Guisborough Town 0

Thornaby 1

GUISBOROUGH suffered a setback in their push to escape the division one relegation zone when they welcomed local rivals and fellow strugglers Thornaby to the King George V Ground on Monday morning.

The home side had the bulk of the play and created chance after chance, but were unable to find the killer touch in the last third. Even their inspirational man of the match Peter Masters seemed to have left his shooting boots at home.

Guisborough boss Steve Corden must be wondering how his makeshift team failed to take anything from the game as Thornaby created only a handful of chances.

The Priorymen started the better and Masters made two quick breaks down the left in as many minutes. On three minutes he picked up a loose ball just inside the Guisborough area and weaved his way round two defenders before firing in a low cross to Paul Wilson, whose left-foot shot scraped the woodwork as it flew wide.

A minute later, Masters hassled Mark Casey off the ball inside the six-yard area, but ex-Hartlepool defender Chris Lynch managed to stick out a foot and poke the ball away from Masters just as he shaped up to shoot.

Thornaby's first real chance came on 15 minutes when a good ball from Nicky Mohan found Craig Skelton in the six-yard box and he fired in a low drive which keeper Ben Escritt managed to get a hand to.

Minutes later, a speculative looping shot from David Gallagher had Escritt back-pedalling to tip over.

Masters continued to threaten the Thornaby defence, first racing on to a Michael Jameson pass only for Richie Storr to put in the final tackle.

Then a poor ball from Casey fell at his feet and the nippy forward skipped round two players before firing in a ten-yard shot which stung the fingers of visiting keeper Adrian Swan as he steered the ball wide.

The only goal of the game was a well-worked set piece which exposed Guisborough's weakness under a high cross.

Ex-Guisborough favourites Jamie Clarke and Storr worked a quick one-two before Storr fired in a shot which Escritt turned round for a corner.

From Clarke's flag kick, the unmarked Storr raced in and leapt highest to head the ball home from six yards.

Guisborough had their best chance of the half straight from the restart when Stephen Pennock looped the ball down the left to Masters.

His inch-perfect cross found Wilson in the six-yard box, but his volley was somehow deflected off the line by last defender Lynch.

Guisborough went close again on 48 minutes when Stephen McLean raced past the static Thornaby midfield and picked out Simon Kasonali just outside the area. He deftly side-stepped his marker to rifle in a low drive which drifted wide.

Then Masters harassed Skelton into a rash pass and nipped in to pick up the ball before weaving his way down the left and cutting in to release a shot which Swan just managed to turn round.

The home side's best chance arrived on 53 minutes when Pennock broke down the right and sent in a low cross to Kasonali. He jinked to the right past Casey and then left past Lynch to fire in a shot which Swan saved with his trailing foot.

But the Thornaby defenders soaked up everything Guisborough could throw at them and at times threatened to extend their lead on the quick break, most notably when substitute Steve Larkin got hold of the ball.

Meanwhile, Guisborough officials were disappointed that no supporters who heaped criticism on the team's performance on their internet message board turned up to a clear-the-air meeting called by manager Steve Corden.

Chairman Richard Corden said: "I am disappointed as both I and Steve were willing to meet any supporter who was dissatisfied, but wages had to be cut because you cannot pay money to players that you don't have.

"So if they had any questions this was the time to ask, not post unhelpful messages on the web site".

He called on the supporters to get behind their team and help them through this crisis.

But not all is doom and gloom at the club as many supporters are rallying round the team and looking for ways to attract sponsorship and involve local businesses in funding events.

Guisborough Town: Escritt, McLean (Taylor), Jameson, McMahon, James, Brodie, Allen, Kasonali, Wilson (Wake), Pennock, Masters.

Guisborough's next match is at Horden on Wednesday, kick-off 7.30, and their next home game is on Saturday, January 8 against Brandon United, kick-off 3pm