GILLFORD PARK FC
Gillford Park Stadium, Carlisle and District Railway Club, off Petterill Bank Road, Carlisle, CA1 3AF
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6th October 2007
Gillford Park 1 - 1 Peterlee Town

Since the appointment of boss Paul Callan, Peterlee have been the best performing club in the Premier Division of the Northern Alliance, a fact not lost on Gillford chief Jimmy McMurdo who had to cope with the absence of Darren Addison, Tom Brocklebank and Danny Palmer. Debuts were handed to Tyron Taylor, signed midweek from Carlisle City, and Simon Clarke, previously captain of Harraby Catholic Club, while Dave Renyard was again available having debuted in Gillford’s last home game against Alnwick Town.

The County Durham visitors were the first to threaten after two minutes, as Damien Gee turned Renyard but shot wide from a tight angle, while the same player then hit the bar two minutes later as he latched on to manager Paul Callan’s through ball just inside the Gillford box.

With six minutes played referee Jim Halliday signalled the first free-kick of the afternoon, but Tyron Taylor began his debut in the right manner, defending James Myers set-piece well and sending Gillford forward on the counter whereupon Lee Otway was ruled offside.

Derek Bradley shot wide of the far post while Dan Rayson earned a free-kick that Peterlee defended well, and as the game began to settle down it became apparent that neither side was keen on the ol’ hit-and-run. On the quarter-hour mark a typically well constructed move through midfield saw Dave Renyard cross for Otway, but the dangerous striker brushed his effort the wrong side of the post while shortly after strike partner Rayson shot over from twenty-yards.

Gillford had trouble taking command of the game as Paul Callan marshalled his side from midfield and number-two Tommy Roberts barked out the instructions from the dugout, and Peterlee were a well organised outfit who saw Derek Bradley shoot wide after twenty-two minutes.

On the half-hour mark strong tackling from Butler and Lang kept the visitors from testing Gillford ‘keeper Armstrong, while Steve Skinner’s eighteen yard shot was well saved by Long and turned out for a corner after Renyard orchestrated a swift counter attack.

Four minutes later the visiting outfit had the ball in the back of the net but were unhappy when referee Jim Halliday ruled David Howe’s goal offside, but after a period of stalemate they scored with their next attack ten minutes later when Damien Gee turned the defence inside out before crossing the ball for Nathan Liddle to slot home in the last action of the half.

Jimmy McMurdo evidently had some choice words at half-time and appeared to have ‘stopped the rot’ as the second half began, putting a stop to Peterlee’s dominance of the final stages of the first period. Five minutes into the half Dave Renyard earned Gillford a corner on the right of the field, and it was while defending Butlers flag-kick that Peterlee conceded a penalty for aggressive jumping. Lee Otway stepped up to strike the ball down the middle with the ‘keeper diving to his right, levelling the scores after fifty minutes.

Peterlee went close to retaking the lead almost immediately but could not capitalise on a free-kick to the left of Armstrong’s goal, but with both sides eager to play good, passing football there were further chances in an entertaining game.

With a half-hour still to be played the home side couldn’t score on the break after a good save by Armstrong, and Peterlee continued to force the ’keeper into saves as they pushed for the second. In the sixty-sixth minute a Stuart Moffat cross provided Otway with a super chance to score, but he was adjudged to have used his hand in controlling the ball and the chance went begging.

By now Moffat had become Gilly’s main route of assault and continued to create chances on the left, but with Peterlee looking dangerous Thomson and Lang had to be strong in defence. With twelve minutes left it was the latter who was called upon to clear the danger after an excellent cross to the back post, but Bradley’s corner came to nothing while at the other end Rayson shot wide.

A particularly good team move from the Blues ended when Liddle shot wide with a bicycle kick, and a minute later Davie someone, (I’m guessing Davie Howe,) shot point blank into Gavin Armstrong’s arms.

There were further chances for both sides in the dying stages, with Peterlee’s forward pairing finding a path through the Gilly defence and Renyard and Rayson going close at the other end, but neither could make an impact on the score and the points were shared at full time.