Esh Winning 4

Guisborough Town 3

GUISBOROUGH Town, who are battling to get out of the division one relegation zone, went down narrowly in a seven-goal thriller at Esh Winning last Saturday.

Despite taking the lead twice and scoring three goals away from home, the Priorymen failed to take anything from the game and are now second from bottom.

Guisborough started the better and had a couple of good chances in the first five minutes.

First Stephen Bell found an opening through the middle to set up Simon Kasonali, whose close-range shot was hacked off the line. Then a brilliant run down the left flank by Guisborough's man of the match Peter Masters ended with a shot which home keeper French just managed to turn away.

Esh then came into the game and forced the visitors back into their own half for a good ten minutes. They almost grabbed a cracking opening goal on ten minutes when Andrew Potter pushed a neat ball through the middle and striker Stephen Burns volleyed a ten-yard shot which had visiting keeper Simon Corbett scrambling backwards to tip over.

The home side did break through on 20 minutes when a cracking left-foot shot from Burns skidded across the greasy surface to slide under Corbett into the net.

They threatened again two minutes later when livewire striker Andy Cuthbertson hared down the left and crossed to the far post, but Burns just failed to connect.

Guisborough then stepped up a gear and started to push forward in numbers. Kasonali skipped past two defenders to fire just wide before Masters picked up a loose ball just inside the Guisborough half and raced down the left, but his final effort was tame.

But they were rewarded for their hard work on 30 minutes when a fine cross from the right saw Bell rise highest to head home the equaliser.

The Priorymen continued to press forward and when Masters won the ball on the edge of box and found Mark Sunley free inside the penalty area, he turned and fired straight at the keeper.

Esh almost regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Cuthbertson found an opening to fire in a shot which hit the bar and bounced over.

Guisborough had the best of the play early in the second half and went close on a couple of occasions before deservedly taking the lead when midfield grafter Paul Wilson arrived unmarked to tap in a close-range shot after Masters had dragged the last defender away with a dummy run across goal.

Guisborough kept up the pressure and two minutes later Kasonali burst forward to the halfway line and spotted the keeper off his line, but his lob bounced wide.

The home side drew level from a corner on 62 minutes. Andrew Wilson had the easy task of tapping in from close range after Corbett failed to hold the ball.

Guisborough again upped the tempo and a minute later Austin Johnson weaved his way past three men to get into the box. He rolled the ball inside for the unmarked Kasonali, but he put his effort wide from just six yards out.

The Priorymen looked completely in control of the game and it looked only a matter of time before they scored again. They did so from the penalty spot on 64 minutes after David Anderson deliberately handled and Kasonali fired the penalty powerfully into the right corner.

Guisborough looked to be cruising to a much-needed win when they were hit by two quick counter punches. Anderson forced the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble after a corner on 82 minutes, then Cuthbertson fired in a free kick which was in the back of the net before Corbett could react.

This was a frustrating game for Guisborough fans, but full of excitement for the neutral.

Games are now fast running out for cash-strapped Guisborough and they must get back to winning ways if they are to avoid the drop. Their home game tomorrow against mid-table Whitley Bay is now a must-win game. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Committee members and the management of Guisborough Town are asking lapsed supporters to return and show their support for the team. Club chairman Richie Corden said: "A large vocal crowd is like an extra man on the field, so come along and support your town's team."

Guisborough Town: Corbett, Brodie, Jameson (James), Hyson, Johnson, Sunley, Bell, Kasonali, Wilson, Sankey (Pennock), Masters (Taylor).