Guisborough Town v Sunderland RCA

Hosts: Guisborough Town FC

LOCATION REPORT

Venue: King George V Ground, Howlbeck Road, Guisborough, Teesside TS14 6LE

SatNav: TS14 6LE

Parking: onsite c50 cars (share with playpark + swim centre)
Public transport: #773 Guisborough circular (limited service)

Entry: adults £6, concessions/juniors £3
Programmes: £1. 50

Refreshments: kiosk (eg £1 hot choc, £1/£2 small/large chips)
Licensed bar: clubhouse
Toilets: pitchside M+F
PA system: yes (music & announcements, clearly audible)

Covered stands/terraces:

(W) main stand = c100 total seated (c50 on benches plus c50 plastic seats)

(E) opposite stand = covered standing only, stepped = 100+ extra

Open viewing:
(all sides) hardstanding + lean-on barriers all round

Floodlights: 8 (4 per flank)

MATCH REPORT

Kickoff: 3:00pm Saturday 6 April 2019
Competition: Ebac Northern League Division One
Weather: dry, overcast, chilly, still 

Team colours:
Guisborough = red/white stripes, black shorts
Sunderland RCA = yellow shirts, blue shorts 

Official crowd: 168

Final [h/t] score:
2 [1] Guisborough Town
1 [0] Sunderland RCA 

Sent Off: 0

Official League Report

NORVENMUNKI's COMMENTS

Tucked within a residential estate, the King George V grounds are equally popular with families (excitedly playing in the playground) and mature residents (slowly walking their slow dogs). It's a nice well-kept community space, with a swimming pool adjacent. 

There are cars everywhere, some abandoned at jaunty angles and across the grass.

As you approach, the hills are alive with the sound of music. There's seemingly a good variety on the playlist to suit all ages and tastes. 

The turnstile is housed within an old-fashioned tunnel-style block, and could be a tight squeeze for anyone on the larger size. I drag my sorry waistline through.

On the inside, it's a different story. Acres of space.

We find a nice spot at the back of the main stand, leaning against the wall.

I take a wander around to grab some photos.

There's a neatly grassed outfield with rows of huge trees. Throughout the afternoon, high clearances keep disappearing into the branches, only to drop to ground later to be recovered.

The opposite side of the ground is sparsely occupied at first, but fills up a bit later.

We get some refreshments from the kiosk round the side of the main stand.

The players emerge to a blast of "The Boys Are Back In Town", as the PA announces the teams whilst they line up.
The game gets underway. 

A Guisborough player takes a bash on the head. Their medic fixes him to play on.

After 39 minutes, there's a penalty to Guisborough. The last Sunderland defender drags down the swift Reds' striker as he bears down on goal, earning  himself a yellow into the bargain. The spot kick is rifled into the top corner: 1-0 at half-time. 

In the second half, the Reds break the offside trap and are through on goal, thumping past the away keeper: 2-0.

Sunderland keep responding, though. A clumsy Guisborough tackle earns Sunderland a penalty. The home keeper has been on form today, so my daughter predicts he'll save it....

....she's right. To huge cheers, the spot kick is palmed away and hacked clear.

Soon after though, the away side do pull one back. Such is the tiny visitors' contingent that the goal celebration is barely audible... it's more noticeable that the locals momentarily stop talking!

Game over.

The grey sky never turned to rain and we head north as the early evening light crests across the low cloud. 

MORE INFORMATION

Club Twitter: @guistownfc