New Marske Juniors 1 - Greatham FC 4
On the back of two away defeats (one in the league and one in the cup) this was our first home game of the season, and it would be good to be playing in the normal blue shirt for a change. This wasn't to be however, as Greatham apparantly don't possess an away shirt, so yellow again it was.
Once again, due to absences a change in formation had to be made which saw Liam make his debut at left back, David pushed up into left midfield and Dougy right midfield.
Greatham looked another big strong side (what are we feeding our players) and for the first six or seven minutes we were struggling to get out of our half, although we were defending without too many problems. We finally got into the opposition half for a spell and a clash of heads between Frank and a Greatham player saw the referee do a drop ball just outside their box. We couldn't take advantage as the ball was cleared.
Greatham had the first real scoring chance when a long ball looked as if would be cut out by Joe, sailed over his head forcing Bash to backtrack with an attacker closing him down. He still looked favourite to clear the ball, but somehow his attempted clearance didn't happen and the attacker broke away. His well struck shot was a little too high as it sailed over Deans bar.
At last, we've got the correct positioning when defending the corners (apart from holding the post up again!)
The next break by Greatham was stopped by an excellent tackle by David, helping out with his defensive duties as well as playing further forward. After twelve minutes we had our first real shot at goal, as Ryan broke down the right and hit a terrific shot that left the keeper stranded, but, similar to the earlier Gretham effort, just went over the bar.
We were competing on a more even footing now, even taking into account the diffence in height and weight between some of there players and some of ours, but amazingly Greatham were awarded a penalty after 16 minutes. Liam didn't clear the ball with his head when he had the chance, and instead let the ball bounce in the box. As the ball was played in, he turned his back and the ball struck the back of his arm. I'd always assumed for a penalty to be awarded it had to be a deliberate handball but obviously that not correct. The penalty was taken and hit too close to Dean and he was able to hold onto the ball quite comfortably.
The game was now very even and both sides were fighting for every ball, and we were awarded a free kick just inside the Greatham half when Joe was caught after making a great clearing header. Jack floated the free kick into space for a couple of our players to run onto, but the referee blew for offside. We nearly contributed to our own downfall when Jack was letting the ball run through to Dean. With a Greatham attacker coming in quickly the ball should have been cleared but instead the Greatham player made up enough ground to arrive at the ball at the same time Dean did. There was a collision and the ball rolled towards our goal, luckily as the Greatham player tried to get to it he fell over the top of Dean and the ball rolled agonizingly slowly out of play.
eyes on the ball, eyes on the ball!
On 24 minutes another free kick to us, as Ryan was caught resulting in the Greatham player getting a booking. The resultant free kick was a bit aimless as rather than take the shot on, Jack once again tried to float it into a danger area. Greatham broke down their right and worked an opportunity to get a cross in as an attacker turned Liam. The cross found a Greatham attacker but his header lacked power and was easily gathered by Dean.
Every member of the team were battling away with the Greatham players in what had turned into a very even game. we had a hit a few good balls into the box, but hadn't managed to get on the end of any of them. Another offside decision went against us, as we pushed on in search of the opening goal. On 32 minutes a corner to Greatham was well defended, but as the ball left the box Andy fouled a Greatham player in a very dangerous position. The subsequent freekick came in, and hit somebody on the way, taking the pace nicely off the ball for Dean to collect.
A minute before half time the deadlock was broken when we won a free kick. Jack played the ball up to Ryan, who found Frank who helped the ball onto Andy, who coolly slotted the ball past the keeper. 1-0 to New Marske. Greatham were awarded a free kick shortly before the half time whistle when Dougy was alleged to have fouled their player by 'placing his hands on him'. Some of the decisions by the referee were a bit baffling to say the least. The freekick was thumped goalwards, and Dean watched it all the way as it sailed over the bar.
Nearly got the opponent closed down
Just before the half-time whistle we managed to push Greatham back once more, with every attempted clearance being blocked to keep the pressure on, until it finally fell to Ryan whose shot went wide of the mark as he snatched at it.
Half-time: New Marske 1 Greatham 0
The second half started, full of optimism, which proceeded to last for less than a minute.The ball was heading back to Dean with Joe shielding it from an approaching Greatham player. With neither Joe or Dean taking charge of the situation, the Greatham player nipped in and flicked the ball out of Dean's hands to make the score 1-1. What a disaster after all the effort in the first half.
Greatham really upped the pressure as our lads heads seemed to dip. Three minutes into the second half we were 1-2 down. Greatham were applying pressure and got the ball just outside the box. Nobody went to close down and the attacker picked his spot. Deja-vu once again, three games in a row the same thing had happened. Greatham were really pushing us back as they found plenty of space in front of our defence.
Jack's free kick just before it crashed onto the bar
Greatham should have had another goal when Jack failed to clear the ball and instead gave it straight to a Greatham player, who turned inside and blazed his shot over the bar. We did relieve the pressure when a long ball was chased by Frank. The Greatham defender and keeper dallied and Frank tried to nip in and get the ball. Just our luck, it didn't fall as it did for Greatham and the keeper managed to just hold on.
The Greatham team talk at half time must have involved the phrase 'shoot, if you are within 30 yards of the goal' as more shots rained in on Deans goal, as it was most of them were well off target. Shortly after, Liam gave the ball away and the resultant pass through the middle was like the parting of the Red Sea as Jack and Joe were caught out of position leaving a Greatham attacker on his own. The ball was knocked out for a goal kick, much to our relief.
From our throw in, Greatham won the ball and another shot came in, this time coming back off the post. A couple more corners to Greatham were defended well enough before Liam went off, to be replaced by Ben. Thirteen minutes into the second half, Ben not quite up to the pace of the game, misplaced a pass, which put us under pressure that we couldn't relieve, and the Greatham player ended up lobbing the ball over Dean to make it 1-3 to Greatham.
fighting for the ball
To our credit we got back on the attack and from a corner, Joe narrowly missed with a header. A freekick in the Greatham half was taken by Jack, and sailed a couple of yards over the bar. We had finally got our heads up and were starting to exert a lot of pressure on Greatham. One of our trademark passing moves was started when David won an exellent tackle, and we passed it through the Greatham defence down the left. The pressure was getting to them as Frank was scythed down as he went through on goal. No action was taken on the player, and the Greatham number 10 was treading a fine line by standing in front of every freekick we had. The referee gave him his last warning as he moved him away. Jack's freekick this time was a beauty, as it twisted and swerved before crashing against the bar with the keeper nowhere. In fact it looked as if it was in, until the very last second when it swerved a final time.
The pressure was increasing and it was a question of would we get a goal back, which would really test their nerves, or would Greatham nick one to kill the game off. Both teams had half chances to score, but neither could manage it. The next good chance fell to us when, from a throw in, the ball was played back to Jack, who with the outside of his boot played a beautiful ball through to find Ryan in space inside the Greatham box. he struck his shot well, but the keeper held on to the ball.
Jack, under pressure, can't quite direct his header towards the goal
Greatham found themselves under severe pressure, and from a corner, Ryan jinked his way past three defenders and struck his shot. The ball deflected of another defender and went narrowly the wrong side of the post. From the resultant corner Jack got his head on the ball, but couldn't direct it toward the goal. As I said earlier the next goal would be crucial, and for all our pressure it was Greatham who broke quickly and raced through to coolly put the ball wide of Dean to make it 1-4 to Greatham.
Joe was replaced by Robert for the final minute or so, as he had picked up a knock during our last attack. Another free kick to us once more saw the Greatham number 10 stand in front of the ball. The referee once again called him over, for what we assumed must be a booking by now, but no, it was for his final, final warning!
And so, for the third game in a row, a daft 10 minute spell had cost us the game. Hopefully that's the end of those, and we can get back to winning ways.
Final Score: New Marske 1 Greatham FC 4
MOTM:- : David Upton