Match Report

It’s lift-off for the Priorymen as they rocket up to second place in Northern League table 

Guisborough Town 2, Thornaby 0

(Northern League – Division One)

Guisborough Town have positively rocketed up to second in the table following a good solid performance which earned them a deserved 2-0 victory against Thornaby at a wet and windy Kevin Edward KGV Stadium on Wednesday night.

A goal in each half was enough to give the Priorymen a third successive win on the trot.

Guisborough got their noses in front two minutes before half-time when lively winger Jaedon Faulkner was tripped just inside the Thornaby penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Up stepped striker Kurtis Howes to send the Thornaby ‘keeper the wrong way to fire confidently into the right hand corner.

Both teams had missed great chances in the intervening time between the first half, including g two gilt-edged opportunities before and after half time.

As it was, Guisborough had to wait until the 77th minute to double their lead with a nicely worked goal.

First, a great ball over the top found Guisborough substitute Joe Pickett – whose shot was well saved by the Thornaby ‘keeper.  But the volley ran loose to another Guisborough substitute Elliott Beddow who swept the loose ball into the Thornaby net for 2-0 to Guisborough – and that’s how it stayed to the final whistle.

After the game Guisborough Manager Nathan Haslam commented: “I was really happy with the three points and another clean sheet at home.

“We had to find a way to win tonight which was fair play to Thornaby – they’d done their homework by packing the midfield and they went for the low block and they were asking questions of us.

“It took our lads a while to fathom things out and we had to get to half-time to realise what they needed to do to pull things around.

“But I think we did the hard work in the first half against the wind and I think going into the second half as long as we kept to our principles and still continued to press as we did in the first half then it was always going to be a game that was about us and whether we could create the chances, which we did.

“But again we weren’t good enough in front of goal otherwise it could have been a lot more comfortable.  But, listen, we’ve found a way and we’ve won so that’s all that matters,” said Nathan.

He cleared up the situation around striker Kurtis Howes who didn’t resume after the break following his penalty spot kick success.  “Kurtis felt a bit tight and we don’t want to risk him as he’s important to us so we brought him off as a precaution but we had Elliott Beddow back as a good replacement.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game at Penrith, Nathan added:  “They have 3G and it’s a good surface there so it will suit us.  Penrith have been a high-scoring outfit and on their day they are a very good team – so it’s up to us to stifle that and concentrate on our own game.”

See poster below for details of coach travel to Penrith:

AN EVENING WITH NEIL ‘RAZOR’ RUDDOCK

Just another reminder, meanwhile – don’t miss out on another big night in the Priory Suite at the Kevin Edward KGV and join us as Craig Hignett hosts an evening with ‘Razor’ Ruddock.

The former Liverpool and Southampton centre half joins us on .  Secure your tickets now by emailing: [email protected]

See poster above for more details.

Report by Bill Perfitt