Recap
The two blues surged into an early two-goal lead through a header by debutant Danni Lay and a Louis Johnson strike after great work from Giles. It was an opening 15 minutes where Bishops were clinical with the games only openings, Lay’s goal coming from a pinpoint Gott free kick after just five minutes. Johnson passed the ball into the corner of the net seven minutes later after Giles set him up 10 yards out after a mazy run down the right-hand side of Guisborough’s defence.
Bishops’ had a number of chances to put further breathing space between the sides but Cowie saved twice with his legs from Johnson and then Thexton before the in-form away side scored a crucial goal just before the interval. The ‘Priorymen’ had looked dangerous throughout, troubling Dane Burlace, and the goal came on that side of the Bishop’s defence when Bartliff turned and fired across Catterick.
Giving Bishops’ have had real trouble defending two-goal leads in recent weeks the second half started in a tense fashion. Guisborough levelled up the scores on 53 minutes when the dangerous McGee nipped in to nudge the ball around Catterick and then found Bartliff who had time and space to steady himself and find the back of the net with a defender on the line unable to get near his powerful shot.
This only added to the tension in the ground as the Bishops’ avoided further damage and to their credit finished the game the more likely to find what would have been a crucial winner. On 78 minutes a great chance was fired over the bar from substitute Weirs and then right at the death Thexton forced some great defending from Marron and Martin after Patton had found the forward in a good position.
The final whistle represents further points dropped in the race to try and close the gap opened up at the top by Newton Aycliffe, and Whickham awaits on Saturday in what will be another tough game.
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