Match Report

Guisborough on the brink of making Club history with league title in sight!

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 0, GUISBOROUGH TOWN  2

(Northern League Division One)

Schhhh! Don’t say it too loudly, but the magnificent men of Guisborough Town are standing on the brink of making club history by winning the Northern League Division One title following an ultimately comfortable 2-0 away win at Northallerton Town on Saturday.

With only two more weekends of fixtures left, the Priorymen have a commanding lead of eight points over nearest rivals Shildon – and if the Railway men lose or draw just one of their three remaining games then Guisborough Town will be crowned worthy champions!

The Priorymen didn’t have it all their own way against the stubborn defending of bottom-of-the-table Northallerton who seemed desperate to salvage a point in their battle against relegation.

But, as Guisborough Manager Nathan has often said recently, his side ‘found a way to win’ which at this stage of the season is ‘all that matters.’

The outcome of the game pivoted on the 71st minute sending off of giant Northallerton defensive stopper Harry Croft for preventing a clear Guisborough goal-scoring opportunity.

Then, just a minute later from the resulting perfectly-floated Guisborough free kick towards the far post, substitute Alex ‘Ban’ Walker got on the end of it to gleefully smash home his second crucial goal in two matches for 1-0 to the Priorymen.

‘INTO ABSOLUTE RAPTURES!’

Guisborough then took advantage of the weakened home defence in the 88th minute when a superb corner from the right by Elliott Beddow found defender James Frazer who scored to secure another vital three points.

The crucial goal sent Guisborough’s players, management and their sizeable contingent of fans in a crowd of 361 into absolute raptures.

After the game, a gleeful but typically measured Guisborough boss Nathan Haslam commented: “Delighted with the win.  The important thing today was to come here and get the win and it didn’t really matter how we did it.

“It was tough out there with a strong wind making it difficult for both sides.

But the game really turned out for the duration case of Guisborough attack v Northallerton defence.

‘LOW BLOCK HARD TO BREAK DOWN’

“Northallerton went with a really low block which was hard to break down but when we did eventually break through their defence there was really only going to be one winner and we were really quite comfortable in the final 15.

“But credit to Northallerton, they defended for their lives today and if it wasn’t for some last-ditch defending and saves by their keeper the scoreline could have been more comfortable for us and much sooner in the game – but they made it really hard for us today.

“Northallerton clearly decided to stay in the game as long as they could with some really dogged defending.

“When your opponent does that, you’ve got to produce a little bit of class and attack down the outside rather than go through them and it took us a little time for us to kind of understand that.”

TACTICAL MASTER-CLASS!?

Asked by video interviewer Chris Wood if bringing on substitute and scorer of the first goal Ban Walker was another ‘tactical master-class by the manager, Nathan replied: “It was touch and go whether we started Ban or not but we’ve gone down another thought process and decided to put him on the bench.

“But he’s come on and done really. really well for us again,” continued Nathan.

“Because of the wind and in set pieces he can cause problems for the opposition and for his goal he’s hit the ball really well and although the keepers saved it Ban’s put it in on the rebound. So it looks like he’s been converted from a centre half to a centre forward,” said a smiling Nathan.

‘REALLY GOOD FROM FRAZE’

Turning to defender James Frazer and his 88th minute goal to effectively kill the game off, Nathan commented: “Really good from Fraze – he’s been great all afternoon today as he has been all season. For a centre half he’s been quite prolific in front of goal this season so great work from him once again today.”

In defence, Guisborough goalkeeper Ryan Catterick didn’t have a direct save to make – he played like a ‘Quarter Back’ for the side today quipped Nathan.

“Football can be so unpredictable,” continued Nathan. “In their last two games against Boro Rangers and Whitley Bay Northallerton have shipped in a total of nine goals.

“But today we’ve been patient, acquitted ourselves well overall and got our just rewards in the end.  So, job done and we now look forward to next Saturday’s important game at Carlisle.

“I know I sound boring but it’s really just another game – but there’s obviously a lot riding on it for us in the sense that if we get the victory over Carlisle then we know we win the league championship.

“But we know we’ve got to do it ourselves and that we can’t rely on anyone else to do it for us.  But it’s in our control and we know that.  So, we’ll just prepare properly as we always do and the boys need to go and put in another performance like they have done today and like they have done all season to be honest – both away and at home.

“We’ve got to go to Carlisle and work hard, performance to the best of our abilities and hopefully that will see us through,” added Nathan.

FOOTY-NOTE: Before we went to press with this article on our Club Website, Shildon were travelling to Crook Town this afternoon (Sunday, KO 2.30pm) for the first of their final three league games. In the unlikely event that lowly Crook win, then Guisborough would have an unassailable lead at the top of the table and would clinch the title without kicking a ball! Guisborough Town Chairman Andy Bell and his wife Amy are planning to travel to Crook to watch the game. No pitch invasions, though, Andy and Amy if Crook do win!!!

Report by Bill Perfitt.