Guisborough Town 7

Peterlee Newtown 1

GUISBOROUGH finally found their shooting boots last Saturday and boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation by hammering visitors Peterlee 7-1.

The home side deservedly led 1-0 at the break, but nothing could have prepared the sparse crowd for the goal feast which was to follow in the second half.

Man of the match Lee Alexander grabbed a hat-trick, but credit must go to the visitors, who never lost their composure or discipline as Guisborough rattled in the goals.

The Priorymen started the better and created an early chance on six minutes when Alexander managed to worm his way through the middle to set up Steve Ritchie on the edge of the box. But Anthony Green managed to tip the ball away from the striker as he teed up to shoot.

Minutes later Alexander had a good chance himself, but his 20-yard shot went straight to keeper Paul Newton.

The visitors enjoyed a good period of possession for the next ten minutes and carved out an excellent chance on 15 minutes. Calvin Foley picked up a loose ball just outside the area and jinked his way round two Guisborough players to send in an inch-perfect pass for striker Paul Hinton, who neatly side-stepped his marker before firing in a long-range shot which had Guisborough keeper Simon Corbett stretching to turn round.

The first goal was worth waiting for as Alexander picked up a loose ball just inside the visitors' half and cleverly jinked his way through two tackles before setting up Darren Sankey to tap home from close range.

Guisborough could have settled the match minutes later when Ritchie's diving header was ruled out before Matty Hyson raced clear and deftly side-footed home, but was ruled offside.

Guisborough devastated Peterlee in the second half with a dazzling display of pace, precision passing and finishing power. Alexander was supercharged in the opening minutes and could have had a hatful of goals in the first three minutes after the restart.

First he managed to run through the middle unchallenged and fire in a shot which went inches wide, then he neatly intercepted a pass, but his final effort was easily scooped up by Newton.

His tenacity paid off in the 50th minute when he raced forward and fired in a close-range shot which gave the keeper no chance.

This goal opened the floodgates, with Guisborough scoring four times within ten minutes to lead 6-0.

Alexander was on target again on 55 minutes when he cut in from the left and raced round the advancing defenders to fire in a low drive which nestled in the bottom right corner.

Mark Sunley got on the scoresheet three minutes later when a neat ball from Simon Kasonali picked him out in the area.

Alexander completed his hat-trick on 73 minutes when Peter Masters jinked his way down the left flank and fired in a low cross which saw Alexander diving low to head powerfully into the net.

Guisborough were now pressing forward at every opportunity, but the besieged Peterlee defenders managed to repulse several attacks. However, the home side's sixth goal arrived on 75 minutes when luckless visiting midfielder Curtis Taylor turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Masters.

Ritchie eventually got in on the act when he charged on to a poor Peterlee pass and fired in from 20 yards.

The Peterlee players never let their heads drop and were rewarded with a consolation goal on 83 minutes when fiery forward John Amos brought down a long ball and battled his way through to fire in an unstoppable low drive.

Guisborough are still bottom of division one, but only five points separate the bottom seven clubs and they will hope to build on this impressive victory.

Manager Stephen Corden said: "It was one of those games in which everything we hit seemed to go in. We weren't six goals better than them.

"We haven't been finishing like this all season and it was nice to be on the right end of a result like that. It was a weight lifted off the lads' shoulders when we were a couple of goals in the lead."

This result, possibly the biggest winning margin at the King George V ground, will give Guisborough a boost ahead of Sunday's trip to Curzon Ashton in the FA Vase, kick-off 3pm.

* In division two, Northallerton Town turned in an impressive display to win 3-1 at West Allotment Celtic.

Steve Cochrane put them ahead with a 25-yard shot after seven minutes and then hit the crossbar with a header ten minutes later.

Ross Foreman's first-time volley made it 2-0 on the half hour, but the home side pulled a goal back before half-time.

Northallerton restored their two-goal advantage when Stuart Jackson headed home a Cochrane corner ten minutes into the second half and West Allotment had a man sent off near the end.