21st Allstars B 4 - New Marske 1
After yet another layoff of a couple of weeks we were back to action with an away tie that was nearly called off due to the pitch. However the match went ahead on a beautiful sunny day in Darlington. The game started in an even manner with both teams sounding each other out. The first real chance of a shot at goal fell to us, when after a nice period of passing the ball came to Andy who got himself in a position to shoot. Instead of hitting the shot though, he played a good through ball, though nobody was there to receive it and it rolled through to the Allstars keeper.
Joe showed us his quick feet when he twisted and turned two Allstars players before passing the ball to Ryan. I'm not quite sure you want your central defenders doing that deep in their own half myself, but it came off! A free kick just inside our half to Allstars saw us keep a good line on the 18 yard line. Allstars took it short and then hit the ball behind the defensive line straight into Deans arms. The ball went quickly to Ryan who played a great ball forward for Frank who ran into the opposition box. With the ball on his left foot he looked like he was going to be closed down by the three defenders with him, but somehow he kept possession, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball in with his left foot. That was one for the scrap book. 0-1 to New Marske after 8 minutes.
We were back on the attack and Conor drew a fould from the Allstars defence a few yards up from their goal line but quite far out. Jack lined up the free kick and put a glorious ball in, just begging somebody to attack it. Ryan looked like he was going to head but seemed to pull his head away at the last minute. Allstars were under a great deal of pressure as we pushed them back, with desperate defending needed to keep the goalscoring chances down.
Determination to win the ball (or at least put the opposition off)
Allstars did mount a break shortly after when Jack stepped up claiming an offside, however he hadn't spotted Joe behind him playing the attackers onside. Before they could get a shot in though we got a couple of blocks in before the ball was cleared. Allstars repelled the earlier pressure as the game balanced itself out, with both teams trying to work an opening.
An Allstars attack down the right was blocked by Jack for a corner to the opposition. The ball came in and after an initial clearance saw Dougy mistime his header away straight to the opposition, but somehow we got away with it. We were next on the attack and we created a brilliant opening for Dougy who moved forward with purpose as space opened up in front of him. With cries of "hit it" from the crowd (well, me anyway) he did. A Yakubu rocket it weasn't as it trickled and bobbled along the floor to a grateful Allstars defender. We soon won it back as a shot crashed onto the Allstars bar, eventually going for a corner.
There was a bit of a delay before the corner as the keeper got treatment for a knock in the last move. A great ball in by Ryan from the corner saw us unable to make the most of the chance when play resumed. We opened Allstars up nicely as Frank played a ball into corner, but once more we couldn't quite get a shot on goal. Our battling so far was excellent but we couldn't quite get our passing game firing on all cylinders.
A novel technique for winning the ball
Greg was battling well in front of the defence, closing the space down that Allstars were trying to play in. Another block by Jack led to another corner for Allstars, which came in for what looked like a simple clearance for Matthew. However he missed it giving Allstars the chance of a shot, that Dean was forced to tip around the post for another corner. The pressure was relieved as the ball went straight out of play.
We were lucky from the goalkick as the ball went straight to an attacker who raced towards goal. It looked like he was pulled back in the box, but the referee either didn't see it or deemed there wasn't a foul being commited. We broke up the other end and won ourselves a corner. The ball came in as Jack and a defender challenged for it as it went wide of the goal, with the referee indicating a goalkick.
A ball forward to Frank saw him put a superb ball to Conor, who looked like he had overran it, but managed to go around the keeper and hit his shot towards goal. A defender managed to clear it before it got to the goal line. A corner came in and found Ryan who hit his shot really well as it clipped a defender to be deflected just over the bar. The following corner was woeful however as it was another that went in and then straight out of play with everybody waiting in the box.
At least in the first half we didn't allow the opposition any space
Chances to nearly break through occured at both ends, but last ditch challenges broke up the attacks. It was a very frustrating game for me, as I felt if our passing had been better we could have been out of sight by this point, but our passing wasn't better, but would it come back to haunt us?
Another good spell of pressure saw Matthew end with a shot that the keeper held onto without too much of a problem. We should have scored our second goal as Frank put a great ball across to the unmarked Ryan. As he controlled it he was closed down, but he hit a fierce shot that the keeper did well to tip over the bar for a corner. Once more a very poor corner didn't find it's way into the box before it went straight out again.
Half-time: 21st Allstars B 0 - New Marske 1
Well it had been a pretty good first half despite the lack of quality on the passing, but what was the second half to bring?
Pressure on the player stopped the allstars player getting a shot in
Allstars pushed us back from the restart as Matthew dribbled with the ball deep in our half rather than clear it, he did manage to eventually work it clear though. Not for long as we conceded a corner. We were starting the second half very sluggish and struggled to pass the ball without giving it back to the opposition. A long ball to Frank looked as if the defender had nicked it off him, but no, he got away and rounded the keeper before striking a left foot shot goalwards, that the defence cleared, sending Allstars up the pitch onto the attack. Dougy worked hard and eventually won the ball to avert the danger.
Matthew broke away with the ball and hit a strong pass to Conor. It looked like it was going to be to strong, but he got a toe to it and got it under control, before hitting a shot towards goal. The keeper made a great save to knock the ball out for a corner. The corner was better this time as Jack on the near post flicked it on into space on the back post. Nobody could get to it though and a huge boot up field saw the lone attacker race away from Greg. Dean came out and made a great block but the ball fell at the feet of the attacker, and he put the ball in the net to make the score 1-1.
Allstars pushed on after the kick off and looked to be through again until a crunching challenge by Jack stopped the attacker in his tracks. We were under pressuer now, as the defence worked hard to get the ball clear of our box. Allstars won the ball in the box again and Jack, inexplicably pulling out of a challenge he looked favourite to win, allowed the attacker to get through on goal, but he failed to take his chance.
I generally find it's better to have a shot when the ball's in front of you!
A throw in by Allstars saw the ball rolling towards Dean who shouted that the ball was his. The Allstars attacker bearing down on him didn't agree a nipped in to take possession but luckily for us he rolled it past the post. We eventually did put a bit of football together allowing Conor to break forward, but the ball was over hit as it went back to the keeper. Conor once more broke away down the left before being fouled just outside the box about five yards in from their goal line.Jack floated a lovely ball towards the back post but once again nobody made any effort to get on the end of it, and it was cleared for a corner. Allstars broke away down the left as Joe was unable to get a challenge in, the ball was hit goalward. Dean made the save but only succeded in dropping the ball at the feet of another attacker. 2-1 to Allstars.
Allstars broke through again, and Joe who looked injured didn't make any attempt to try and chase for the ball, allowing the attacker to hit the ball across our goal where Andy sliced it narrowly wide of our goal. From the resultant corner we broke away and managed to relieve the pressure, creating pressure on Allstars in the process. It wasn't long after that Dougy and Ryan were replaced allowing Bash and Liam to come on.
Our chances of getting back in the game looked dashed when Allstars got a freak goal. A long, high, speculative shot looked as if it was going to bounce just in front of Dean. Instead of moving forwards to claim it, he let it bounce up above him, where he failed to catch it cleanly. Attempting to hold it, he only succeded in juggling with the ball before dropping it into his net. 3-1 to Allstars.
We seemed to have gone to pieces as we dawdled on the ball instead of clearing it, inviting Allstars to pile on the pressure and have shots almost at will. A long ball by Allstars saw David try in vain to catch the attacker before he hit his shot over the bar. A lovely ball by Jack sent Frank away, and just as he looked to be lining up the shot, a defender came in with a great challenge to break up the attack, and send the ball long deep into our half again. One on one with Dean, this time Dean came out on top as he deflected the shot out for a throw.
A great flick on to the back post, but nobody was there to put the ball in
Allstars should have had another goal as Jack saw the ball go over his head allowing the attacker to burst clear. Luckily for us he put his shot wide of the goal again. The game evened out again but still our passing was very poor, stopping us mounting any sustained pressure. With 10 minutes to go Jack was substituted as Ryan came on. We went to three at the back to try and get back into the game.
A great tackle by Bash stopped Allstars progressing, but no sooner were we getting the ball forward, we were giving it straight back to the opposition. We were really struggling to get the ball forward, as we tippy-tappied around with it at the back before losing possession time and time again. Allstars won a corner off David, who obviously thought it wasn't a corner. After a bit of whinging the referee had a word with him before the corner could be taken. Once the ball came in, Allstars won it and shot narrowly wide of the post.
Time looked to be up, but Allstars still managed to pick the ball up straight from the goal kick and shoot wide of the goal again. Worse was to come as the ball was hit out to David, who miscontrolled it and passed it back inside to Joe on the edge of the box. Instead of putting his foot through it, he once more tried to beat a player, only to lose possession and allow the Allstars player to stride forward and put the ball into the net. 4-1 to Allstars. That was a terrible goal to concede, but really it summed up our second half performance in a nutshell.
Final Score: 21st Allstars B 4 - New Marske 1
MOTM:- : Ryan Middleton