Billingham Wanderers 1 - New Marske 6
The weather once again was good as we travelled to Billingham for what looked to be a tough away game. Billinghams form suggested they were a tough team to beat.
We started the game on the attack and were awarded a free kick just outside the box on our left. Jack struck it well and the BW's keeper looked relieved to see it go narrowly over the bar as he was rooted to the spot. BW's eventually got a break into our half but Dougy coped well with the danger as we eventually got the ball clear.
A long ball over the top enabled Frank to run on and as the keeper came out Frank got to it first and lobbed it high over the keeper. Unfortunately it was just too high as it agonisingly just cleared the bar once again. BW's were under substantial pressure as Greg was the next person to fancy a crack at goal. His shot only managed to find the keepers arms though.
After almost constant pressure by us in the opening spell, on 7 minutes BW's broke through and had a shot at goal, the ball was blocked and the danger was averted. The same BW's player shortly after once again found himself clear and this time Dean was forced to tip the ball away for the first of two consecutive corners. From the second one we managed a long ball forward that gave Frank the chance to run at the BW's keeper. As he was lining his shot up, he was brought down for a penalty kick. Frank got up and despatched the spot kick to make the score 0-1 to New Marske after 10 minutes.
It's good to see both of you going for the ball, but why are you together, and why are you both near the front post?
BW's came back at us and a run down their right saw a brilliant ball whipped in avoiding Dean and everybody else in the box. The pressure was kept on by us trying a couple of panicky sliced clearances, but we eventually cleared the danger. Johnny was playing well down the left as he started to run at the BW's defence and a couple of good crosses followed.
BW's pushed on down the right and caught Jack out as he lunged for the ball, missing it as the attacker pushed on and got his cross in. The defence were doing ok but just needed to be a little bit more forceful in their challenges. On 15 minutes Danny got a talking to by the referee for fouling an opponent just inside our half. Frank was causing the BW's defence problems with his runs into their half.
On 20 minutes Billingham pulled the game level. They attacked down the right and crossed the ball in. It evaded the first attacker but fell to a second attacker, who despite pressure from Conor put the ball into the net. Scores level at 1-1.
Frank back on the attack put a great ball into Ryan, but he could only scuff his shot straight at the keeper with a weak shot. Despite our early chances the game was pretty even with both teams pushing forwards whenever possible. We were nearly punished when the referee failed to give an offside decision against Billingham when there was clearly at least three players offside, forcing Dean to make a great save that went out for a corner. The corner came in and ended up in Deans hands, and one of his great long kicks set Frank away. He drove into the box only to see his shot flash past the post.
An early chance easily beats the keeper, but also goes narrowly over the bar
BW's attacked next, forcing Dean to make a great save, only holding the ball at the second attempt. Another clearance saw Frank race away, only for the ball to get to the keeper before he could claim it.BW's looked to be through again only for Jack to get his challenge in and clear the ball. Conor picked up a knock that stopped the game for a couple of minutes.
BW's broke through again, only to be stopped when Joe launched himself at the ball to stop the attack dead in it's tracks. Just as the first half was drawing to a close we went back into the lead when a through ball by Ryan was chased down by Frank. Frank and the keeper arrived at the same time but the keeper somehow missed it, bringing Frank down instead. The ball rolled on as Frank desperately tried to get up to chase it, but before he could, the ball rolled into the empty net. 1-2 to New Marske.
there was still time for BW's to attack down their left, and get into the box where Dougy, for the second time in the last few games fouled the player to give a penalty away. It looked as if it was going to be all square at the interval, but we hadn't banked on the BW's player taking the spot kick, who took one step up and casually rolled the ball past the post. Still 1-2 to New Marske.
A flying attempt at a defensive header
There was even time for one more attack by us, when Conor broke through and was completely wiped out by a BW's defender. Frank chased the ball and seemed to clatter a Billingham defender and while all this was going on, Ryan struck a fierce shot against the post. Seeing as it looked to be six of one and half a dozen of the other, the referee called it even and blew the half time whistle.
Half-time: Billingham Wanderers 1 - New Marske 2
The early stages of the second half were pretty similar to the first, with both teams attacking but being repelled.BW's won a free kick level with the 18 yard line on the left when Johnny fouled one of their players. The ball came in to be headed clear by Jack, followed up by good battling from Johnny to keep them under pressure. BW's did win another corner, that was cleared up to Frank, who went on another run, only to see his final shot got narrowly wide of the post.
The referee made one of the few poor decisions of the game as BW's attacked down the left. Joe came racing in and launched himself into another tackle, winning the ball cleanly, however the attacker still managed to injure himself. Although it was a brilliant challenge the referee awarded a free kick to BW's.A couple of corners to BW's followed, but they were cleared comfortably, with Joe continuing to fly into challenges.
Coolly rounding the keeper to slot another goal
A goal kick by Dean fell straight to a BW's attacker, who launched it straight back goalwards. Luckily for Dean it was slightly to high as it cleared the bar. BW's were still applying the pressure, and this time Jack was called on to make a couple of clearances. Despite the pressure, the back line was holding firm.
After 53 minutes we went further ahead. A great ball by Ryan sent Frank away, who rounded the keeper before putting the ball in the net. 1-3 to New Marske. The lead got the confidence flowing as we knocked the ball around better than we had at any point earlier. BW's did come back into it again, but on 57 minutes Frank got clear from the half way line, once again taking the ball past the keeper to score his hatrick and make the score 1-4.
As the teams lined up to continue, Andy, Liam and Bash came on to replace Dougy, Greg and Johnny. Shortly after the restart, Two BW's players were clearly in an offside position, but the referee played on, as they raced away. Dean made a great save to deny them initially, as the defence got back and hounded the ball out of play. It would have been an injustice if they had scored from such a poor decision by the ref.
This is better. If you want to stop the opposition scoring make sure the midfield gets back to help like this
Bash was called on next to brilliantly stop a BW's attack, only for Danny to concede a free kick outside our box. The ball came in and there was a melee of bodies and heads as we bravely fought to clear the ball. Ryan crossed a ball in, and Liam streched to get to it, only for it to narrowly miss his foot and be cleared by BW's. For just about the first time in the match the midfield switched off and got caught upfield as BW's picked the ball up in the centre with nobody there to put in a challenge. As they attacked our defence they only managed to overhit the ball straight into Deans hands. it could have been worse.
The last two subs were made as Ben and Matthew came on to replace Frank and Ryan up front. BW's had a great chance to score shortly after when a couple of misplaced clearances left a BW's attacker about four yards from goal with only Dean to beat. Somehow he managed to clear the bar instead of putting it into the back of the net.
On 64 minutes it was 1-5 to us as Matthew got the ball on the left touchline and struck a fierce shot goalwards, that the keeper couldn't hold , and it dropped over the line. Shortly after Danny from the edge of the box smashed the ball onto the bar, and the rebound was put past the post.
Determination. This is my ball, you ain't getting past!
A foul by Jack five yards outside our box gave BW's a free kick. The free kick this time crashed onto our bar, before we cleared the danger. Matthew found himself through after a nice passing move but the keeper just got to the ball first. He then found himself trying to lob the keeper but it didn't quite come off, with the keeper well out of his goal.
Matthew was playing like a man possessed as he picked the ball up on the left touchline and fired in another shot, this time hitting the post. BW's broke away, but the defence did an exellent job of holding play up until everybody got back to cancel the danger. The game was obviously all over as quite a few of the parents of the Billingham team were keeping a close eye on the game being played behind them.
David was forced to put the ball over our bar as BW's tried a last desperate attack. The resultant corner was cleared to Ben on the right wing, who ran with it before putting a great ball across to Matthew. Unselfishly he picked out the unmarked Danny who slotted it home for our sixth and final goal, to make the final score 1-6 to New Marske.
This was a much better performance from New Marske. The difference from some of the previous games is that everybody battled for the ball and closed the opposition down, rather than standing watching and leaving it to somebody else. Coupling that, with some excellent finishing. Work as hard as that each game lads and we'll be difficult to beat.
Final Score: Billingham Wanderers 1 - New Marske 6MOTM:- : Conor Smith