Whinney Banks 3 New Marske 1
For the second successive week (and cup game) the match was played against a team near the top of the third division, with the players having to cope once again with a fierce wind. We started the game with the wind mainly on our backs and the early exchanges were fairly even.
We won a corner that was hit towards Jack, who controlled the ball and hit a cross/shot. The ball rebounded back to Conor who had a shot at goal, only for the ball to go well wide of the goal.
Shortly after we were awarded a free kick just inside the Whinney Banks half, which was taken short and then hit forward. This seemed to cause problems in the Whinnney Banks defence, when we were awarded a free kick just outside the box for a back pass to the keeper. Unfortunately the lay off from Frank was a bit too strong so Jack could only direct the ball towards the wall instead of where he wanted to hit it, to the right hand side of the goal.
An early indirect free kick for us, shame the layoff was too strong, as that was a big gap on the right
Whinney Banks broke down our right, but were dealt with comfortably enough. It was looking like we might need a couple of goals in the first half as the wind was causing problems, and we were due to be up against it in the second half. Another corner to us came in and Greg got on the end of it, only to slice it well wide and go out for a goal kick near the corner flag.
Some nice passing down the right eventually saw the ball come in, only for the referee to blow for off side. We were having a lot of possession, but were unable to carve out any clear cut chances so far. Matthew went on a good run down the right, and his cross once more found Greg, who struck his shot wide of the goal. Whinney Banks were struggling to get forward against the wind and when they did, Jack was there to head the ball clear.
Conor was the next to attack down the right, only to see his cross carried out of play by the wind. A midfield tussle was won by us to send Conor away again, and the end result was the same, with the ball being carried out of play by the wind. Whinney Banks looked to have caught us on the break, but the ball forwards to the attacker, saw him struggle to control it, and by the time he had, we had got back to clear the ball.
A great challenge to stop the Whinney Banks player getting through on goal
Whinney Banks were getting a bit further forward, and got a break when Dougy seemed to let the ball go over his head. Joe slid in but missed the ball. The lad continued on as Jack tried to get a challenge in but also failed. Luckily by this time Joe had got back for a second go and cleared the ball to a different Whinney Banks player whose shot went well wide of the goal.
Whinney Banks were starting to get more possession in the game, but we didn't help ourselves when a throw to us was reversed after we committed a foul throw. We haven't had many of those in the last few weeks! The wind wasn't helping either. In quick succession both Jack and Joe looked to be under a ball to head it clear, only for the ball to carry in the wind not even close to them. To our credit, when we had the ball we were trying to keep it on the floor which was good to see.
Whinney Banks managed to break through and get a shot at goal, but the ball was cleared away from danger. Danny played a couple of through balls for Frank but the wind was sending them through to the Whinney Banks keeper. Johnny managed to get a cross over but it went over Franks head and out for a goal kick. Danny won the ball once more and managed to get a shot on target, but the keeper dealt with it without any problem.
An interchange between Danny and Johnny saw us win another corner, but before it could be taken Jack and a Whinney Banks player were getting a lecture from the referee, presumably for pushing each other. The corner finally came in and went over everybody to the back post, where Joe could only glance his header well wide as it went harmlessly out for a goalkick.
Getting a head in, before Whinney Banks could get to it
A quick attack from Whinney Banks down their left saw an attacker get away from Joe, but before he could get a shot at goal, Jack came across to get a timely challenge in that went out for a throw to us off the Whinney Banks player. Matthew got away on the right and got a shot on target, only for the referee to award a free kick to the opposition, I assume for offside.
As the half was drawing to a close Whinney Banks attacked down their left and a cross in was missed by Jack, as Joe got a foot to it, it fell to a Whinney Banks player who shot goalward, only for the ball to be blocked by Jack. The ball fell back to an attacker who saw this shot well held by Dean.
Half time: Whinney Banks 0 - New Marske 0
As we didn't score any goals in the first half while we were playing with the wind on our backs, it looked as if we might have to cope with more pressure in the second half from our opponents. we made a double substitution at half time with Bash coming on for Dougy, and Ben Leaper coming on for Johnny. Almost immediately Whinney Banks won a corner, but as happened to us a number of times, the ball blew straight out of play due to the wind.
Chasing the ball down
Frank and Danny were probing forward, and Danny was only stopped in getting clear by a good tackle from a Whinney Banks defender. Playing against the wind we were doing pretty well, due to keeping the ball down and Conor very nearly opened the scoring , but instead we ended up with a corner. The ball came in and Jack could only try to direct it goalwards with a header from a very tight angle, too tight as it happens and the ball drifted out for a goalkick.
We found ourselves under pressure as Whinney Banks knocked the ball high, and it was proving difficult to get it clear. The attacker finally got the ball down and got through one on one with Dean, only for Dean to make a good save to deny him. We came close when some great control by Frank looked like giving Matty a chance at goal, but he couldn't take it, and instead seemed to catch the defender rather than the ball.
As we were keeping the ball down well in this half, we seemed to be making more chances than we had in the first half, which was promising. David and Conor had to battle for the ball to stop Whinney Banks progessing down the right. When they finally did get through Jack was on hand to get a tackle in that went for a corner. Our good play in the second half was rewarded when Frank broke away into the opposition box. It looked as if a tackle had stopped him, but he managed to work the ball free and placed it just inside the post. 0-1 to New Marske.
Who says football isn't a contact sport anymore
The lead however lasted for less than a minute. Whinney Banks attacked through the middle and a couple of attempted clearances fell to the opposition and on the second of these the ball was struck high goalwards. Dean looked to have made a great save to tip it over, but unfortunately for us the ball dipped under the bar rather than over it, to bring the score level at 1-1.
We got a free kick just inside the Whinney Banks half that was taken short to Greg, however his attempted cross into the box was very easily cleared. We nearly got the ball through to Frank after some good possession football from David and Ben Leaper, but it didn't quite come off. The game entered a bit of a midfield stalemate after the flurry of goals as neither side could make any real progress going forwards.
That was until a Whinney Banks player got possession of the ball outside the box, and with no pressure on him he struck an unstoppable shot high into the top corner, above the despairing reach of Dean. 2-1 to the home side. Whinney Banks kept up the pressure and two good tackles by first Joe and then Jack kept them out. The second one off Jack looped up in the air towards Dean, but he held onto it without any problems.
Another determined effort to win the ball
We made our third substitution when Andy came on to replace Matthew.Whinney Banks were awarded a corner after Joe let the ball run out for what he thought was a goal kick, however the referee must have thought he touched it. When the corner came in both central defenders were once again to far forwards, as a Whinney Banks player got a free header at the back post, luckily for us he put it over the bar.
A good run down the left by Frank found Andy who saw his shot go wide of the post. The came once more entered a bit of a lull and it was looking like this was going to be the final score, that was until a few moments later. Whinney Banks attacked down our right, and with no pressure on the lad with the ball he sent a cross in. Joe missed it as did two or three other players, when it was hit goalward. Jack on the line could only knock the ball out to another Whinney Banks player who put the ball in the net. 3-1 to the home side.
The remaining minutes petered out to give the home side their victory. All things considered, it was a decent performance against a side near the top of the third division in terrible conditions, where attempted to keep the ball down and play football. After the two cup games we are back to league action next week with a game against a resurgent bottom of the table Cumby Rovers. DON'T underestimate them!
Final Score: Whinney Banks 3 New Marske 1
MOTM:- : Danny Latham