Guisborough Town 2-0 North Shields

Match Report

Guisborough Town rounded off an exciting, high-profile week for everyone connected with the club with a hard-earned 2-0 win over North Shields at the KGV Stadium on Saturday.

Following the announcement of the appointment of Boro legend Craig Hignett as the club’s Head of Development, the stage was set for Guisborough’s senior side to put on a good performance with ‘Higgy’ himself looking on.

And the players certainly rose to the occasion in front of an excellent crowd of 360 with a goal in either half enough to clinch an impressive win which consolidated the Priorymen’s position in the Table’s Top Ten places. It also extended Guisborough’s current impressive unbeaten run to seven games.

Guisborough Manager Steve Bell was clearly delighted, commenting after the game: “It’s a strange time of year at our level really because of the wet, windy weather and the way pitches are playing throughout the North East.

“That means it’s more about fighting hard and demonstrating a real desire rather than being able to play flowing football, so I’m over the moon at the minute that we seem to have these battling qualities and keep deservedly winning games,” added Steve.

Before kick-off, Guisborough presented the ‘man of the moment’ Craig Hignett to the appreciative crowd, who warmly welcomed the former Boro favourite. (More follows later about what Craig had to say in the KGV Clubhouse after the game).

The game opened brightly at both ends with Guisborough winning a corner after only four minutes and as the ball curled across dangerously North Shields ‘keeper Callum Dobson literally flapped the ball away to safety.

Then just seconds later, Shields themselves went close to scoring when they countered upfield with a lightning breakaway but the fleet-footed Guisborough skipper Callum Martin saved the day for his side by sprinting across to the right and intercepting a dangerous ball.

In the 10th minute another good chance fell to Guisborough when some great link-up play down the left resulted in Ben Cummins getting to the Shields by-line but his cross flashed past everyone.

HITTING THE BAR

The match became a bit of a stalemate for most of the rest of the half but the Priorymen had the best of the play with big striker Jason Blackburn forcing a good save out of Dobson and defender James Frazer hitting the bar with a thumping header from a corner.

But Guisborough deservedly went ahead in the 40th minute when Joe Pickett got in a low, hard shot from just inside the Shields penalty area and when Dobson spilled the ball Matty Tymon was well placed to sweep the ball home for 1-0 to the Priorymen.

Less than a minute after the Guisborough goal Shields had a great opportunity to equalise when Telfer broke clean through but as he tried to round home ‘keeper Robert Dean the Shields man overran the ball for a goal kick to the Priorymen.

Much of the play after the interval swung back and forth like a pendulum with Shields going closest on 55 minutes when a vicious in-swinging corner was fisted on to the underside of his own bar by Guisborough ‘keeper Robert Dean.

In the 65th minute it looked like Guisborough were going to lose the lively Kurt Howes to a bad tackle by a Shields defender. But Howes is made of stern stuff and carried on bravely despite clearly still limping badly.

And Kurt’s courageous spirit paid off handsomely in the 89th minute when he scored a brilliant goal, breaking clear and cleverly drawing the Shields ‘keeper before firing home beautifully into the far corner to clinch a fully deserved 2-0 victory for his side.

‘VERY PLEASED WITH PLAYERS’ EFFORTS

After the game Guisborough boss Bell added:

I’m very pleased with the efforts the lads have been making in recent weeks and we need that to continue with two big games in a week in the next seven days.

We have Scarborough in the North Riding Senior Cup Quarter Final at the KGV on Wednesday night, 31 January. Then we have Penrith away in the league next Saturday, 3 February on their 4G pitch. But after today’s performance I’m really looking forward to both games.

Report: Bill Perfitt

Highlights