New Marske 3 - Teesside Athletic B 0
We welcomed Teesside in the Challenge cup on a rainy Sunday, which was a welcome change from playing first division sides, and were confident of getting the win we needed.
We were straight onto the attack pushing up the left, but before we could get a shot at goal the referee blew for an offside decision. A free kick to Teesside was hit into our box where we managed to win it back and countered up the field where Joe played a nice ball to forward to Josh, however Josh hadn't made the run and so it came to nothing.
Breaking up another Teesside attack Joe broke away and the move ended with a great shot that hit the keeper and the post, very close to the opening goal. An excellent ball from Liam sent Joe away on a one-on-one with the keeper. They both got to the ball at the same time and it was the unfortunate keeper who came off worse from the challenge.
We were becoming more and more dominant as the bulk of the game was starting to be played in the Teesside half. Joe went close with a couple of chances but wasn't able to get the breakthrough, which was surely only a matter of time before it came. There was a delay of a couple of minutes as Teesside were forced to change the keeper who was still struggling from the earlier challenge.
The break didn't seem to do us any favours as we suddenly looked nervous and Jack was forced to make a brilliant challenge as a Teesside attacker looked to be through on goal. Teesside looked to have composed themselves as they started to win more of the 50-50 challenges as we tried to get ourselves going again. We came close when a free kick just inside the Teesside half by Jack was headed on by Joe, who followed it in and hit a shot that somehow failed to find the back of the net as the keeper managed to fumble it away.
Bash was the next to go close when he came in at the back post unmarked and hit his shot wide of the goal with the keeper stranded. The goal finally arrived on 25 minutes when Liam picked the ball up on the left and drove forward before hitting a lovely shot from the edge of the box past the keeper and into the far top corner of the net. 1-0 to New Marske.
The game opened up a bit as both sides attacked, but neither side was able to fashion a goal scoring chance, although Teesside we getting a bit too much room in midfield as they had a bit of space to play in. Another couple of chances by Joe failed to test the keeper as we tried to get the second goal our play deserved. Although Teesside were getting forward on occassions the defence were coping very well, not allowing any sort of a shot at Dean.
We should have had the second goal on the next attack when excellent passing from Danny and Conor eventually set Joe away, who played in Josh for what looked to be a simple tap in, but somehow he managed to put it past the post. We were nearly caught out as Teesside cut inside and worked an opening but the final shot went tamely into the arms of Dean. Teesside were having a decent spell as Jack was forced into making another last ditch tackle before Teesside fired a shot well over Deans bar.
Half-time: New Marske 1 - Teesside Athletic B 0
The second half saw us start the game with the same team, and we made a sluggish start to the half with Teesside having the first shot that went well wide of the goal.
A low corner was swung in by us and Jack thrashed at it and missed it but the ball still looked to be going in at the back post until a Teesside player cleared it off the line. We managed to put ourselves in trouble when Matty lost the ball allowing Teesside to breakaway and put a cross in. It looked as if Teesside were going to score until Dean got a block just in time.
Unbelievably we failed to get the second goal in the next attack from a corner. Jack hit a shot that was blocked, before winning the ball back. He looked to be fouled but the referee played the game on. An unidentified New Marske player hit the ball onto the bar, before the ball fell into the path of the onrushing Josh for a simple tap in, but somehow he put it past the post.
The game had opened up as both teams were attacking, but a mixture of offsides and poor shooting meant the scoreline remained the same. The referee was blowing for offside on what seemed like almost every attack for a spell. More chances went begging with the best of them falling to Liam who failed to beat the keeper when one-on-one.
Another three chances went begging as shots rained in on the Teesside goal before Joe missed another absolute sitter from 5 yards out, putting the ball over the bar. I was beginning to think we were never going to get another goal in the game after so many missed chances. Teesside managed to work the ball forward with a couple of breaks but were unable to get a chance at goal.
Our first substitution came as Tim came on to replace Bash. Hallelujah! the second goal finally arrived after 65 minutes, as Liam cut in from the left before placing his shot wide of keeper for his second goal of the game. 2-0 to New Marske.
A Teesside corner was defended comfortably before Joe raced away for another one-on-one with the keeper, with the keeper this time coming out on top. Danny came close to creating a chance before the ball went out for a couple of corners. The best chance came on the second as Jack made good contact but only saw the ball go wide of the goal.
Teesside got a lucky bounce of the ball to set an attacker free but he only succeeded in chipping the ball into Jaimie's arms. On 75 minutes we finally got the third goal with a quality move. A Teesside break up the right saw a powerful Teesside player breaking through tackles before Jack finally stopped him before playing a ball to Danny just inside our half. He went on a run down the wing before cutting inside into the box and slotted it past the keeper to score the deserved goal. 3-0 to New Marske.
Another excellent chance followed when Joe slid a lovely pass into Conor whose shot looked to be going in before clipping the wrong side of the post and going out. We were playing some really good football by this point as chances continued to come and go, with Ben Leaper, Joe and Liam all going close before the final whistle.
Once again we created a hatfull of chances and even by our own standards we missed some absolute sitters in this game. One of these days we'll take most of our chances and somebody will get a real hiding. Roll on the next round and a game away at Trimdon in the New Year.
Final Score: New Marske 3 - Teesside Athletic B 0
MOTM:- : Andy Fowler
Other images from the game...
