West Allotment Celtic 0-0 Guisborough Town

Match Report

Guisborough Town shrugged off their midweek blues following their dismal display against West Auckland Town by working hard on Saturday to earn a point in what for the Northern League is quite a rarity – a goalless draw at West Allotment Celtic.

Guisborough Town Manager Steve Bell said afterwards:

We started where we left off last week in the first half with once again a really lacklustre performance. But although we definitely improved in the second half, we missed chances to win it, as also did they – but in the end it was a very uninspiring 0-0 draw.

So we now pick ourselves up, work hard to get through this strange little period we are in and go again next Tuesday when we visit Tow Law Town.

The hard-won point kept the Priorymen in a top 10 place in the Division One table and they must now fancy their chances against rock-bottom Tow Law Town who have lost all 12 league games they have played so far this season, conceding 30 goals in the process.

Despite the 0-0 scoreline, the game certainly wasn’t without its quota of near misses at both ends of the pitch.

Guisborough starter the brighter side, forcing three early corners in a row in the first three minutes and from the last of them young left back Robbie Cuthbert saw his header sail over the bar.

Then Max Craggs put in a peach of a ball through to Dylan McAvoy but his header went straight to the West ‘keeper.

On 22 minutes Brad Mills won a free kick in a dangerous area and Craggs fired it in towards goal but the West ‘keeper was there to save again.

WORLD-CLASS SAVES FROM DEANO!

Then in the space of three minutes between the 34thand 36th minutes it was Guisborough goalkeeper Robert Dean’s turn to show his excellence with thee great saves in quick succession – the second and third ones world-class one-of-one saves.

Guisborough brought on injury-troubled striker Jason Blackburn for the second half and he was soon prominent on the hour mark when Mills powered his way to the West by-line and got in a low cross but Blackburn just couldn’t get his feet sorted out in time to get in a worthwhile effort.

Two minutes later Dean saved his side again with another brilliant save then on 63 minutes Blackburn let fly from distance but the West ‘keeper got down to save well.

In the 66th minute there was an unsavoury flashpoint when Guisborough striker Kyle Davis was the victim of a terrible tackle which sparked protests from the Guisborough players.  Surprisingly, only two players were shown yellows when things settled down, including the unfortunate Davis and one of West’s central defenders.

Ten minutes later the energetic Mills showed exceptional class when he chased a great ball in behind from Kurt Howes.  Mills crossed low for Blackburn to shoot just over.

Two minutes from time Guisborough came so close to nicking it when Blackburn had a header cleared off the West line before Howes, following up, shot over

The game ended in a goalless stalemate but at least it was a well-earned point for the Priorymen and a clean sheet on the road to boot!

Guisborough’s next match is this coming Tuesday, 17 September at bottom of the table Tow Law Town (KO 7.30pm).

Report: Bill Perfitt
Photos: Dan Clark