Guisborough Town 1, Whitley Bay 1 (Ebac Northern League – First Division)

GUISBOROUGH Town made it six games without a defeat after drawing against Whitley Bay at the KGV Stadium on Saturday – but it was a somewhat lacklustre display compared to their scintillating 6-1 win at Ashington the previous weekend.

The Priorymen lacked the fluency and zip shown in recent games and in the end were hanging on for a draw against the Bay, who fought back well after going behind just after half-time. In front of an excellent crowd of 456 – swelled by another of Guisborough’s highly popular junior days – Guisborough started well and made virtually all the running in the first half.

Just three minutes into the second half, the Priorymen finally got the goal they deserved just after Cole Kiernan had gone mightily close to putting his side into a 47th minute lead when he forced a good save at the near post by the Bay ‘keeper. A minute later though Guisborough deservedly went 1-0 up following a corner which Louis Johnson rose high for, but just missed connecting with. It fell kindly for skipper JJ Bartliff, who stroked the ball into the roof of the net from about ten yards out. Their lead last only 11 minutes as Whitley Bay equalised following a corner that wasn’t cleared and striker Adam Shanks rifled home from close in.

After that boost of a goal Whitley Bay came much more into the game as Guisborough’s play became rather scrappy but nevertheless the Priorymen had a great chance to wrap up all three points following an almighty scramble in the visitors’ goalmouth on 76 minutes. As the ball came across from a corner Guisborough defender James Dillon got in a good header which the Bay ‘keeper saved brilliantly, and there ensued a frantic goalmouth melee. Eventually the ball was cleared.

After the game a disappointed Guisborough manager Steve Bell said: “Following all the plaudits the lads rightly received after that tremendous performance at Ashington last week, I’m disappointed that they didn’t continue in the same vein. We just couldn’t reproduce the same flowing football and devastating attacking play. But I suppose on balance a draw was just about a fair result on the day and it keeps our unbeaten run going.”

On Saturday, Guisborough play Ashington again away in the Northern League Cup quarter final.