New Marske 3 - Wolviston FC 0
For the first time this season we managed to play a game wearing our blue home shirt rather than the yellow shirt. But as per usual this season, we had injuries and missing players to cope with. The first real chance fell to us, when a cross from the right fell to Johnny, who got to the ball before the keeper, only to lob the ball over the bar.
Wolviston came back and applied pressure down our right. A number of attempted clearances were blocked, and ended with a Wolviston player hitting a shot wide of the far post. After 10 mins a free kick was awarded to Wolviston, when Joe caught an opposition player with a late tackle. The free kick came in and bounced around, and fell to a Wolviston player who looked as if he might slot the ball into the net. That was before Joe came flying in with a superb blocking tackle.
A through ball from Joe to Frank, saw his shot struck goalwards, unfortunately for us the keeper held it without any trouble. The midfield were battling really well as Andy, getting through three challenges layed the ball off for Ryan, who peeled right and struck a well hit shot over the bar.
A clear chance from a corner is headed past the post
After a good period of pressure from us, Wolviston broke away with a long ball over the top. Joe closed the man down as Jack covered the centre denying the opposition the space to attack. The Wolviston player tried his luck but his shot was well easily held by Dean. Wolviston pushed on down the left and looked as if a cross was going to come in, that was until Joe launched himself into another fantastic challenge. Joe was having a purple period, when from a corner he found himself totally unmaked on a corner, only to put his header wide of the post.
We were knocking the ball around quite nicely, and playing the ball out from the back, with everybody committed to every challenge. Wolviston worked another chance from a throw, only to see the ball go safely into Deans hands once again.
We came really close once again, when another of Deans brilliant kicks, found Frank who controlled the ball after the bounce and chipped the keeper. The ball went narrowly over the bar. From the subsequent goalkick we picked up the ball, as Liam fancied his chance, only to see his shot fall comfortably for the keeper.
Wolviston not getting much time to settle on the ball
We continued pressing and a free kick was awarded on the right, just outside the box. Johnny took it, but his free kick sailed about five yards over the bar. We got another free kick just inside our half, that Jack played to Dougy, free a few yards away. After Dougy launched the ball into the box, he was caught very late with a very nasty challenge. Luckily he was able to continue after a couple of minutes treatment.
The second free kick was taken by Jack, and was eventually cleared to Conor, who ran with the ball, and rather than lay it off, lost it, leading to a Wolviston break. The end result was a shot into the side netting, that didn't look as if it would trouble Dean at all.
Jack clattered the lad who caught Dougy just outside the box, and the subsequent free kick was cleared upfield to Frank who once again had a half chance to score, but couldn't get past the keeper. Andy was next to have a shot, from about 25 yards, but his shot went well wide of the goal. It was good to see us taking a few more shots on, as opposed to last week when we were reluctant to shoot. Ryan broke down the right, and cut back inside onto his left foot, but saw his weak shot easily held by the keeper.
Determination to win the ball
Half time: New Marske 0 - Wolviston 0
The first half had proved to be a fairly even encounter, with us having the better of the chances, and so we were hoping to push on in the second half and get the goal we needed. Straight from the kick off, we won possession and ran the ball down the wing to get a throw in near the opposition corner flag.
Our luck (or decision making) seems to be getting better. A ball hit forward by Wolviston was being shielded by Joe as it went to Dean. Dougy was also in close proximity, as was a Wolviston attacker. This time Joe didn't wait as long, and he was able to take control and clear the ball up field. Ryan got caught with a tackle, that the referee played on, and exacted his revenge when trying to win the ball back. This led to a talking to by the referee. In most cases the referee had let play go on and then brought it back if there was no advantage, but not this time.
attacking the Wolviston defence
From the free kick we looked to be under a bit od pressure, but the Wolviston players were quickly closed down and a snap shot was struck well wide of our goal. Another free kick to Wolviston on the touch line was hit low and hard into the box. It managed to evade everybody as it went safely out of play.
Wolviston had us under a spell of pressure, but the back line were giving them no chance to make an opening. Aided by the midfield it wasn't long before we once again were moving the ball forward. Any long balls pumped forward by Wolviston were being dealt with time and again by Jack and Joe in the centre of defence.
A great challenge by David, saw him stamped on a couple of times by his Wolviston counterpart, but as usual he came out of it with a smile on his face. Shortly after saw the incident that fired the game up. A long ball by Wolviston found it's way back to Dean from an interception by Jack. It wasn't a pass back but as Dean picked it up the referee blew his whistle. Everybody on the New Marske side of the fence shouted that it wasn't a free kick, and the referee acknowledged this and allowed play to continue. Wolviston, weren't happy about this, and the game suddenly moved up a notch or two.
More pressure, no turn
The referee gave all the Wolviston players a last warning regarding the amount of whinging they were directing towards him, which broke play up for a minute or so. The game changed slightly, as challenges were made that would have resulted in free kicks earlier, were played on by the referee. A ball into Frank was superbly controlled on his chest, but his shot didn't trouble the keeper.
A free kick to Wolviston was struck low and firm towards Dean, but his handling was excellent. After 18 minutes of the second half we managed to get the breakthough our play deserved. Ryan played the ball to Frank, whose shot appeared to be deflected past the stranded keeper. An unusual goal celebration followed with Frank doing a headstand in the middle of the pitch. Wolviston came back only to be repelled by a couple of great challenges by Jack, as both sides fought tooth and nail for the ball.
It was still anybodys game with only the one goal in it, as Frank tried another shot low to the keeper. It was so low, the keeper didn't get his hands on the ball, but instead it hit his feet and went for a throw. From the next Wolviston goal kick, Frank volleyed the ball, only to hit Ryan smack on the side of the head, which generated great amusement from Ryan's parents!
the second goal scored by New Marske
25 minutes into the second half saw Frank claim his second goal. Another long ball by Dean was brilliantly flicked on by Ryan into the path of Frank. He then had to beat about three players and the keeper before slotting the ball home. 2-0 to New Marske. The game stopped for a couple of minutes while the referee had a chat to the Wolviston manager about something.
Ryan was subbed as Ben Leaper came on to replace him. Shortly after Liam came off to be replaced by Matthew. Our general play was excellent as another chance came, this time from a cross by Johnny, who found Matthew free in the box. His shot was charged down, but fell nicely for him again, and this time his shot went narrowly past the post.
As the game was drawing too a close, we won a free kick on the right. Andy was replaced by Robert as Jack lined the free kick up. Instead Johnny swung it in. As Frank followed it in, he found himself in space to plant a lovely header past the keeper. 3-0 to New Marske.
The really pleasing aspect of this game was the battling qualities and never-say-die attitude of every member of the team. Well done lads, a well deserved victory.
Final Score: New Marske 3 - Wolviston 0MOTM:- : Joe Harvey