Guisborough Town 0-0 West Allotment Celtic

Match Report

Guisborough Town Manager Steve Connolly lavished rich praise on his players after they overcame the handicap of a sending-off just before half-time to cling on for a priceless point against West Allotment Celtic at the Kevin Edward KGV Stadium on Saturday.

After the game he commented: “We’re disappointed with the circumstances of the game and having to play over half the match with 10 men. Eleven men are needed to win games in the Northern League.

“However, the efforts and discipline in the second half were brilliant. We created no fewer than three one v ones which on another day would have earned a great win.

“But it’s the little that just aren’t dropping in our favour at the minute – but we can’t fault the lads for their effort and commitment today,” added Steve.

The Priorymen went into this game hoping to end a six-match losing run but they were dealt a body blow just three minutes before half-time when their big striker Jason Blackburn was sent off for what looked like a serious case of dissent.
It was a disappointing end to the first 45 minutes during which neither side had dominated enough to get their noses in front.

Guisborough went close on 26 minutes when excellent play between Dale Milburn and Joey Smith set up a good chance for Blackburn but his header was saved by the West ‘keeper.

Five minutes earlier West’s Kyle Patton almost put West in front with an incredible overhead kick which clattered the inside of the right hand post and flashed across goal before being cleared.

WORLD CLASS SKILL!

It was genuinely a world-class piece of skill from Patton and it drew generous applause from virtually everyone in another healthy KGV crowd of 251.

Despite being a man down for the whole of the second half, it was Guisborough who went closest to breaking the deadlock – on three occasions they burst through the West defence but lacked the killer touch to break the deadlock.

So a draw an a point from the game was no less that gallant Guisborough deserved but the dropping of two points sees the Priorymen down to 10 place in the league

Guisborough’s next match is in midweek at home to Northallerton Town on Wednesday, 26 February (KO 7.45pm).

Report: Bill Perfitt