Thornaby-on-Tees 0 New Marske 2
Todays game was something of a novelty, our second game on two consecutive Sundays, that hadn't happened for a while. At least one thing was consistent though, the howling wind blowing down the pitch. It was a new look attack for this game, as Frank was unavailable after having his toe operated on, allowing Ryan to partner Conor up front. Also missing from the management team was Stu, suffering from flu, leaving the decision making to Andy.
The game started pretty evenly, with both sides getting a feel for the weather and the opposition. The wind was mainly at our backs in the first half, but the first shot at goal came from Thornaby, but it was so far wide it was never going to cause a problem to Dean. Our first attack saw Ryan put conor through, however the referee blew for offside.
the next incident of note saw us awarded a free kick on the left 7 yards into the Thornaby half. Jack lined it up and hit it beautifully, into the top right corner of the net, giving the Thornaby keeper no chance of a save. 0-1 to New Marske. Thornaby pushed on and looked to be through, until Jack, holding his ground, took the ball off the attacker before clearing up field.
The ball went this-a-way
Johnny went on a strong run down the left beating the defenders for pace, before slightly over running the ball out for a goal kick. The goal apart things were still pretty even with not too many chances being carved out. Thornaby worked the ball forward from a free kick and the ball was hit towards our box. Dean didn't come out quickly enough and it looked as if a Thornaby player might get in, that was until Joe tidied up and got the ball clear.
Johnny went on another run forcing the defender this time to give away a corner. The ball came in and sailed right over the top of everybody and out for a throw on the opposite side of the pitch to Thornaby. Thornaby thought they had equalised (as did most of the spectators) when they broke down the left and got into our box. Dean came out but the ball was chipped over him for what looked like a certain goal, until Jack came in and almost on the goal line, calmly knocked the ball up before clearing the danger. That was close.
With Andy on the touch line encouraging the lads to shoot a bit more, Matthew decided to have a go. Although struck well enough it didn't trouble the keeper. Thornaby came close shortly after when they had another free kick on the left touchline near the 18 yard line. The ball was struck goalward and clipped the top of the bar, with Dean unable to do anything about it.
Determination and concentration
From a Thornaby throw in, Danny won the ball, beat a couple of players before hitting his shot goalward. With the keeper stranded, the ball went wide of the goal. Yet another free kick to Thornaby, about 5 yards inside our half, so another shot at goal. The distance proved to be too much, as the ball went out for a goal kick, missing our goal by about 7 yards.
The next incident saw the referee blow his whistle to stop the game, and book Danny for saying something he obviously shouldn't have. He then awarded a free kick to Thornaby, who worked the ball forward before shooting wide of the goal. Another corner to us next, as Danny worked the ball forwards before hitting a shot, that was deflected off a defender. This was a better corner for us, but the ball was knocked out to Danny, who tried single handedly to beat the whole Thornaby team. He nearly managed it but couldn't get a shot in at the end.
Fly like an eagle...
We were starting to get on top a bit now, and the next shots at goal came from Conor, wide of the goal, and then Danny with the keeper having to watch this one carefully. Thornaby started to push us back with a couple of attacks, nearly getting through to Dean. We were then nearly got going forward as Thornaby won the ball and broke away with a four on two attack. We defended the situation well though, and broke up the attack. Despite the league position, Thornaby were proving to be a decent passing team.
Half-time: Thornaby-on-Tees 0 New Marske 1
The second half would see Thornaby playing with the wind on their backs in the second half, however it did seem as if the wind was not quite as strong as it had been in the first half.
The second half started much like the first with neither team able to get on top. Thornaby were the first to create an opening as htey attacked down the right, before crossing the ball in. The ball beat Dean but luckily rolled past the post rather than into the net. A bit to close for comfort. A couple of corners for us saw Thornaby under quite a lot of pressure before they managed to scramble the ball away.
Fighting for the ball
Nice footwork by Matthew saw him beat 3 or 4 players before overrunning the ball, before he could his shot in. Everybody in the team were battling really well, with Greg doing a great job just in front of the defence putting challenge after challenge in. Thornaby were under increasing amounts of pressure, but a one goal lead is always precarious, and David trying to beat a Thornaby player instead of putting his foot through it, lost possession, allowing Thornaby to break clear. The ball was played in, and luckily for us a Thornaby player had run off side.
We were nearly caught as Thornaby broke forward and Dean was caught on his heels a bit. It looked like the Thornaby player was through until Jack got back and leant onto the attacker putting him off enough. By this time Dean was also out and everybody ended up in a heap. The referee awarded a free kick to us, and the Thornaby player had to go off the field after picking up an injury in the collision.
The second goal of the game followed shortly after on 47 minutes and it went to us. A long ball out of defence went to Danny who hit it forward towards Conor. A Thornaby defender failed to intercept the ball, leaving Conor in the clear, who pushed the ball forward before lobbing the onrushing keeper. 0-2 to New Marske.
The second goal goes in as the Thornaby keeper is chipped
Straight form the kick off Danny worked really hard to win possession and even harder to keep it before playing the ball to Ryan, but unfortunately he couldn't control the ball.We then made our first substitution with David going off and Liam coming on. Thornaby attacked down the left, and after working the opening the Thornaby player hit a shot goalward, but just over the bar.
Overall it was still pretty even as Danny had another shot at goal, but once again the ball went wide. Danny was working very hard in the middle and he played another ball through for Ryan. Once again a defender failed to clear it as Ryan broke through, but before he could get on the ball it ran to the keeper. Thornaby were next to have a shot, as Dean watched it all the way to make a comfortable save.
Ryan was replaced to allow Bean Leaper to come on. We were applying pressure up front, not allowing Thornaby to settle and this allowed a shot from Danny, after Ben played the ball to him. Yet another shot came in from Danny after winning the ball from a Thornaby throw in, but once again failed to trouble the keeper. Our third sub was made as Matthew came off to make way for Ben Hubbard.
Dominant in the air once more
We kept applying pressure in the hope of a third goal, and a cross come shot by Danny went agonisingly close to Johnny, but he could quite reach it. Danny for the second time in the game attempted to go through the whole Thornaby defence, and somehow worked a brilliant opening, but he could only hit his shot over the bar. It was looking as if we might keep a clean sheet, and to be honest we deserved one as every member of the team battled to keep Thornaby out.
Thornaby looked to get away when the won the ball in midfield, but great defending by Jack and then Joe saw the danger cleared, allowing Dean to claim the ball. As the game went on in was looking less and less likely that Thornaby were going to score as the defence coped comfortably with the Thornaby attack. Our last sub was made, as Bash came off and Andy came on. Johnny picked the ball up from a throw and hit a lovely hard ball across the Thornaby box, no New Marske attacker was able to get to the ball as it was cleared by Thornaby.
Thornaby, desperately trying to get something from the game mounted a couple of attacks, the second forcing Dean to punch the ball over the bar to clear the danger. All the subs who came on were working equally as hard as the starting players to keep Thornaby out as the final whistle neared, and eventually the referee blew to end the game.
Final Score: Thornaby-on-Tees 0 New Marske 2
MOTM:- : Johnny Wright