Kendal Town 1-0 Guisborough Town

Match Report

Gutsy Guisborough Town were desperately unlucky to come away empty-handed last night from their league match at Kendal Town. 

A goal just six minutes from time sank the plucky Priorymen who were left to rue missed opportunities in the first half which, if taken, would have seen them win quite comfortably.

Before a ball was even kicked, a depleted Guisborough side – without the likes of Jack Bailey, Dylan McAvoy, Dan McWilliams and Adam Wheatley – knew they would be up against it facing tough Cumbrian opposition.

However, Guisborough impressed throughout the first half but a combination of bad luck and a lack of a real cutting edge up front prevented them from going in at half-time two or even three goals up.

Midfielder Brad Mills came closest to breaking the deadlock for Guisborough in the 12th minute when a lightning run and clever cross down the right flank by Muzzy Abdullahi saw Mills’ goal–bound shot deflected onto the post by Kendal ‘keeper Cheetham and behind for a corner.

Then in the 21st minute Guisborough winger Joe Pickett played a nice one-two with Kyle Davis but the former’s cross was blocked for a corner, which was cleared.

On the half hour mark a relatively rare Kendal attack was thwarted by great defensive work by Nick Hoodbefore a minute later Abdullahi broke clear with a dazzling breakaway run down the middle but the Kendal ‘keeper came out to  save well.

Two minutes before the break Guisborough defender Cal Martin swung over an inviting cross to the back post where Kurtis Howes got in a good shot but once again the Kendal keeper saved.

As the half-time whistle sounded the Priorymen were disappointed not to be in front after dominating the majority of the first period.

In the second half, Guisborough never quite matched some of their excellent play of the first 45 minutes and just as the game looked set to be heading for a goalless draw, Kendal snatched the lead in the 84th minute.

A cross from the right found Palmer unmarked in the middle and he swept the ball home to clinch victory for the aptly nicknamed Kendal ‘Mintcakes’ to send their supporters in a crowd of 250 wild with delight.

POST-MATCH REACTION FROM GUISBOROUGH ASSISTANT MANAGER PAUL CRAGER:

This was really frustrating for us tonight because for large parts of the game I thought we were the better team, especially in the first half.

We created four or five really good chances that we should have scored from and we should have come in at half-time two or three goals up.

In the second half we just didn’t really get going again but even so we didn’t come under any real threat until the last 15 minutes and then they got that one good chance and scored to win the game.

But I can’t fault the lads’ efforts – I thought the shift they put in tonight was fantastic.  Even then we carved out chances in the closing stages and with a bit more composure we could have rescued a point.

So overall frustrating for us really because I don’t think the effort the lads put into the game deserved to end in defeat.

I keep saying though that we have got to be more ruthless in both boxes and take our chances.

Looking ahead to this coming Saturday, 3 August when Guisborough make a quick return to Kendal for an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie, Paul commented:

We should have a few lads back who were unavailable for tonight’s game, with Jack Bailey and Adam Wheatley set to return and it was good tonight to get 15 minutes more game time into Jason Blackburn following his recent injury problems.

So hopefully we’ll return to Kendal with a stronger squad and we look forward very much to the return game with them in the FA Cup.

Report: Bill Perfitt