Match Report

Guisborough gaffer Haslam emphasises importance of ’emotional intelligence’

Liversedge 4, Guisborough Town 1

(Northern Premier League East Division)

Guisborough Town Manager Nathan Haslam once again highlighted the importance of ’emotional intelligence’ after seeing his side’s naivety and inexperience punished by league leaders Liversedge on Tuesday night.

With less than 10 minutes to go, the Priorymen were trailing only 2-1 and pushing hard for an equaliser – but a lack of experience and concentration saw Liversedge score two late goals to end up deserved 4-1 winners.

After the game a disappointed Haslam commented: “Our decision-making at times tonight wasn’t the best and we’ve been punished by Liversedge.”

He continued: “But first and foremost we’ve got to say ‘Well done’ to Liversedge. As a footballing spectacle, we’ve played some lovely football at times tonight – but all four of their goals were down to us and mistakes and poor decision-making and Liversedge have punished us for that.

“I’ve got to say that we’ve been psychologically weak in certain areas and toothless and Liversedge have schooled us and we’ve got to take our medicine and we have to recover quickly from this.

“When we pulled a goal back midway through the second half suddenly we were in the ascendancy and searching hard for an equaliser.

“But then we’ve shot ourselves in the foot with our lack of experience and, I’ve got to say, our psychological weakness.

“That said in the second half we’ve come out a different team – we looked dangerous but we conceded a second goal. Then we pulled a good goal back but, in the end, Liversedge’s superior experience and our lack of it have won the day for Liversedge.

“As I’ve said a couple of games ago there will be days when we’ll be absolutely brilliant and we create good goals and pull teams apart and I’ve no doubt we’ll continue to do that.

“But equally there’ll be times like tonight when our naivety will cost us games and that’s not something I want to put up with all season. The lads now need to really buck up as soon as they can…and if they don’t we’ll need to freshen things up and get some experience in.

“Yes, as I’ve said we’re playing some good football at times but tonight our decision-making wasn’t the best at times and we’ve been punished when it wasn’t.

“It’s all down to experience and Liversedge have got a team of men in their side. They know how to get in your heads and we’ve bitten back at that particularly towards the end of the game.

“EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE RUBS OFF ON TO EVERYONE” – NATHAN

“I keep going on about emotional intelligence, it’s so important during the game not just for the individual but the whole of the team because it rubs off onto everyone in the team.

“So sometimes you’ve just got the take your medicine on the football field, accept that it hasn’t gone your way and you’ve got to conduct yourself in the best possible way you can and perform in the best possible way.

“We got weaker tonight as they got into our heads particularly towards the end of the game and that’s the disappointing aspect but as I’ve said before this is a fresh learning curve for us, it’s a new higher level for us and it’s going to take time to adjust for some of the lads. But we need to buck up as soon as we can and that will start in our next game on Saturday,” added Nathan.

For the first half hour of the game against table toppers Liversedge the Priorymen held their own and looked in control but in the 32nd minute Liversedge forged ahead with a brilliant individual goal from Kelan Swales who scored with a vicious shot into the roof of the Guisborough net.

It stayed 1-0 to the home side to half time but in the 51st minute Liversedge doubled their lead when Joe Walton rose unopposed at the far post to head home following a corner. A disappointing way for Guisborough to concede.

Ten minutes later Guisborough goalkeeper Ryan Catterick pulled off a fantastic reaction save to prevent his side from going further behind.

In the 65th minute Guisborough striker Toluwani Osiyemi gave his side real hope when he finally broke free from the blatantly continual holding back he had received from Liversedge’s two big central defenders to cut into the box and unleash a powerful shot into the far inside netting of the goal for 2-1.

But Guisborough’s hopes of a revival were dashed when Liversedge scored a third breakaway goal as the Priorymen pressed forward in search of an equaliser when Alfie Dean raced through to score in the 82nd minute.

Then on 90 minutes Liversedge winger Lewis Barlow put the matter beyond doubt with a spectacular curling shot into the far top corner – a goal that would have graced Match of the Day – for 4-1 and the final score. The crowd was a disappointing 219 for the league leaders.

Next up for Guisborough on Saturday, 29 August is an FA Trophy First Qualifying Round tie against Ossett United at the Kevin Edward KGV Stadium.

Guisborough boss Nathan praised some of the performances of the substitutes who came on in the second half against Liversedge and said some would likely get an opportunity against Ossett on Saturday.

Report by Bill Perfitt.