GUISBOROUGH Town always knew this season was going to be very tough after the loss of so many of their best players – the majority to Whitby Town – during the close season.

After a bright start to the new campaign, the reality of the challenges that lie ahead has come sharply into focus after they suffered their fourth defeat in the last five matches when they went down 3-1 at home to Jarrow Roofing last Saturday.

The poor run has seen the Priorymen fall to 18th place in the division one table, but they have battled hard in recent matches and shown some positive signs.

Against Jarrow Roofing, a team they had beaten in all of their last nine meetings, Guisborough again showed some promise for spells and more than matched their opponents, but they couldn’t translate that into enough goals.

They were under pressure straight from the kick-off and a cleared corner fell to Calvin Smith, who drove the ball inches wide.

Jarrow continued to push forward and Guisborough were finding it hard to get out of their own half. They fell behind in the 11th minute when a cross from Adam Sakr found Michael Mackay, who angled a powerful header in at the far post, and the visitors quickly doubled their lead with a 20-yard strike from Kerry Hedley.

Guisborough continued to struggle up front and the few efforts they had were either easily saved or went wide.

But the home side looked much more positive in the second half and were rewarded in the 50th minute when they strung together a neat move, playing the ball through to striker Thibault Charmey, who surged forward and scored with a low 18-yard strike past Jarrow keeper Andrew Jennison.

The Frenchman could have scored two more goals in quick succession, side-footing a low cross from the impressive Steve Roberts just wide and then striking a 20-yard shot just past the far post.

But the visitors restored their two-goal cushion in the 57th minute when a free kick 25 was played into the Guisborough box and Paul Chow rose above his marker to head the ball into the roof of the net.

Guisborough went close again in the 61st minute when Roberts powered down the right wing and again found Charmey, whose first-time shot was saved at close range by Jennison.

The Priorymen made two substitutions in quick succession as Matty Pennal replaced James Warnett, who was making his debut for Guisborough after his move from Crook, and Paul Blake came on for Jordan Galloway, who limped off with what looked like a groin strain.

In the 85th minute, Roberts again beat his man and shot at goal, only to see defender Arjun Purewal somehow kick the ball against the post on the goal line and it bounced clear to deny the home side the goal they desperately needed.

In the end the visitors deservedly took all three points to add to the woes of Guisborough, who have now only taken one point from a possible 15.