New Marske 1 Billingham Wanderers 5
After two wins on the trot, we were hopeful of a third to try and consolidate fourth place in the league, Apart from our win at their place, Billingham hadn't suffered too many heavy defeats all season, and so it looked like it could be an even game. Frank was back up front, but Greg was out and this was to prove a big problem on the day.
The early stages were very even neither team able to get on top, and BW won the first corner. It was cleared easily and led to a move up the left wing involving seven or eight players before Johnny hit a powerful shot goalward, that the keeper held.
A free kick to BW looked as if it was going well over Deans goal, however it died in the wind and only just went over. Our next chance came from a ball travelling through to the BW keeper, who looked like he would just pick it up. Somehow he managed to miss it and the ball squirmed under him, allowing Conor to chase after it, in the end winning a corner.The corner came in and found Johnny on the back post who put his header wide of the goal.
A brave challenge sometimes results in a kick in the head.
We started to put BW under pressure, and a slack ball from a goal kick only found Frank whose well struck shot was held well enough by the keeper. BW won a free kick on the left hand side, and when the ball was whipped in low, Jack stooped to head the ball clear only to get a kick in the head for his troubles. Once the game resumed we were awarded a free kick just inside their half. Jack hit a lovely free kick in to Ryan who connected with a good header that the keeper held.
A very poor throw from us, let a BW player pick the ball up and start on a weaving run around four or five of our players, before being hacked down by Danny just outside our box in a very dangerous position. It really was a reckless challenge, and ended up being fully punished when the free kick flew into our giving Dean no chance. 0-1 to BW.
We didn't deserve to be losing as we had played some good football up to this point, and straight from the kick off, Conor went on a run down the right before crossing the ball, unfortunately only into the keepers arms. worse was to follow, when we conceded a penalty. Jack had a man backing into him and appeared to move out of the way, allowing the BW player to fall back. The referee decided he had pushed the opponent first though and awarded the spot kick. We need ed Dean to be big and strong, and he was as he managed to save the ball with his feet.
A crucial penalty save in the first half. Shame we collapsed in the second half.
A corner followed by a free kick, saw us trying to build up some pressure on BW, but the ball wouldn't just run right. Our play was still good and we were still hopeful we would get back into the game. A lovely ball in seemed to be going to the keeper until Frank came in and seemed to put him off. The keeper missed the ball as it went to Ryan in space, whose goalbound attempt was cleared.
We continued pushing on with a shot from Danny, followed by a chase for the ball by Frank and a couple of defenders. He went down as he was challenged, but it never looked like a foul and the referee played on. BW were starting to find space in front of our defence and managed to work the ball across from the right to the left, finding an attacker totally unmarked. Luckily for us he put his shot wide of the goal.
A ball through down the right saw Conor race in on a defender, who missed the ball. The chase was then on between Conor and the keeper, which the keeper won, hitting the ball straight out to Ryan on the half way line. He hit his shot first time, but his effort couldn't find the goal and instead went high, wide and handsome. The area in front of our defence where Greg normally is was causing a big problem, as BW were finding far too much time and space, and a shot came in that Dean did well to parry around the post for a corner. the corner came in and after a lot of pushing and shoving finally a BW shot went well over the bar.
A great far post header for our goal.
After another attack down the right we won a corner. The ball came in towards the back post where Ryan was waiting to head the ball into the net. 1-1. On the balance of play it was fully deserved as well.
Half-time: New Marske 1 - Billingham Wanderers 1
As we thought before the game started, it was proving to be a fairly even game with us edging the first half. The second half started in much the same way as the first, with neither team getting on top. A free kick to BW was taken and sailed through into Deans arms.
We came close when a great ball over the top found Johnny through on goal. Instead of heading the ball at goal he tried to bring it down, but this didn't work as the ball bobbled harmlessly out of play. We upped the pressure on the opposition box, but the ball wouldn't quite fall right as Ryan snatched his shot over the bar.
Showing great strength to break away with the ball under a stern challenge.
A foul from Joe near the touch line, about level with the 18 yard box came in, only to be cleared for a throw from Joe. The ball came into a BW attacker and he managed to roll past Bash easily before hitting a shot the Dean did well to push out for a corner. The corner came in and Jack won the ball before going on a run almost to the halfway line before laying a nice pass into the centre. The ball was played forward for Conor, who was away before being stopped by the referee for offside. It was a poor decision as he was well onside, but that's the way it goes.
A throw to BW found an attacker in spacejust outside our box, Jack closed him down but before he could get a tackle in he struck a well hit shot past Dean into the net. 1-2 to BW. The opposition pushed on with another corner. This time it came in, and hit the post before being cleared by Jack, getting a bang in the mouth this time for his troubles.
After sustaining a bit of pressure we got down the other end and won a corner, but where unable to make it count.The first half we played some good football, but for some reason we were struggling to get the ball moving in the second half. Danny was not as effective as normal as he seemed to be playing deep rather than driving forward at their defenders, and we still had this worrying area in front of the defence that BW were exploiting more and more.
The Billingham attacker just gets the edge before seeing his shot hit the back of the net.
We made a couple of subs to try and change things, as Andy and Dougy came on to replace Danny and Bash. With Danny off we were struggling even more to get on top of the game and a free kick was awarded to BW five yards inside our half. It was to prove a disaster, as the free kick was hit goalward, with Dean looking to hold the ball with both hands behind the ball. Somehow, he managed to drop the ball into his net, making the score 1-3 to BW.
Another shot from an unmarked BW player in that area in front of the defence saw a shot struck over the bar. Conor was replaced as Liam came on. It got worse seconds later. A brilliant committed tackle by Johnny saw the ball go to David, who had it under control in a bit of space. For some reason instead of hitting the ball down field, he stroked it straight to a BW attacker in the box, who not believing his luck, buried the ball into the net. 1-4 to BW.
We worked the ball forward and Johnny looked like he was favourite to get a shot at goal, but he didn't seem to have the drive to get in front of the defenders, as the ball was cleared. The problem area in front of the defence was still there, forcing the defence to have to come further and further out to try and win the ball. BW took advantage when they broke through the middle to make it 1-5 to BW.
We did manage another attack when Johnny hit a shot towards goal. The keeper for some reason instead of getting hold of the ball chose to use his legs, spinning the ball up in the air. They did manage to get it clear eventually though. Dougy came out to make a header , but the ball bounced in front of him and travelled over his head, letting the BW attacker in. His shot was off target and went past the post.
Another robust challenge is seen off as the ball is headed clear.
we pushed on and a shot in by Johnny saw the keeper make a save, with the ball falling to Frank. He hit his shot and the keeper made another save with his legs. Just before the final whistle it looked as if BW would get their sixth goal, as an attacker powered through challenge after challenge. Just as it looked like he would score, a final challenge deflected the ball wide.
The referee blew the whisle to end the game. Once again, we played well in one half and very poorly in the second. A very, very, disappointing performance.
Final Score: New Marske 1 Billingham Wanderers 5
MOTM:- : Ryan Middleton