Guisborough Town 0-1 Newcastle Blue Star

Match Report

Guisborough Town’s play-off hopes were dealt a severe blow at the Kevin Edward KGV Stadium on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 by the team one place immediately above them in the table – Newcastle Blue Star.

The outcome of the match hinged on one crazy minute virtually on half-time when following a Blue Star attack Guisborough central defender James Frazer was sent off after getting in a tangle with an opponent.

Frazer was adjudged to have been guilty of serious foul play and given a straight red card and then, to rub salt into Guisborough’s wounds, Blue Star were awarded a penalty which Dan Lanning dispatched with relative ease for 1-0 to the Tynesiders.

After the game Guisborough Manager Steve Connolly said: “Overall, I’m disappointed for the lads in terms of their effort, particularly in the second half when we were reduced to 10 men they ran non-stop with the aim of getting to the 80 minute mark and then having a real go at getting the equaliser.

“That was the game plan and the lads deserved something out of the match for their efforts.

“But in terms of our decision-making – when you go down to 10 men against a team also in the play-offs you’re going to get beat and that’s exactly what happened,” commented Steve.

With a side depleted by injuries and suspension, Guisborough gave debuts to two former returning players, striker Cole Kiernan and winger Mason McNeill.

“Because we’d had to bring these former KGV lads in I think we felt a little bit hesitant and that we had to feel our way into the game.

“So we felt wee bit new as a team and overall I was a bit disappointed by our play in the final third where we looked a little bit rushed and maybe tried to play the killer pass too often when we could have had more control over the ball.

‘PLATFORM TO BUILD ON’

“Then approaching half-time we’d just held the board up for one added minute so at 0-0 we were feeling good about half-time messages and having a platform to build on for the second half, added Steve.

Then came the Frazer sending-off and the penalty award which turned the match on its head for the Priorymen and paved the way for a desperately disappointing ultimate outcome which means they have a mountain to climb if they are to get back in the thick of the play-off places.

Apart from losing, an already depleted Guisborough squad were further weakened when big striker Jason Blackburn – himself returning from injury – had to leave the field in the first half with a nasty-looking shoulder injury and was later taken to hospital. Also, one of Guisborough’s second half substitutes Dylan Gnaglo hobbled off barely two minutes after coming on!

To their great credit, despite their numerical disadvantage, the plucky Priorymen kept trying right to the final whistle and came close once or twice to pulling off what would have been a sensational draw.

EXCELLENT TURNOUT!

The crowd was a very creditable 370 – swelled by a good Blue Star following – which was an excellent turnout on a very cold afternoon.

Guisborough’s next match is this coming Wednesday, 29 January against the Middlesbrough Under-23 Academy side at the Bishop Auckland Heritage Park ground (KO 7.45pm). The Middlesbrough starlets are managed by former Guisborough Assistant Manager Paul Crager, so an interesting night is on the cards.

Report: Bill Perfitt