Whickham 0-1 Guisborough Town

Match Report

A second-half wonder strike from Guisborough winger Kurtis Howes clinched a deserved three points on Tyneside to extend Town’s unbeaten run to 10 games on Saturday.

In challenging conditions, Town were the better side and demonstrated characteristic resilience to keep the home side at bay and secure another clean sheet. Guisborough have conceded just two league goals in 2024 – both in one game against runaway league leaders Bishop Auckland – and Town’s super stopper Robert Dean has not conceded a goal in more than three hundred and sixty minutes of league football.

Both teams entered the game on the back of famous midweek penalty shootout victories. The Priorymen’s fantastic win against Scarborough in the North Riding Senior Cup was mirrored by Whickham’s home shootout win against Newton Aycliffe.

In the early stages of today’s game, the midweek exertions appeared to have taken their toll, with neither side gaining an obvious foothold on the game. Whickham were well organised, despite the physical threat posed by the Town pairing of Matty Tymon and Jason Blackburn. At the other end, the lively Scott Robson was a threat, but was well marshalled by the visiting defence.

As the half wore on, Guisborough began to get on top. They twice went close when an early stooping header from Tymon forced a neat save and five minutes before the interval the same player connected well with a volley, but it was straight at home keeper Bussey.

An increasingly tetchy encounter threatened more than once to bubble over, and half-time arrived with neither side able to claim they had enjoyed a period of dominance.

TOWN MORE THREATENING AFTER BREAK

A tactical switch saw the half-time introduction of Jordan Fielding. This approach had an immediate effect and Guisborough began to boss the midfield area. They were first to the ball and with Kurtis Howes now in a more advanced role in support of Matty Tymon, Town looked much more threatening.

After Tymon had again gone close with a header from a Martin cross, Guisborough’s pressure finally paid off. Whickham had only conceded 33 league goals so far this season and it was evident that something special may be needed to open them up.

The goal, on the hour, was a contender for goal of the season. Clever play in the centre-circle from Town fullback Callum Martin saw the ball delivered to Kurtis Howes on the edge of the penalty area.

TOP 🗑

The goal from Kurtis Howes today to give us a 1-0 win away at Whickham to complete the double over them. pic.twitter.com/mNwVK1nWRe

— Guisborough Town F.C. (@guistownfc) February 17, 2024

Howes dribbled into the box, shifted the ball inside onto his right foot and unleashed an unstoppable right footed shot into the top corner that no goalkeeper could have saved. It was a genuine spark of brilliance to light up a grey and increasingly wet February afternoon.

Rather than rest on their laurels and sit on their lead, Town appeared more likely to add a second. Fraser headed narrowly wide from a corner and the home defence looked increasingly stretched.

Whickham’s frustration was compounded with the red card of substitute Martindale for a second booking and they should have been reduced to nine men shortly afterwards when centre-half Agnew’s stamp on Jordan Fielding went unpunished.

With six minutes left on the clock, Town suffered a scare when Dean was beaten by a looping, heavily deflected shot that cannoned off the upright before being cleared to safety. Aside from this, Town were rarely troubled.

Whickham is never an easy place to pick up points and has rarely been a happy hunting ground for Guisborough. Town’s deserved three points ensured that they remain on the coat-tails of the leading pack of teams in the Northern League.

The Guisborough team’s organisation, spirit and skill are clearly in abundance, and it was a very contented travelling contingent that headed back down an increasingly wet A1 motorway to Teesside with three well-won points.

After the game, Guisborough Manager Steve Bell commented.

Ultimately this was one of those horribly ugly 1-0 away wins against a very aggressive Whickham side.

We started the first half really poorly and were miles off the pace at times. I told the lads exactly that at half-time but also that although we had been poor the good thing was that no real damage had been done as we were on level terms at 0-0. In the second half we very good, though, and got much more on the front foot. The winning goal from Kurtis was absolutely out of this world and thoroughly deserved to win absolutely any game.

In the end it was an excellent three points and kept our unbeaten run going. We now move on to Carlisle City at home next Saturday 24 February.

Report: Mark Cowan

Photos: Dan Clark