Another missed opportunity for Guisborough as chances go begging

GUISBOROUGH Town let slip a glorious opportunity to register their second win in succession at Whitley Bay on Saturday as once again a lack of clinical finishing proved their downfall as they went down 2-1.

The defeat was doubly disappointing after Guisborough’s hugely impressive 2-0 midweek win at Newcastle Benfield had raised hopes high for a mid-season revival for the Priorymen.

Guisborough had looked distinctly superior to the Bay in the opening 20 minutes of the game but the Priorymen suffered a cruel blow on 22 minutes when winger Steve Roberts had to be helped off the field with what looked like a twisted ankle when he fell awkwardly. The loss of talisman Roberts seemed to affect the Priorymen’s concentration and just a minute later a defensive lapse led to Whitley Bay taking a 1-0 lead when centre-forward Adam Shanks rifled home a rebound from the edge of the Guisborough penalty area.

In the 17th minute Guisborough had strong shouts for a penalty when striker Louis Johnson went down under a heavy challenge in the box, but the referee waved aside Guisborough’s appeals. The Priorymen were having almost all of the play up to midway in the half, but when play switched towards Guisborough’s goal ‘keeper Robert Dean had to be acutely alert to save his side with an acrobatic one-handed save in the 18th minute.

Guisborough captain JJ Bartliff goes on another midfield run

Guisborough continued to push forward and Ben Jackson twice went close in the 30th and 36th minutes.

After the interval Guisborough started the second half well when skipper JJ Bartliff stormed into the Bay penalty area in the first minute and got in a great shot but it was deflected just wide. A minute later, though, Guisborough drew level when new signing James Beauchamp, who replaced Louis Johnson after half-time, was tripped for a penalty and up stepped Bartliff to send a text book spot kick arrowing into the corner of the net.

In the 72nd minute Guisborough goalkeeper Dean saved his side – not for the first time – when he came out bravely to thwart a Bay attack. However, just two minutes later Dean failed to hold on to a Whitley Bay corner kick and despite his desperate attempts to claw the ball back he was beaten to it by Bay centre half Scott Lowery who scrambled the ball over the Guisborough goal-line.

After the game Guisborough Town manager Steve Bell said: “This defeat today was another missed opportunity. We were very good when in possession in the first half but we missed some unbelievably good chances yet again.

"When we didn’t have the ball, though, we were very poor at times and Steve Roberts getting injured only midway through the first half was a definite blow to us.”

Bell added: "It might sound boring saying the same every week, but if we could just take half the chances we create then we would have won the game comfortably."

There was an excellent crowd of 381 – easily the top attendance in Northern League games on the day. Guisborough entertain one of the league’s top sides North Shields at the KGV Stadium on Saturday (ko 3pm).