Bishop Auckland 2-2 Guisborough Town

Match Report

Guisborough Town came close to beating league leaders Bishop Auckland in their first encounter of the New Year at Bishop’s Heritage Park.

Two strikes from Guisborough’s Matty Tymon were cancelled out by late goals from Bishops’ centre half Danny Lay and substitute Aaron Brown to salvage a draw for the home side.

Before kick-off, the starting line-up for Bishops revealed it was packed with previous Guisborough players, with no fewer than six of their team former Priorymen. In addition, Bishops’ manager Chris Hardy had previously enjoyed a fantastic decade with Guisborough.

The game started in scrappy fashion, with both teams cancelling each other out. The first chances of the half came to Bishops, but Guisborough ‘keeper Robert Dean dealt with them comfortably.

In the early stages of the game, the visitors played better football but Bishops created the clearer chances.

However, Guisborough’s resilience and hard work in pressing their opponents was rewarded 10 minutes before the break as home ‘keeper Catterick was dispossessed trying to dribble past Town striker Matty Tymon. Town’s recent signing danced past Catterick’s desperate challenge to slot the ball home and give Guisborough a deserved 1-0 lead.

Bishops threatened from set pieces, but Guisborough controlled the pattern of play. Midfielder Joe Pickett, playing in an advanced role, tirelessly pressed the home side and the visiting midfield were nearly always first to the ball.

Then 16 minutes into the second half, Guisborough extended their lead, as Tymon latched onto a long ball, shrugged off two defenders and slotted the ball past Catterick in the Bishops goal.

But the home team responded quickly. Dean had to be at full stretch to keep out a looping Bartliff shot. From the resulting corner, Bishops centre back Danny Lay rifled a shot into the top right corner, giving Dean no chance and providing Bishops with a crucial foothold in the game, with 25 minutes left.

Bishop Auckland’s pressure continued and former Town striker Louis Johnson cut in from the left and fired a deflected shot narrowly past the post. Town had nullified Johnson for much of the game, but this effort highlighted his threat.

Minutes later– right at the end of normal time – the home side were awarded a free kick. With Guisborough expecting a cross, Bishops played it cleverly out to Johnson. He floated the ball onto the head of substitute Aaron Brown, who nodded the ball into the bottom corner. The home side had snatched an important point, much to the frustration of everyone in red and white.

On the balance of play, a 2-2 draw was probably a fair result, as the home side pushed for victory and the visitors went toe to toe with the league leaders.

Guisborough fans could feel proud of their team who came so close to inflicting a first home league defeat of the season for Bishops. Guisborough are now unbeaten in five league matches, and on their day look a match for any team in the league.

The attendance at Bishop Auckland was 368.

After the game Guisborough Manager Steve Bell commented:

The lads are gutted we haven’t won the game today.

We had a different game plan today than normal.  We set out to stop their threats first then go on to put pressure on them and the tactics worked really well.

We went 2-0 up midway into second half but Bishops are a very good team though and they came after us after that.

But getting to the 91st minute 2-1 up, only to concede a late goal yet again was absolutely gutting for the lads. I think Bishops will win our league but I bet they’re over the moon with a point today.

Guisborough Town’s next match is on Saturday. 13 January in the League against West Allotment Celtic at the KGV (KO 3pm).

Report: James Cowan
Photos: Dan Clark