Bedale JFC 4 - New Marske 0
Our first league game for nearly two months finally came around as we travelled to Bedale, on a beautiful warm sunny day, quite the opposite weather conditions as last weeks cup game.
The first ten minutes passed without either side making any clear cut chances, as most of the play was condensed into the middle of the pitch. It was Bedale who were first to have a shot at goal following a throw in, but good pressure ensured the shot was a tame effort, landing gently into Deans arms.
Although there hadn't been many chances at goal it was Bedale who scored the opening goal after 13 minutes when from a throw in on the right, the ball was pumped into the box, avoiding everybody, to land at the feet of a solitary Bedale attacker at the far side of the box. With four New Marske players fairly close to him there looked to be no danger, however Conor being the closest player to him didn't close him down, allowing him to cut inside and hammer the ball into the net. 1-0 to Bedale.
That was a very disappointing goal to concede from our point of view, and once more the game settled down with goal scoring chances few and far between. On 22 minutes we misjudged the bounce of the ball allowing Bedale to break away down their right, the ball was whipped in low and hard, and nobody was able to get onto the end of it as it continued narrowly past the post and out for a goal kick.
We weren't playing our normal game as we seemed reticent to close Bedale down, allowing them far too much time on the ball. There wasn't very much between the sides and if we could only step the pace up a bit, it was possible we could get back into the game. The opening nearly came when a pass back to the Bedale keeper was only scuffed out toward Liam, who quickly hit the ball to Frank in the centre. He was unable to bring it down quickly, and under pressure the chance was gone.
Another chance came shortly after when the Bedale linesman, true to form flagged for us being offside, the referee didn't agree and played on leading to a throw in. It was taken quickly, and whipped in where Joe got his head to the ball, only to see it sail over the bar.
We were starting to play a lot better, getting more pressure onto Bedale, and a clearance by Jack found Liam, who hit a powerful shot just over the bar. On 28 minutes we were nearly two goals down when, from a throw in, a Bedale attacker evaded a couple of challenges before thumping a shot against Dean's post. Luckily for us it rebounded out to safety.
A long ball over the top saw a Bedale attacker and Dean race to get to the ball, Dean was first there, and cleared the ball straight at the Bedale player. The ball rebounded off him toward the goal, and we could only stand and watch as it rolled toward the goal, but with a sigh of relief all round, it went out for a goal kick.
On 38 minutes we worked a great chance to get the equaliser, when a ball over the top cleared the last Bedale defender to allow Frank to race through onto the keeper. His last second shot was driven into the body of the keeper and out away from danger. Disaster struck right on the stroke of half time, ironically from our free kick. Jack hit the free kick forward, but didn't manage to get the ball into the air and it was cut out by a Bedale defender, who instantly thumped it into space over the defence allowing a Bedale attacker to race away. Dean came out to close him down, but keeping his cool the ball was dispatched past Dean into the net. 2-0 to Bedale.
Half-time: Bedale 2 - New Marske 0
To go into the break two goals down did seem to be a bit harsh, based on the first half, but that was the situation, but could we come back into the game? So far the game had been played in a good spirit, with no sign of events we were expecting based on various reports. Not that we had to wait long for that. the first sign came with the Bedale linesman who tried to change the half he was patrolling, although we soon put a stop to that.
We made a half time substitution as Matty was replaced by Bash. We started off the second half well enough, putting Bedale onto the back foot, with Conor probing down the right. The next goal was going to be vital as it would give us a huge boost if we could get it, and virtually kill the game off if Bedale were to get it.
Bedale broke quickly and knocked the ball around on the edge of our box, before a good block by Jack sent the ball away from danger. We ere under a bit of pressure as Bedale got a corner, which we looked to have got away until Hubby sliced his clearance to a Bedale player, the resultant shot went over the bar though. We were getting caught in possession a bit too much as we were wanting more time on the ball than Bedale were allowing.
Liam and Conor were replaced as Johnny and Josh entered the field of play. Johnny was straight into action breaking down the left and whipping a cross in that was knocked out for a throw. Bedale's next attack had us panicking a bit with balls being sliced and mis hit, but the eventually the ball was worked clear.
On 60 mins Bedale broke with Greg making a great challenge to stop the attack at the expense of a corner. The ball came in and Hubby seemed to be caught on his heels as the player he was marking unchallenged nodded the ball into the net. 3-0 to Bedale.
Frank got a little bit of time but his shot went high, wide and handsome, and out for a goal kick. We were getting pressure on the opposition, but then frustratingly kept giving the ball back to Bedale. Things started livening up shortly after when after a Bedale break the referee called Greg and a Bedale player across, before booking them both.
Danny got the ball in the middle before sending a lovely ball through for Josh to run onto. He did this, and so did the keeper, as seconds later they were both in need of treatment after the collision. The game eventually restarted and we continued to give the ball away unnecessarily to Bedale, rather than keeping possession. It was about this time that the referee started making some very strange decisions, starting with Jack getting fouled. It was an obvious foul, but the ball fell to Bash, who straight away was under pressure by two Bedale players. It took a few moments before he eventually decided to blow his whistle and award the free kick.
The game was looking like it was going to boil over as the referee seemed to be losing his grasp on the game, after what had been a fairly quiet 70 minutes. We looked to have broke away after Joe played the ball forward, but Frank and Josh seemed to get in each others way as the ball was cleared from danger. Frank looked to have got a knock in the clash with Josh, and was replaced by Liam who came back on.
As everybody could see the referee was losing control, and it wasn't a surprise when he awarded a penalty to Bedale. The ball was going toward the corner flag as Josh and a Bedale player ran after it, the next moment the Bedale player was on the floor, even though Josh hadn't made any sort of challenge on him. Even though the penalty was converted, the referee made Bedale take it again as Jack had encroached into the box. Once again the ball was dispatched to make the score 4-0 to Bedale. Before the game could restart, the referee continued his performance and sent Josh off.
In all the years of watch Junior football I'd never seen a game like this one, and it was threatening to boil over as the referee struggled to control things. It was a blessing when the final whistle sounded to bring this game to an end.
Final Score: Bedale JFC 4 - New Marske 0
MOTM:- : None
Other images from the game...
