Wolviston 0 New Marske 7
After last weeks game was cancelled the management were obviously interested as to how the lads would react to the poor, poor performance against Greatham in the previous game. As it happens, the reaction was very positive. Although there was still a strong wind blowing at times, at least we had a bit of sun for a change.
The first few minutes were quite cagey, although we took the opportunity to knock the ball around and keep good possession. Our first chance wasn't long in coming, as Frank played the ball to Conor, whose shot at goal was blocked, forcing the ball out for a corner. The corner wasn't struck firmly enough on what was a wide pitch, as Wolviston cleared the ball comfortably.
Wolviston, not long after had there first break, which looked as if it would result in a shot on goal, until Jack came across to get a strong challenge in, as Joe followed it up to get the ball clear. Our possesion and general play was looking very composed in the early stages, and it looked as if we could get pressure on Wolviston from their goal kicks as the keeper seemed to be struggling to get any length on the ball. In fact on the very next goal kick, Frank robbed the defender on the edge of the box, as he tried to get the goal kick under control, to win us a corner. This time Johnny hit a fabulous ball deep into the box, that enabled Danny to have a shot at goal.
The opening goal that cost me a fiver!
Conor was next onto the attack, as he burst into the box, only to go down claiming a penalty under a challenge, but the defender comfortably eased him off the ball. Woviston were struggling to get out of their half as we kept the pressure on that resulted in another corner. Matthew took this one, and another terrific delivery found Jack in space as he turned and put the ball over the defender into the net. 0-1 to New Marske.
Our next corner was taken short to Greg, but unfortunately, he was just moving back into a defensive position after a shout from the coaching staff, and so he didn't see the ball played to him, as Wolviston gratefully cleared the ball. Everybody was working very hard, as Danny put himself about in the centre, and the hard work was typified by Matthew who chased after a Wolviston player, tracking him right across the pitch, before finally dispossessing him, and then skinning him, before racing away with the ball into the opposition half.
Frank was very close to being through on goal, as Johnny put a lovely ball through for him to chase. He did, but the keeper was just out in time to make a great block, clattering Frank at the same time. Some lovely passing saw a ball hit forward towards Frank, who flicked it on to Conor. It looked as if Conor had missed his chance, but he got the ball under control before slotting it past the keeper to make the score 0-2.
The Wolviston player did his best to get away but was chased down and robbed of the ball
The game resumed and Wolviston were awarded a free kick, with Danny getting a right talking to by the referee. When the free kick finally came in, we cleared the ball upfield to Danny who hit a long ball to set frank away again. Once more the keeper was out quickly and looked to have the ball in his arms, when somehow he dropped it, to allow Frank to round him and hit the ball goalward. It was close to the goalline when a defender came in and knocked it out for another corner. A short corner, was eventually delivered towards the goal, and it looked like Jack was going to get his head on the ball, but the keeper gathered it in his arms first.
Wolviston tried once again to get something at our end but once more the defence snuffed it out and cleared the ball up to Danny who was starting to find a lot more space in midfield. He played a ball to Frank who was taken out by a Wolviston player. We were continuing to pass the ball around, however the final ball into the box wasn't quite dropping to give us another chance at goal.
Wolviston found themselves free in midfield which gave them the chance to hit the ball forwards, however it ran through to Dean who collected it safely for what was, by my reckoning his first touch of the game after 24 minutes. We were nearly caught out when Joe went in and won the ball and proceeded to go on a run forward. He was finally disposessed and the ball was hit towards our goal. Jack aware of what was happening stepped up allowing the opposition to run offside. Luckily the referee agreed and awarded a free kick. The free kick from Jack was played into a great area for somebody to attack the opposition goal, but nobody made the effort to chase it and it finally rolled through to the keeper.
When he was told to go for the ball, the coaching staff meant the one in the air!
After 26 minutes we got our third goal. A pass out to the right saw Matthew put in a beautiful ball for Frank who rounded the keeper to slot the ball home. 0-3 to New Marske.Wolviston were spurred into action as the pressed us down the right, with a ball finally being whipped in. Unfortunately for them it struck one of their own players and went harmlessly out for a goal kick, to give Dean his second touch of the game.
A shot at goal by Danny was followed by Wolviston getting more onto the attack. A ball was put into the box and the shot had to be watched by Dean who comfortably made the save. Wolviston were starting to look more dangerous and Joe was forced to launch into a great challenge as the Wolviston player looked through on goal, the ball going out for a corner. Wolviston were certainly more on the ascendency as they were starting to find more time and space in the middle of the pitch. We did conteract this and once more pushed them back. The pressure finally told when Frank got free and hit a strong shot that the keeper could only parry back to him, he made no mistake with the second shot to make the score 0-4 to New Marske.
Just about to slot the ball home again after breaking clear
Almost straight after it looked like Frank had got his hat-trick. A brilliant ball through from Matthew, saw Frank take the ball down, compose himself as the keeper came rushing out, and then chipped the keeper, only to see it go narrowly over the bar. How close was that! We were fairly composed for the rest of the half, however Dougy was forced into a race for the ball which he won, just before the half time whistle.
Half-time: Wolviston 0 New Marske 4
The wind in the second half was favouring Wolviston, and straight from the kick off they broke into our half, without causing any problem for us. We soon settled back into the game with nice passing and a final shot by Johnny. About three minutes into the second half, we got our fifth goal, when Johnny hit a lovely shot goalward. The keeper couldn't hold it and it fell to Frank. His deft touch, inside of nestling into the net, spannered away from the goal. but Conor following in put it into the empty net. 0-5 to New Marske.
Conor nearly got another goal as Wolviston struggled to get it clear and he raced through on the keeper, but there was nothing doing this time. We nearly caused ourself a problem when Jack got hold of the ball. He looked around for a pass, and saw Johnny in space. Unfortunately the ball wasn't struck firmly enough and was intercepted, but luckily we cleared before danger occured. Wolviston really started to push us back, and some poor clearances kept us under pressure for a while.
With a flash of yellow boots and a mighty hi-ho-silver, the Wolviston player was closed down
Frank and Conor combined to get a shot in, but it was time to make the first subs of the day. Johnny and Matthew came off as Ryan and Liam came on. The Wolviston keeper was still struggling to get any distance on his clearance, which was helping us. Then followed a couple more chances to score , but we couldn't make the most of it. Shortly after we did, when a lovely ball by Jack picked out Danny. He then waltzed around a couple of defenders before picking his spot and bagged himself a goal. 0 - 6 to New Marske.
Another sub, as Dougy was replaced by Bash followed. A pass forward to Frank saw him totally skin the defender, but he wasn't able to make the most of the opportunity. Danny was replaced to allow Ben Leeper to come on. All the changes were starting to have an effect, as our fluency dissappeared and we struggled to get the ball clear. Although under more and more pressure, we still found time to play some excellent football to move the ball forward.
Although we were 0-6 in front, there was some brilliant committed defending to stop Wolviston from getting on the score sheet. Block after block was stopping them. Our final sub was made when Frank came off and Robert went on. We nearly let Wolviston in as we seemed to switch off, but eventually reacted to get the ball clear. The team pattern seemed a bit disrupted probably due to all the substitutions, and Wolviston seemed determined to exploit it, as they piled the pressure on. A ball was whipped across the box but nobody could get on the end of it.
Size doesn't matter if you battle for the ball
A couple of corners for Wolviston put us under pressure, but determined defending by Greg eventually saw us get the ball into the opposition half, after a long wait. Conor did find himself clear but wanted to walk the ball into the net rather than hit a shot, only to be dispossessed before the chance came. Wolviston once more mounted a great attack as a beautiful ball was hit into the box, but the unmarked attacker couldn't make contact with the ball to get a goal back.
Once again Wolviston pressed, and we repelled, and we finally got another telling break. Conor was put through, and seemed to waste the opportunity, however he did get the ball to Ryan he crashed a shot goalward. The bsll fell back out to Ben who lobbed the ball into the unguarded net. 0-7 to New Marske. Shortly after the final whistle sounded. Great result, and some excellent football played lads. Keep it up.
Final Score: Wolviston 0 New Marske 7
MOTM:- : Joe Harvey