Billingham Synthonia's players need to have a "good look at themselves" following their 3-1 derby defeat at home to Guisborough, according to the club's assistant manager Lee Tucker
Photo credit: Ian Cooper
Billingham's David Hillerby and Guisborough's Craig Bishop go for the ball in the derby clash
Billingham Synthonia's players need to have a "good look at themselves" following their 3-1 derby defeat at home to Guisborough, according to the club's assistant manager Lee Tucker.
Synners made five changes to the side which lost in extra-time at West Auckland in the Durham Cup, and Kris Hughes gave them the lead as they enjoyed a lively start.
But it was all downhill after that as goals from Tommy Marron, Adam Gell and Danny Johnson sealed a Northern League first division double for Guisborough over their Teesside rivals.
“After the first 15 minutes when we should have been three up, we were very poor,” former Boro and Darlington winger Tucker said.
“The players need to have a good look at themselves and prove to us that they deserve to be at the club.
“I can accept being beaten by a better side, which Guisborough were, but not getting beaten because of a lack of effort and desire.”
Hughes tapped in after Michael Sweet had a shot saved, but Guisborough levelled when Marron fired in at the back post following a corner.
The Priorymen went ahead before half time through a fierce Gell shot, and former Synners striker Johnson iced the visitors’ cake with a stunning volley.
Guisborough are still sixth but are now level on points with Ashington, and the result left manager Chris Hardy much happier than he was in October when they suffered a lame 1-0 defeat at Central Avenue in the FA Vase.
“It took about 20 minutes for us to get started, but once we did there was no looking back,” Hardy said.
“In fairness to Synners, their start was bright and they asked questions of us.
“But once we started to contest the key areas, we came out worthy winners.”
New Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter is upbeat about the future at Bedford Terrace despite his first match in charge ending in a 4-1 home defeat to Crook. Matthew Dixon scored the basement club’s first goal of 2014 and first since December and Trotter said there were lots of positives in the performance to take forward.
Town kept the score goalless until the 32nd minute, when James Leeds scored an unfortunate own goal.
Crook doubled their lead right on half time through Marc Ellison, but Town were enlivened after the break by another one of their new signings, former Stokesley midfielder Daniel Ballantyne.
They pulled a well-worked goal back when left-back Dixon rounded the keeper following a move which began in their own half.
And although they ran out of a bit of steam in the final eight minutes when Kyle Davies and Adam Nicholls added further Crook goals, Trotter liked a lot of what he saw.
“Even though it was 4-1, we got more out of the game than I intended,” Trotter said.
“I thought the score flattered them, and I couldn’t fault the lads’ effort and commitment.
“I’m really pleased. Obviously I don’t know what previous performances were like, I can only go on results.
“But I think it was a decent start and hopefully we can move forward.”
Town have a home friendly next against a York City XI tomorrow night at Bedford Terrace. Kick-off is 7pm and turnstile admission is £3.
All of the other Northern League games involving Teesside teams were rained off.
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