Guisborough Town 2-2 Newton Aycliffe (Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round)

Match Report

Guisborough Town’s Assistant Manager Paul Crager praised his side’s “resilience and great character” as they produced a superb second half fightback to earn a totally well-deserved 2-2 draw against Newton Aycliffe at the KGV on Wednesday night.

Up against a Newton Aycliffe side who now play in a league higher than Guisborough, the Priorymen’s participation in this season’s FA Cup looked set to end at the first hurdle as Aycliffe went 2-0 up by the 77th minute.

But a battling ‘never-say-die’ attitude saw Guisborough shock Aycliffe with two goals in two minutes and with a little more luck the Priorymen could have won the tie outright but now face a replay back at Aycliffe

After the game Paul – standing in for Manager Steve Bell who is on holiday – commented:  “I couldn’t be any prouder of the lads tonight.  To be honest I thought they totally deserved something out of the game.

“I was disappointed with our start to the match and conceding early on once again – which is something we need to cut out.

“Also, we conceded their second goal from a set-piece which again was disappointing.

“However, in spite of that early first goal, we gradually settled well into the game and even though they created a lot of chances we still could have been level at half-time.

“In the second half we showed great character and resilience after going 2-0 down with less than 15 minutes to go.  So to pull it back to 2-2 against a very good Newton Aycliffe team gives us a real positive for us to take forward into next week’s replay,” added a delighted Paul.

From the kick-off it soon became that Aycliffe were a class side and they stormed ahead after just 11 minutes when Jake Petitjean hit a superb shot from range into the top right hand corner of the Guisborough net.

Five minutes later Guisborough winger Kurt Howes went close but saw his hard-hit shot blocked.

Unfortunately, Guisborough winger Jack Blackford took a hard knock and was left limping midway through the first half and eventually he had to be substituted six minutes before the break with Anthony Snook coming on in his place.

From the start of the second half the Priorymen went on the offensive and Howes was again prominent and twice went close.

In the 64th minute Guisborough full back almost crowned a superb display with a rasping low shot from 20 yards out but the Newton Aycliffe ‘keeper got down brilliantly to turn the ball for a corner.

Then barely a minute later Guisborough midfielder Jordan Fielding got in a brilliant header but it was well saved by Aycliffe’s ‘keeper again.

At the other end Guisborough ‘keeper Robert Dean came to his side’s rescue with a brilliant 76thminute save but just one minute later Aycliffe went 2-0 up when from a corner Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth scored unchallenged from close in.

The plucky Priorymen looked down and out at that point but just one minute later Guisborough pulled it back to 2-1 when Fielding gleefully smashed the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

The goal gave Guisborough renewed hope and in the 81st minute the Priorymen roared back level to 2-2 as the Aycliffe ‘keeper brought down Howes as he advanced towards goal and the quick-thinking Cole Kiernan followed up to score a lovely goal.

All in all this was a brave, battling comeback by Guisborough which was loudly appreciated and applauded by most fans in a good crowd of 318.

There were many excellent performances throughout the Guisborough team but those who particularly caught the eye were Man-of-the-Match Cal Martin, defender James Frazer and midfieldersJordan Fielding and Joe Pickett.

Guisborough had a scare when left back Dylan McAvoy was very harshly sent off in the 88th minute for a second yellow card but the Priorymen rode out the remaining time plus an extra five minutes added time calmly and collectively.

Report: Bill Perfitt