Newcastle Benfield 1-0 Guisborough Town

Match Report

Guisborough Town’s manager-in-waiting Nathan Haslam praised his new side for their “dominant” display at Newcastle Benfield on Saturday despite an only goal defeat which brought to an end the Priorymen’s six-match unbeaten run.

“Today was a dominant display by the boys, we played exceptionally well from the back and through the lines to the midfield. We got the ball into good wide areas but we were just a little bit toothless in the final third.

“Their winning goal came after a lapse in concentration from a throw-in but other than that Benfield didn’t create anything else of note.

“In contrast we did have our chances but their ‘keeper has made two or three decent saves. Overall, I think it was one of those end of season games but I think the boys have performed admirably today.

“They have worked very hard in tough conditions with a bone hard pitch and warm weather but in spite of this they have produced some exceptional passages of play.

“I gave them a few challenges throughout the game and they overcame those so fair play to the boys on that. Regarding next season I haven’t really had much chance to get into that yet because I wanted to get the current campaign over and done with.”

Nathan added: “I’ll sit down with the boys over the next week or two and we’ll start to get the wheels in motion about the lads who will be potentially staying but there will also be new faces coming through the door as well. So lots to work to be getting on with,”

Guisborough’s temporary joint Manager Tommy Marron was obviously disappointed that the impressive unbeaten six match run he has built up with fellow temporary manager Cal Martin has come to an end as the curtain falls down on the 2024/25 season.

“A FUNNY OLD GAME!”

Tommy added: “Football is a funny old game – we dominated the match but just couldn’t produce the cutting edge to go on and win the game.”

The decisive Benfield goal came after 27 minutes when Lewis Orrell took advantage of a defensive lapse to put his side 1-0 up.

Despite dominating the rest of the half the Priorymen just couldn’t find the breakthrough to get back on terms.

The game followed a similar pattern in the second half with Guisborough doing most of the pressing but they just couldn’t find that vital spark to preserve their end of season unbeaten run.

After at one stage right in the thick of the battle for a play-off place, the Priorymen have had to settle for an 11th place finish.

Report: Bill Perfitt