New Marske 4 Cumby Rovers 3
Our first game for a few weeks saw us take on Cumby Rovers, who were bottom of the division going into this game. Although it was important that we didn't take anything for granted, and the spectators waited to see which New Marske team was going to turn up. Any had been brought in at right back for this game.
As seems to the pattern this season, there was a very strong wind blowing, and Cumby were playing with the wind in the first half. And straight from the off Cumby nearly got away but the ball went out of play before the attacker could get on the end of it. From the goal kick some nice passing saw Danny put Frank through, who saw his shot go narrowly wide of the goal.
The first goal wasn't long in coming though as within two minutes of the start, Danny once more played Frank through. The defender failed to intercept the ball and Franks shot hit the post before nestling into the net. 1-0 to New Marske.
That's the way, get your body between the man and the ball
Cumby were looking rattled as Frank once more broke through, only for the keeper to get a hold of the ball first. Two minutes later it was 2-0 to New Marske, as Frank once more got away and comfortably scored his second goal of the game. Bearing in mind we had had about five chances in as many minutes, it was looking as if a cricket score was on the cards.
Before anybody could catch their breath another goal went in. This time for the opposition. An attack down the right saw the ball crossed in, evading all the defenders and landing firmly on a Cumby attackers head, who looped the ball over the despairing Dean in goal, into the top corner of the goal. 2-1 to New Marske. What a start to the game!
The wind was proving very difficult for the players to cope with, as the ball swirled around in the air. Two more quick attackers saw Frank and then Johnny go close to extend the score. We were to rue not making the most of our chances as Cumby brought the game level. A long ball forward caught in the wind and dropped over Joe's head, leaving the Cumby attacker a free run on goal where he looped the ball over Dean to make the score 2-2.
Unbelievably, seconds later we were back in front as we were awarded a penalty, as Johnny with some brilliant footwork got free in the box before being brought down. Frank stepped up to cooly slot the ball away for his hat-trick. 3-2 to New Marske. Which way would this amazing game go next?
The penalty is slotted home to give us a 3-2 lead
Cumby were awarded a free kick when Jack fouled an opposition player about 7 yards outside our box. With the wind at his back the Cumby player hit his shot goalwards, straight at Dean for what looked to be a comfortable take. Unfortunately the ball spilled from his grasp and dropped into the net to once more make the game level at 3-3.
It was an end to end game with both sides fancying their chance for the next goal. We were looking very raggy at the back, as Cumby players were finding themselves in space instead of being closely marked. The game entered a period of stalemate, which was just as well as it allowed the spectators to get their breath back.
Frank was pushing on, looking to increase his personal goal tally, but too eager as he was pulled up twice offside. Cumby then attacked, and hit a decent shot, that just dropped over the bar. The ball was spending a lot of time in the air, and was proving difficult to get under control, but eventually we got it down, and Danny was sent through one-on-one with the keeper. The keeper made a save and Conor tried to get to the loose ball, but it carried over the goal line for a goal kick.
With the wind at their backs, Cumby put us under considerable pressure that we managed to withstand and eventually got the ball clear. As we moved up field, Danny picked the ball up and beat a couple of players before hitting his shot narrowly wide of the goal. Danny then played a lovely to Johnny, who looked as if he was going to put us back into the lead, only to see his shot hit the side netting.
Eventually we went back into the lead again as Conor broke through, rounded the keeper and hit his shot goalwards. Two Cumby defenders looked as if they might stop the ball before it crossed the line, but it wasn't to be as the ball crossed the line. 4-3 to New Marske. Phew!
Trying to work an opening from a corner, surrounded by defenders
We very nearly caused ourselves a big problem as Joe played the ball across the box to David. Cumby won the ball off him but the ball ran to Jack who put his foot through it only to see the ball hit the onrushing Cumby player and fall into the path of a second Cumby player. Luckily for us, and unluckily for Cumby, he put his shot just wide of the goal.
Half-time: New Marske 4 - Cumby Rovers 3
Everybody was wondering what was going to happen in the second half after the goal feast of the first half, but at least this time we would have the wind at our backs.
An early free kick to us, that looked to be in Jacks range, was instead taken by Danny, but sailed well wide of the goal. Cumby broke through into the box with Jack leaning quite heavily on the attacker to deny him room for a shot. The referee obviously thought it was ok as he played the game on and we broke up the attack.
The famous football one-legged dance
Cumby broke through again, this time forcing Dean to make a save. We were being put under more and more pressure as Cumby pushed forward, and an attack down the right was halted when Jack launched into a tackle, wiping the attacker out, resulting in a free kick near the corner flag. The free kick was taken with an Cumby player being picked out on the far post, allowing a free header that sailed over the bar.
We finally eased the pressure as we started to play in the Cumby half for a bit, and Conor was fouled as he broke clear of the Cumby defence, giving us a free kick. Jack hit the free kick, keeping it down, only to see it go about six feet wide of the goal for a disappointing free kick. Johnny shot wide before we got another free kick for hand ball. This was taken short and totally wasted as we only succeeded in giving the ball straight back to the opposition while everybody waited in the box for the anticipated cross.
Cumby finally managed to weather our attacks as the broke up field with three attackers heading goalward. Andy came across and broke the play up to stop what looked to be a dangerous attack. It wasn't long before we were back on the attack as Frank shot past the post. We were awarded another free kick on the right, that Jack hit in, finding Joe whose shot went narrowly wide of the goal.
The Cumby defenders tracking back as we attack down the wing
Our first substitutions of the game saw David replaced by Liam, and Matthew replaced by Ryan. We were back under pressure, with Dean forced to make a save, and the defence was looking all at sea as we sliced balls and failed to get the ball away. It was a period of really awful defending, but we hung on by the skin of our teeth. Jack was then replaced by Ben Hubbard, with Andy dropping into central defence.
A Cumby free kick was struck goalwards towards Dean who somehow dropped the ball to the feet of another Cumby player, somehow we managed to scramble the ball clear, just. A great run by Frank, using his pace and power saw him cross the ball to Conor, who looked to have a great goal scoring opportunity, but a Cumby defender came in to knock the ball out for a corner. The ball came in and it looked as if Ryan was going to score with a header, only to see the keeper claim the ball instead.
It looked as if we were going to score until the Cumby keeper got his hands on the ball
Ryan broke away from the Cumby defence only to be brought down just outside the box. Johnny lined the free kick up and lashed the ball across the goal with the keeper stranded, with the ball continuing out of play for a goal kick. Johnny was subbed shortly after as Ben Leaper came on to replace him. The Cumby manager didn't seem overly happy as he continued whinging on the referee, as one of the Cumby players ended up getting booked, for what looked like persistent fouling.
The tackles were hotting up now and we were awarded another free kick after a two footed challenge by a Cumby player. Danny lined it up but hit the free kick straight into the keepers arms. As the ball came back into play, it was Dannys turn to clatter one of their lads. We managed another shot from Conor that the keeper had covered before we won another corner. The corner was eventually taken, after another discussion between the referee and the Cumby manager, and Ben Leaper gotr his head to the ball, but could only put his header over the bar.
Final Score: New Marske 4 Cumby Rovers 3
MOTM:- : Greg Wood