Guisborough Town 3-0 Newcastle Benfield

Match Report

Guisborough Town produced probably their most impressive performance under new Manager Steve Connolly when they swept aside an in-form Newcastle Benfield side at the Kevin Edward KGV Stadium on Saturday.

Right from the off the hungry Priorymen tore into their opponents and served up sumptuous portion of mouth-watering gourmet football at times that Benfield simply just couldn’t stomach.

After the game Guisborough boss Steve said he was “delighted” with the performance but added that the challenge for the team now was to add “consistency” to their play. He commented:

We’re delighted with the performance, we’re delighted with the clean sheet and we’re delighted with the three goals. Newcastle Benfield had won their previous four games, with some big score-lines and some good wins, so we knew we were in for a tough game today.

But how the lads managed the game, and took the opportunities that came their way was really good.

Reflecting on the Priorymen’s defeats in their two previous games, Steve commented:

The lads know we’re in a bit of a process at the minute – we’re trying to change a few things in terms of how we play, how we keep the ball and when we keep the ball and this is going to take an element of trust from them. We’re trying to change, ultimately, the game plan and in the last two games it’s worked in a couple of patches but then we’ve kind of moved away from it because it wasn’t working.

Today we’ve asked them to stick with it. They’re going to make mistakes, they’re going to lose the ball and today we’ve asked them to be braver on the ball, especially in the opponent’s half and that’s what they’ve done today. That’s allowed us to get the goals, although there was a slice of luck with our second goal but having a left back in Danny McWilliams that high up on the pitch is because we kept hold of the ball beforehand.

What today’s result and performance does is that it kinds of backs up the coaches here for instance us telling the lads what will happen if they do certain things. But credit to them for giving it a good go today and, yes, they took on the challenge today.

Turning to the team’s defensive capabilities, Steve added:

The word ‘consistency’ is something that we have been able to have across the back line – through suspension and injuries and a little bit of misfortune for some of the lads. People like Cal Martin tell me that having players who have played at a good level and ultimately you can rely on are invaluable.

For us, we know that Dan McWilliams has had a long time out through injury and giving him this recent run of games is really good for him and the clean sheet and the goal he scored today is a great day for a full back. What I would say further is that our whole back line did really well, with Matty Crust coming in for his first start in quite a time, goalkeeper Deano was fantastic, Frazer was Frazer as always – he was Mr Consistency as he often is.

So our back line have kept a clean sheet, they helped us score goals and I’m a little bit biased but I think they take a little bit more credit than most. But we’re very happy and it’s great to see Dan McWilliams back playing well again.

Guisborough started off in very positive mood right from the whistle with big striker Jason Blackburn, bustling midfielder Joe Pickett and the lively Kyle Davis all causing the Benfield defence trouble, particularly down the right flank.

Guisborough came so close to taking the lead on 12 minutes when Bradley Mills fired in a great free kick 20 yards out which the Benfield ‘keeper did very well to scramble across his goal to claw the ball over the bar.

But it was no surprise three minutes later when the Priorymen took the lead after 15 minutes when Pickett produced some magic with a great cross from the right which was helped on to the far post where Blackburn cleverly stooped and chested the ball home from close range for 1-0 to Guisborough.

Play switched entertainingly from end to end for the next 20 minutes or so but Guisborough eventually doubled their lead in the 40th minute when left back McWilliams sent over a curling cross from out on the wing and it arced perfectly into the far top corner of the Benfield net. It was a bit of a fluke goal but credit to McWilliams for gambling and putting the ball across in the first place.

Three minutes after half-time Guisborough got a third and decisive goal and it was fitting that it was scored by Joe Pickett who cleverly swivelled to hit a shot which although it lacked power seemed to deceive the Benfield ‘keeper as it crept into goal.

The goal was fitting icing on the cake for Pickett who had been magnificent throughout the game.

Guisborough managed the game well to the finish and were unlucky not to make it 4-0 when Kurtis Howes made a great run and coolly finished into the bottom corner, but alas an assistant’s flag ruled it offside.

So 3-0 it stayed to the end and the welcome three points kept Guisborough just in the top 10 in the league table.

The attendance was a very healthy 323, swelled by a good Benfield following. One thing to add about the game was how well it was refereed by an excellent ‘man in the middle’ well supported by his two assistants.

Guisborough now face two games in the next week – a trip to Whickham on Tuesday, 29 October (KO 7.30pm) and then a Teesside derby at arch rivals Marske United next Saturday, 2 November (KO 3pm).

Report: Bill Perfitt
Photos: Dan Clark

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— Guisborough Town F.C. (@guistownfc) October 26, 2024