And Birtley took the lead for the first time in the game just four minutes later when Matty Ward surged through the Guisborough defence virtually unchallenged to put his side 3-2 ahead.

The game was flowing from end to end with both sets of players giving it their all and in the 79th minute Guisborough were awarded a penalty when midfielder Joe Pickett was bundled over in the box.

This was Jason Blackburn’s big chance to mark his return after injury with a goal and he smashed the ball confidently home into the corner, sending the Birtley ‘keeper the wrong way.

After the game Jason said it was a special moment for him to score after being out of the game for so long – “It was a great feeling,” he said. But he added: “It was very disappointing to lose after all the effort the lads put in.”

However, no sooner had Guisborough drawn level through Blackburn’s penalty than Birtley regained the lead when substitute Glen Hargrave burst up front and scored to clinch a memorable 4-3 victory for his side, much to the dismay of the Guisborough fans.

DISTINGUISHED SPECTATORS!

The attendance was 149 and sitting in the stand watching were two former well-known local professional footballers, ex-Boro and Chelsea midfielder Tony McAndrew and former Hartlepool and Darlington player and Assistant Manager to both clubs, Eddie Kyle.

Both were very impressed with the standard of play and the high level of commitment showed by both teams.

Sitting between Tony and Eddie was the multi award-winning journalist and former Northern League Chairman Mike Amos, who was delighted to get to a game at all thanks to Guisborough’s heroic efforts with the pitch.

Mike is the creator of the football and sports blog, ‘Grass Routes,” which must rank as one of the best if not THE best blog of its kind in the country. If you haven’t read it yet – then be sure to check it out!

Report: Bill Perfitt