New Marske 0 - Leeming FC 0
After missing out on playing Leeming earlier in the season due to the cup, the first game against Leeming finally came around. Unfortunately Frank was unavailable as he was taking in the Arsenal game as a birthday treat so I understand. Once again there was a strongish wind, this time blowing across the pitch in the opposite direction to normal.
The first few minutes saw us push Leeming back, but the tall Leeming attacker soon got into the act with a break down the left. After 4 minutes we very nearly took the lead as Liam pushed on down the left and whipped the ball in, where Joe nipped in front of the keeper to head the ball toward goal. As the New Marske crowd cheered for the goal, it turned out the ball had gone the wrong side of the post, so close.
Josh broke away and lobbed the ball narrowly over the bar, but the referee had already blown the whistle for odd side. a third chance followed as Josh got away on the left and crossed the ball into Joe, who laid the ball onto Liam, but he could only spoon his shot wide of the goal.
Although we were getting a lot of possession in the Leeming half we were struggling to get any clear cut chances at goal, but there was still a long way to go. Leeming were limited to the occasional break and free kick, that we were coping with comfortably. We were still unable to get totally on top of Leeming and our general play was a bit lethargic at times, as Leeming started to come into the game a bit more with a shot at Dean.
On 20 minutes there was a delay in play as Jack needed treatment after launching into a clearing header only to find the back of the Leeming attackers head. It was a sickening crack, even from the opposite side of the field, and as the lump came up on his head it was obvious that he couldn't continue. Andy came on to replace him.
The game restarted and we won a couple of corners. Both were hit to the near post and the second one found Hubby hit the ball toward goal, only to see it go straight across the danger area and continue on and out for a throw on the other side of the pitch. We were looking a bit nervous at the back and a sliced clearance by Andy only found a Leeming player whose shot saw Dean scrambling across his goal mouth as the ball went just outside the post.
Our play was far from composed as we struggled to pass the ball and Leeming started to push on a bit more. On 39 minutes we did get a great chance when a ball over the top found Joe who turning back in from the goal line crossed or shot toward goal. It wasn't on target but the onrushing Conor very nearly got his head to the ball on the far post.
Half-time: New Marske 0 - Leeming FC 0
The team that finished the first half came back out for the second half as we were kicking slightly against the wind this time.
Early on in the second half Joe and Josh got a break away but Joe was unable to play Josh in and the ball was cleared. Leeming were awarded a free kick seven yards in our half after a foul from Danny. The kick was taken an lofted into the box where an unmarked Leeming attacker controlled the ball and swivelled hitting his shot narrowly wide of the post.
It was our turn to be camped in our half as Leeming put the pressure on, and we still couldn't get any passing moves going. No sooner had I thought that and we had a nice attack down the right from a throw. The ball came to Joe who beat his man well and played a great ball across the box. Although the ball was cleared it fell to Liam who shot went over the bar. We made another substitution as Greg came off and David came on.
The Leeming attacker broke away and looked like he was going to get a clear shot at goal until Tim came in with a great tackle to block the shot. Our passing was getting worse as we were constantly giving the ball away to the opposition. All thing considered it was a very tight game with neither side managing a clear chance at goal.
For about the first time in the game the midfield battle hotted up with some crunching challenges starting to go in. An attack up Leeming's left saw a couple of wild challenges from us that missed the ball, allowing the Leeming player to cross the ball into our box where two unmarked Leeming players waited. Luckily for us Dean came out and made a great block to stop Leeming from going in front.
Hubby was taken off to be replaced by Dougy. there was a delay of a minute while a Leeming player got some treatment for a knock. We did manage a break when the ball was played up to Josh, who hit it first time but only into the keepers arms. Another chance followed when a great kick by Dean set Joe away but his shot again went straight into the keepers hands. Josh was replaced by the oncoming Ben Leaper.
A couple of corners followed, the first as a shot was blocked by the onrushing David, and the second was cleared by a number of blocks to get the ball clear. We then very nearly got caught completely at the back as we found ourselves with 2 defenders against 4 onrushing attackers. It was Dean who once again was forced into making a great save to keep the scores level.
Ben Leaper was being lively up front and keeping the Leeming defence occupied and an attack down the wing earned us a corner. It was taken quickly and the ball found Joe who chested the ball down to Andy who blazed his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. A Leeming break was foiled at the end by a combination of Dougy and Conor who between them cleared the ball for a corner. Leeming came very close from the corner as the ball was hit in and it bounced of the bar and out of play.
Leeming were back on the attack pushing us back with a couple of corners, but as the same as the rest of the game, no clear cut chance presented itself and the score remained 0-0. The final chance went also to Leeming as an attack down the left saw the ball crossed in where three totally unmarked Leeming players had plenty of time and space to punish us, but instead they only managed to smash the ball way over the bar. Terrible positional play from us very nearly cost us dear in the end as the referee blew the whistle to bring to a close the first game I've seen that ended in a 0-0 draw.
Final Score: New Marske 0 - Leeming FC 0
MOTM:- : Dean Lownsbrough
Other images from the game...
