Ardelan Double Seals Northumbria Win

Striker Andrei Ardelan proved to be the difference for Team Northumbria as they picked up a 3-2 home win over Guisborough.

The prolific striker put two past the Priorymen in the second half to put the home side 3-0 up following Ben Dibb-Fuller’s opener.

However, the visitors didn’t lie down, scoring two in the final 10 minutes of the game – resulting in a five goal second half.

The first 45 minutes saw both teams struggle to get themselves off the starting line, with neither keeper having much to do.

Guisborough were clearly the more physical of the two sides, as they attempted to quite literally ‘beat’ the TN lads, although neither side looked like winning as they left for the changing rooms.

“I was determined at half time to sort the performance out,” said TN head coach Colin Stromsoy.

“We went to Marske earlier in the week and played brilliantly in the first half and disappointingly in the second, I didn’t want a repeat of that here.

“So, in the changing room we made the changes we needed to make and I said to the guys ‘we’re going to get in behind them, get on the front foot and close them down’.

“And we did. We played fantastically for 25 minutes and I think we should have been four or five up easily.

“We scored a brilliant team goal with Dibb-Fuller putting it in the net with a fantastic finish. Then the next two goals are great quality from Ardelan, great finishes.

“Unfortunately, we then took our foot off the gas and conceded two goals to make it interesting at the death, which it never should have been.

“We can’t be unprofessional like that at this level but ultimately it was a good win over a team we really needed to pick up three points against.”