Guisborough Town 2-1 Shildon

Match Report

Guisborough Town stunned top of the table Shildon with two goals in the last five minutes from super sub Jordan Fielding to clinch a memorable 2-1 win at the KGV on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 to a good 27th minute goal by Shildon’s David Vincent, the Priorymen looked like ending up on the losing side until midfielder Jordan – a 78th minute substitute – struck his goals in the 87th and 92nd minutes.

And this famous victory keeps Guisborough in with a chance, however slim, of making the end-of-season play-offs while defeat severely dented Shildon’s title hopes.

This was a truly great win for us today. The really windy conditions made it a struggle for both teams in terms of the quality on show. I have to say, though, that I thought most of the quality on show actually came from us. To be 1-0 down against the league leaders with only minutes to go and then to turn it around and win is a massive shot in the arm for us.

Despite the welcome three points we still have only slim hopes for the play off but…you never know!

Guisborough Manager, Steve Bell

Guisborough remain in six position – one place outside the play-offs – and the three points they gained against Shildon lifted the Priorymen to within just four points of fifth-placed Heaton Stannington. But the Tynesiders have two games in hand so, as Manager Steve Bell said, the chances of his side reaching the play-offs are slim but still definitely possible.

Guisborough have a golden opportunity to close the gap on the teams above them further this coming Wednesday, 10 April when they entertain second from bottom Tow Law Town at the KGV (KO 7.45pm).

Against Shildon, who had won their six previous games in a row, Guisborough started in terrific fashion with Mason McNeill twice going close in the first 10 minutes. Then Guisborough defender James Frazer did what he often does to such great effect when he joined in the attack and got in a superb bullet-like header but it was cleared off the line.

INCH-PERFECT

The Priorymen continued to play the better football but, alas, they fell behind very much against the run of play when almost out of the blue defender David Vincent unleashed a 20 yard shot which sped inch-perfect diagonally into the bottom left hand corner of the Guisborough net for 1-0 to Shildon.

In the second half the game drifted somewhat into a stalemate although Guisborough always looked the more likely to score next.

But they had to wait until the 87th minute when Fielding, who had only come on the field nine minutes earlier, hit a long-range cross-cum-shot from the right and the ball seemed to get carried on the strong wind and ended up into the far left corner of the net for 1-1.

After that it genuinely felt like the Priorymen might go on to register a shock win and thus it happened when once again Fielding got the ball but inside the box this time and he steered a low shot superbly just inside the right hand post to spark wild celebrations by most home supporters in another good crowd of 354.

Although deservedly a lot of plaudits at the end of the game went to match-winner Fielding, this was essentially an excellent team performance with several players standing out slightly above the rest such as Nick Hood, James Frazer, Callum Martin, Matty Tymon, Mason McNeill and Kurt Howes.

Report: Bill Perfitt
Photos: Dan Clark