Match Report

Impressive debuts for new signings as Priorymen topple league leaders Whitley Bay

Guisborough Town 2, Whitley Bay 1

(Northern League – Division One)

A brilliantly well-worked winning goal involving Guisborough Town’s two new debutant signings earned the Priorymen a memorable 2-1 victory over league leaders Whitley Bay at the fortress Kevin Edward KGV Stadium on Wednesday night.

With the game evenly poised at 1-1, Guisborough mounted an attack down the right prompted initially by right back Mason McNeill, who sent a neat pass to Guisborough midfielder Jack Bailey who in turn sent new striker Matty Willshaw on a run to the by-line in the 82nd minute

Signed from West Auckland Town, Matty advanced and put over an inviting pass to the far post where Guisborough’s other new signing, Toluwani Osiyemi, swept the ball home to spark wild celebrations among the home players and fans alike.

Guisborough never looked in danger of surrendering their 2-1 lead as they safely saw out the last 10 minutes to the final whistle.

On the strength of this performance, Guisborough Manager Nathan Haslam appears to have made two very shrewd new signings indeed with Matty captured from West Auckland and Toluwani from Whickham.

And Willshaw was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match accolade afterwards.

After the game the Guisborough’s team boss commented:  “This is a really great result, maintaining our very good unbeaten record at home after a real ding dong battle between two very good teams.

“It was an end to end affair with plenty of chances for both teams and fortunately we’ve come out on the right end of the result.”

Commenting on Guisborough’s two new signings, Nathan said:  “I thought Matty was outstanding all night – he’s very wise in the way he moves, he’s very composed and he’s just what we’ve been missing up to now. Plus he’s still not 100% fit so very happy indeed with Matty.

“As for Tolly (Toluwani) we signed him from Whickham and brought him on from the bench as an impact sub on the hour tonight and he nearly got off to the perfect start with a goal.

“He was an absolute menace to Whitley Bay from the minute he came on and he fully deserved his goal which was a really, really well-taken effort.

“So, tonight we’ve played the league leaders who have had a lightning start to the season with six or seven wins on the bounce with lots of goals scored in the process.

“To beat a very, very good Whitley Bay side tonight after going a goal behind in the first half shows the character of our team.

“TELLS OUR PLAYERS THEY’VE MOVED ON TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL”

“But importantly it tells the players that I think they’ve moved on to a different level now,” added a delighted Nathan.

Things looked bleak for the Priorymen when they went behind after just 16 minutes when the Bay won a corner and as the ball came over Guisborough failed to get any connection and McKenzie Sharpe smashed the ball into the roof of the net for 1-0 to the visitors.

However, it didn’t take the Priorymen to get back on level terms just six minutes later when Willshaw advanced towards the Whitley Bay goal beating two men and his shot took a deflection and ended up in the back of the net for 1-1.

After that, Guisborough dominated most of the rest of the half but had nothing further to show for it and the teams went in 1-1 at the break.

In the second half, Whitley Bay came back more into the game but the Guisborough defence held firm. And after the introduction of Toluwani on the hour mark he made a noticeable difference.

He tortured Whitley Bay down the left flank with his speed and ability to retain possession despite the attentions of two and sometimes three opponents.

Then came the superb link up between McNeill, Bailey and Willshaw in the 82^nd minute and Toluwani applied the clever touch for what proved a delightful and decisive winning goal.

It sent the majority of the Guisborough fans in another excellent KGV crowd of 325 wild with delight!

The Priorymen now face another home fixture on Saturday, 20 September when West Auckland Town are the visitors to the Kevin Edward KGV Stadium (KO 3pm).

AN EVENING WITH NEIL ‘RAZOR’ RUDDOCK

Meanwhile, a final reminder not to 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 this evening.

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

Report by Bill Perfitt.