Match Report

Nathan’s ‘squaddies’ reaping rich rewards as they continue marching onwards towards title

NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 0, GUISBOROUGH TOWN 1

(Northern League – Division One)

Guisborough Town boss Nathan Haslam’s strong season-long commitment to the principle of the ‘Squad’ approach to football management continues to deservedly reap rich rewards.

After seeing his injury-ravaged side grind out another uncompromising but vital 0-1 victory at Newcastle Benfield, Nathan commented:  “I’m delighted with the win – today could have been a real banana skin for us especially with the tricky combination of a very hard, bobbly pitch and a strong wind throughout – which is not ideal but we’ve managed and handled the challenges very well indeed.

“In the first half, we’ve contained Benfield very well and we also had two very good chances but didn’t put them away.

“We gathered ourselves together at half-time and applied the same principles in the second half but although we had several really good chances we only scored the one goal.  Thankfully it was enough to win the game and get another clean sheet on the road.

“So overall I’m really, really happy at what is a vital stage of the season for us,” continued Nathan.

PRAISE FOR GOAL-MAKER MATTY

He praised his striker Matty Willshaw whose superb pass from the right set up Alex ‘Ban’ Walker to smash home the winning goal in the 66th minute.  “It was brilliant from Matty to set up the winner and I was delighted for him as he always works his socks off for us and he was just waiting for the right opportunity to help make the breakthrough for us.

“We had to put Ban up the top end of the pitch instead of his normal position in defence due to the fact that it was never going to be a game of football on the deck but was always going to be about closing spaces and turnovers.  Ban’s done really well for us in that respect winning a lot of headers and really challenging their defence repeatedly throughout the game.

“That was great for us and great for me in making that tactical decision because Ban scored the winning goal for us,” said Nathan, allowing himself a rare touch of self-praise!

IMPORTANCE OF SQUAD SYSTEM

On a much more serious note, Nathan talked about the importance of the squad system that he’s developed and implemented so successfully as the season has progressed, particularly with the high rate of injuries suffered throughout the team.

Defender Ben Errington and midfielder Joe Ferguson were just two normally key players who had to be withdrawn at Benfield before kick-off.

Speaking with great pride at the togetherness of his squad, Nathan continued:  “I’ve said right from the start of the season that it’s important for any team that wants to be successful to ensure that its players become fully committed to the principle of the squad game.

“For some lads this hasn’t sat right with them and we’ve had to have conversations with some players choosing to move on, which I haven’t taken any offence with whatsoever.  At this level I know there are players who want to be in the starting Eleven every week and I get that.

“But I’ve insisted that players have got to park their egos at the door and buy into the principles of the squad game and that’s what we’ve been pushing hard all season,” said Nathan.

NOTHING WRAPPED UP IN TITLE RACE YET!

Looking ahead to the end of the season and the crucial title run in, Nathan commented:  “There’s not long to go with only three games left and nothing is wrapped up yet by any means and our sole focus now is on next Saturday and our game at Northallerton and for us this is another ‘must win game.’  It’s as simple as that really.

“We like the pitch at Northallerton, it’s nice and big but for us it will be just about getting the job done.  We won’t go there with any pre-conceived ideas we’ve just got to play to our own ability and our own usual game.  I keep saying it every week that we always look forward to the next game and Northallerton will be no different,” added Nathan.

Report by Bill Perfitt.