New Marske 3 - 21st Allstars 'B' 4
The game kicked off with unseasonably mild weather (and not a hint of wind) as we hoped to get back on track after last weeks poor showing. 21AS started the game strongly, pushing us back from the off. We came back into the game over the first 8 minutes, but neither side had a real chance to score.
Johnny tried a long ball through for Frank, but was overhit as it went through to the keeper. 21AS were proving to be a physical and quick side up front, as both sides prodded and probed but couldn't make a break through. The opposition started to push us back again and we were having trouble getting the ball out of our half, and to get any sort of possession. Attempted balls forward for Frank and Ryan were being overhit straight to the keeper.
A long ball by 21AS was being shielded by David as Dean came to collect it, with an opposition attacker rapidly closing it down, unlike earlier in the season David took control and cleared the ball for a throw in. Danny mustered our first shot of the game when the ball fell to him five yards inside the 21AS half but his shot went well wide.
Whoops, where's he gone
Things started improving and on 16 minutes we nearly worked the opening goal of the game. A long ball forward to Frank saw him round the keeper, he fired goalwards with his left foot, but only managed to find the side netting. 21AS broke next and Jack went to tackle him on the edge of the box only to find Greg doing the same, as they managed to tackle each other, leaving the attacker to close in on Dean. Dean managed to make a smart save, conceding a corner in the process.
For whatever reason we were looking a bit rattled, with various players arguing with each other and seemingly unable to get possession off the ball. After 20 minutes though, Greg cut out a ball in midfield and played it forward to Frank. He managed to find Ryan who just got to the ball ahead of the keeper and knocked it past him close to the goal line. He hit his shot goalward, only to see it go straight across the goalmouth and narrowly wide of the goal, out for a goal kick.
21AS pushed on and a great challenge by Jack just outside the box, saw the 21AS player have a pop at him, not seen by the referee, which was just as well for him as he might have been in trouble. Jack got up for another a challenge, and Dougy came in to finally get the ball clear. There were some meaty challenges coming in now, as both teams tried to get on top.
Dougy was nearly caught out when he tried to head a ball clear while being closed down, he didn't connect properly with his head and it looked like the striker might get in, however he recovered the situation and cleared the ball into touch. Frank, Ryan and Johnny passed the ball nicely between them, only with the move to end with Johnny being adjudged offside.
Clearing the danger by using your head
On 24 minutes with us holding a high line defensively, a long ball over the top saw a 21AS attacker race away, luckily for us he took the shot early and blazed it wide of Deans goal. We started to look a bit more menacing when Frank had a couple of chances to run. The first saw the keeper claim the ball first at the edge of his box and the second was judged off side.
A third chance came a minute later, when Frank rounded the keeper and put us 1-0 up, keeping up his hot scoring form. Another chance followed when Conor hit the ball inside to Frank, who knocked it on to Ryan. It looked like Ryan was going to be in, but once again the opposition keeper was out really quickly to claim the ball. A free kick was awarded to 21AS after a foul by Danny, that was headed clear by Jack.
Another ball into our box found a 21AS player free, he was just about to hit his shot when a crunching challenge by Jack foiled his attempt. 21AS were pushing on to try and get the equaliser, but the defence were holding firm, with no real scares. A free kick near our corner flag was hit in, and the combined efforts of Jack and then a great tackle by Greg cleared the ball for a throw. With half time fast approaching we had to defend three corners. After the third one a long clearance by Jack picked out Frank just in his own half, with only one defender to beat, and a full half to run into, when the referee blew his whistle for half time.
There's a ball around here somewhere
It had been hard going but we had managed to get to half time with a lead. Hopefully we could push on in the second half and extend our lead.
Half-time: New Marske 1 - 21st Allstars 'B' 0
We started the second hald on the attack and pinned them back. When they looked like getting out a strong challenge by David put us back on the attack again. A couple of nice passes and a lay off to Greg, saw the first chance of the second half, which he only managed to screw wide of the goal. Still it was a much more promising start. A strong header on the half way line by Jack saw the ball hit the top of Franks head and as Ryan closed the ball down 21AS knocked the ball out for a corner to us. We continued pushing them back and they were struggling to get out of their half.
21AS started to get their game together and the number 10 for 21AS ran through the midfield on our right into the box. It looked as if he was to get a free shot at goal until Jack came in with a strong challenge to break up the attack. 21AS got themselves level when what looked like a handball by Ryan was played on by the referee, and the ball was played forward leaving the attacker totally clear with no defenders close to him. Dean was stuck in no mans land and the attacker kept his composure to place the ball into the net. 1-1 after 39 minutes.
Fouled in the box, yes it's a penalty
The game opened up with Frank racing away and nearly getting in, followed by 21AS getting clear and the attacker lofting the ball over the bar. On 42 minutes we managed to regain the lead. Danny played a ball out to Conor on the right wing, who pushed on and put a great cross in, right onto the back post where Frank found himself unmarked to head home. 2-1 to New Marske.
21AS went straight back on the attack, and shot wide of the goal once again from a good position inside the box. The equaliser for 21AS came on 45 minutes when the attacker outpaced the defence to slot the ball home, to make the score 2-2. The game had really opened up with both sides going for the win. Frank was the next player to put the ball in the net, but seeing as he was about 4 yards offside at the time, it didn't count. Which was a shame really, because almost straight away 21AS took the lead. The dangerous number 10 for the opposition picked the ball up unchallenged near the half way line and ran straight at the defence. Jack was left one on one and despite getting his foot to the ball the attacker got the better of the challenge and put the ball past Dean. 2-3 to 21AS. Conor had a right go at Jack about conceding the goal, but the way I saw it, if somebody from midfield had bothered to put a challenge in near the half way line he might not have been able to run in on the defence in the first place.
Straight after conceding the goal, Jack was taken off to be replaced by Andy. Straight away 21AS increased their lead, when they broke through again, with Dean once more stuck in no mans land,. 2-4 to 21AS. We went at 21AS, with Frank running at them, forcing a ball to go to Danny, but his shot lacked power and fell straight into the keepers hands. Johnny was subbed next as Liam came on to replace him.
Get up, dust yourself off, and place it in the corner
Danny lost the ball when he overran it, which let 21AS in for another attempt on goal, narrowly wide of the goal this time.We were under pressure as Bash sliced a ball straight to the opposition, who carved straight through us, and just as the shot was going to be struck, Greg came in with a strong challenge, that went for a corner. It was taken short, and with a quick side step he struck a shot that luckily cleared the bar, as Dean wasn't going to get close to it. 21AS kept the pressure up with an attack down their right. No challenge came in as the attacker shot goalward, luck was on our side as it hit the bar and went out for a goal kick.
21AS were finding so much space in midfield as we failed to close them down that it looked only a matter of time before they scored again, however as happens in football Frank broke away and was fouled inside the box just as he was about to unleash a shot. He got up and dusted himself off to score his third goal of the game from the penalty spot with ease. 3-4 to 21AS.The goal seemed to give us renewed impetus, as we started closing down more quickly.
we won a corner after a great run by Ryan into their box, but the corner was poor, ending with an equally poor shot at goal. Ryan had another great chance, when he turned their defence inside the box, only to put his shot straight at the keeper. The 21AS number 10 was continuing to cause problems, and Dougy and Greg had to combine to stop him getting through again. After 63 minutes Conor came off to be replaced by Matthew.
Trying to find a bit of room to turn
From a throw, 21AS managed to turn inside and hit another shot wide of the goal. Frank looked to be through on goal, until the 21AS keeper came racing out to make a brave challenge, injuring himself in the process. After a couple of minutes treatment, he was ok to carry on. While he was receiving treatment, Ryan was replaced by Ben. We nearly conceded another goal as an attempted clearence by greg fell invitingly for a 21AS attacker to run down their right wing. His cross was struck firmly, and although Dean got to it, it sqirmed away from him towards the goal. Dougy and one of their attacker raced to get the ball, and luckily it was Dougy who got there first to clear it, almost off the line.
Greg must have got a knock as he was replaced, as Jack came back on. Frank once again found himself one-on-one with the keeper who once more came out really quickly to make another excellent save. That was our final chance of the game as 21AS took the points from the game.
Based on their second half performance, In my opinion 21st Allstars just deserved to edge the game
Final Score: New Marske 3 - 21st Allstars 'B' 4
MOTM:- : Frank Duke