Richmond Town 2 New Marske 3
Our final away game of the season saw us head up towards Scotch corner for the away fixture with Richmond Town. With Johnny absent Liam was drafted in on the left wing as his replacement.
We got off to a good start in the game and won our first corner after a couple of minutes, that was headed over by Liam. The rain started to come down, but it didn't dampen our play as we looked in control of the game. Frank picked the ball up and ran at the Richmond defence, beating his man three times he held off hitting his shot only for the ball to go out finally for a corner. The ball came in and Jack got his head to the ball but couldn't direct it goalwards as he got a clatter on the head from a Richmond defender at the same time, with the ball travelling out of play for a throw in to us. The throw was taken and hit into the box where it fell kindly for Liam, who took his chance and put the ball into the net, after 8 minutes. 0-1 to New Marske.
Our tails were up and it was a very committed performance with tackles flying in, not allowing Richmond to settle into any sort of rhythm. The did manage their first attack of the game down the right wing, with the ball being crossed to a player on the left hand side, before the ball went out for a corner before he got a shot in. The corner came in and a good block by Jack saw us break quickly out, allowing a swift move up field that ended with Andy hitting his shot over the bar.
A close effort by New Marske as the ball crashes against the bar
We came very close to our second goal after good tackling got the ball to Liam, who hit a lovely ball forward for Frank. The ball was slightly over hit, but the keeper fumbled the ball, but before Frank could get his foot to the ball Richmond just managed to clear it. This was a much improved performance with the lads playing some lovely passing football coupled with equally determined challenges, it was good to watch.
It wasn't long before we doubled our lead, when from a corner the ball was crossed in, sailing over Jack and Joe, it found Liam unmarked, deep at the back post, who put his header into the net. 0-2 to New Marske after 14 minutes.
Although we were well on top Richmond were springing the odd attack forward, and a quick break saw them bear down on Dean after a shout for handball as Bash appeared to handle the ball. The eventual shot was struck wide of the goal, much to our relief. Apart from the infrequent Richmond breaks, we were keeping them under a lot of pressure and not allowing them time on the ball, and Liam sent another good cross across the b ox to Frank, who looked like he would score our third with a simple tap in, but instead he somehow managed to mishit his shot. That was a real let off for Richmond.
A congested penalty area as we defend a corner
We were applying so much pressure onto Richmond htat the were only playing on the occassional break, but it was another of these once more down the left that led to another shot at goal, once more being dragged wide of the goal. Richmond then came close again when from our throw in, they quickly nicked the ball away, and exploited a large gap in behind Bash as he had pushed forward. Luckily for us, Richmond hit their third shot from the left hand side, only for it to go, you guessed it, past the post.
Although we were well on top Richmond had had three good openings in the game so far. Frank worked hard to nip in in front of a Richmond defender to win the ball, which saw him have a shot from a very narrow angle, which was ultimately too tight as the ball struck the side netting. there was a break of play next, as greg and a Richmond player clashed heads when going for the ball.
Leaping like a salmon to win the ball
The game restarted, but not for long as Richmond were awarded a free kick near the half way line, with Ryan getting a stern talking to from the referee. Th ball eventually came in and Dean was forced to make a save as he pushed the ball out for a corner. The corner came in, only for good defending with a number of blocks, saw us clear the ball out of danger.
Half-time: Richmond Town 0 - New Marske 2
After a first half of really good football and constant battling, we thoroughly deserved our lead, let's hope we could keep it going, as Richmond were likely to come out to try and get more pressure onto us. However from the kick off we were straight back onto the attack, starting the second half as we ended the first. the first shot at goal in the second half was from Andy, but it was well over the bar. He had another soht this time past the post, after a nice move down the left.
Richmond broke up the right wing and put a cross into the box, finding a team mate free, whose header looked as if it was going in, until Dean made a great save to knock the ball out for a corner. The corner came into the box, and once more great blocking saw us eventually clear the ball down field where nice passing got the ball forward to Frank. He out paced the defence and slotted the ball past the keeper. 0-3 to New Marske after 45 minutes.
Through on goal, well not if the defender has anything to do about it!
Frank racing away once more saw the ball knocked out for a corner before he got shoot at goal. The corner was met by Joe whose header crashed against the post and out for a goal kick. Very unlucky and so close. Richmond were next to get the ball into our box but sterling defending once more snuffed out the danger. Richmond at this point were really struggling to make any sort of clear cut chances.
Joe picked the ball up on the next Richmond attack, and inadvertently ran the ball out for a corner to Richmond, despite his protestations.The corner came in and ended in a delay as the game was held up as Joe and a Richmond player clashed heads. The hectic pace of our first half was starting to tell as Richmond were starting to get more space in the centre of the pitch, letting them build up more pressure on our defence.
Just about to launch the ball up field
A free kick was awarded to Richmond just outside our box when Joe and Conor sandwiched a Richmond player. It was a bad position to give an unnecessary free kick away in, and we were made to pay as Richmond got a goal back. the free kick was touched to another Richmond player whose shot went straight at Dean in goal. It didn't look as if it would cause a problem, but somehow Dean let it slip from his grasp and into the net. 1-3 to New Marske.
We were starting to look more rattled and another free kick was conceded in a very similar position to the one Richmond scored from. This one was hit well over the goal. We were allowing Richmond far too much time and space in the centre of the park, and this was causing us problems as Richmond pushed on. There was some real crunching challenges going in as we fught hard to keep our lead. The game was held up for a couple of minutes as Joe had to get a plaster over a cut on his leg.
With about five minutes left Richmond got a second goal back, when a sliced clearance by Jack landed back in our box, and with us unable to get it clear a Richmond player put the ball in the back of the net. 2-3 to New Marske. A quick break by us was followed by a quick break by Richmond, as the game was on a knife edge. Would we get a goal to finish Richmond off or could they complete the come back to salvage a draw? We made our first sub as Jack was replaced by Ben Hubbard. A nice ball by Bash looked to have got Frank in, but he only managed in miss hit his shot.
Challenging for a header
Another free kick to Richmond as Andy clattered a Richmond player about 10 yards outside the box. The free kick was hit straight into Deans arms. Excellent play by Greg saw him put Frank away, who rounded the keeper and with the goal at his mercy, too much fancy footwork saw Richmond get back and get a tackle in to clear the danger. That really should have sealed the game in our favour. But the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards to give us the well deserved victory.
Final Score: Richmond Town 2 New Marske 3
MOTM:- : Greg Wood