Hartlepool Juniors 7 - New Marske 1
The first cup game of the season came around and we were faced with our seemingly obligatory first division opponents once again. This time it was Hartlepool Juniors. And talking of things that are obligatory, there was a fierce wind blowing that we were kicking into for the first half.
Unsurprisingly the early stages of the match saw us pinned into our half as HJ applied pressure and we struggled to clear the ball up the field. The first five minutes saw HJ have three corners, with Dean pulling off one great save and one solitary attack by us. The first goal came on 8 minutes with an attack and cross from their right, which found and unmarked attacker waiting to head the ball into the net. 1-0 to HJ.
The pressure continued from the restart with HJ attacking this time down the left, with the final shot going over the bar. HJ were finding far too much time and space on the field allowing them to play the game as they wished. From a free kick near our box we managed to win the ball and Danny set Liam away, he found himself totally isolated with only a couple of HJ defenders for company before winning a throw. At least the play was up the other end and we were starting to apply some pressure of our own.
After 17 minutes HJ scored their second from a corner. The ball was whipped in over the heads of the players waiting for it and Dean in goal, before ending up in the net, I couldn't quite make out whether it was direct from the corner or whether there was a final touch. Never the less, the score was now 2-0.
Centrally we were struggling to close HJ down quickly enough and when we did have the ball, there would be a couple of passes before a blind punt forward straight to the opposition. The third goal came straight from our goal kick. Greg attempted to win the ball surrounded by three HJ players, as the ball was headed back towards our box setting a HJ attacker clear on goal. He simply lobbed the ball over the onrushing Dean to make the score 3-0 to HJ.
After a couple more HJ corners and another great save by Dean, we were awarded a free kick about 10 yards outside their box. Johnny lined the free kick up and hit a very poor low hit shot that was kicked away very easily. We weren't getting many opportunities, and when we did we really did need to do something with them. After about 30 minutes HJ showed us how to do it when they scored their fourth goal. A ball was hit across just outside the box on the right that travelled to the left hand side of the box to another HJ player, who unchallenged slid the ball centrally to another player, who also unchallenged put the ball past Dean from about 23 yards. 4-0 to HJ.
HJ were getting far too much free space in the game and a bit of closing down wouldn't have gone amiss. However it didn't happen and the game carried on in the same pattern. In fact during this period we took a throw in, that also went straight to a HJ player, with no New Marske player close to it. HJ made the most of the space to crash a shot onto the bar, not the first as it was to turn out. They were managing to run through us almost a will, as we continued to stand off them.
Things didn't get any better as HJ attacked again, with a couple of decent blocks coming in, before Dougy in attempting to thump the ball clear only managed to slice it into the path of a HJ player who slotted the ball past Dean. 5-0 to HJ. Things weren't all doom and gloom, and our best move of the game followed, when Jack raced out and won the ball from a HJ player near the touchline before playing the ball forward to Johnny. The ball was then played out to Liam who raced through on goal with two defenders unable to get close to him. With only the keeper to beat his composure left him and the ball went well wide of the goal instead of into the net. It was a much improved move though, and showed we could do it. But could we do it consistently? Well not in the first half, as the referee blew his whistle to end the half.
Half-time: Hartlepool Juniors 5 - New Marske 0
During the first half we weren't helped by the fierce wind, but hopefully that would assist us in the second half. What we really needed in the second half was too get closer to the opposition and get them under a bit of pressure, but could we do it? We made one sub at half time as Bash was withdrawn, with David moving to left back and Dougy swapping from left to right.
The second half saw us start off playing more football, and things were looking better. HJ did mount an attack down the left until Conor scythed the player down just outside the box. The resultant free kick was cleared but we were under pressure. The midfield were certainly playing a much improved passing game, all we need now was a bit of composure on the final ball. Things had improved, that was until HJ attacked down the left. The player was being closed down by Jack, until Dean came racing out to try and make a challenge at the edge of his box. The HJ player skipped around him, leaving Dean in no-mans land, before putting the ball into the empty net. 6-0 to HJ.
This sixth goal allowed a triple substitution to be made with Conor, Liam and Johnny being replaced by Ben, Matthew and Robert. Shortly after we had a great chance to get a goal back. Putting HJ under pressure we won the ball and Danny played a great ball through for Joe up front, who found himself one-on-one with the keeper. Instead of taking the opportunity to shoot, he played a ball sideways to the onrushing Robert, who found himself neck and neck with a defender racing to the ball. Unfortunately, on this occasion the defender won the chase.
Joe was suddenly finding himself more in the game now as a long ball from Dean was flicked on by a HJ defender to set Joe through again. This time he flicked it past the keeper but the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the goal. We were getting closer. But so were HJ, as an attack down the right ended with the ball crashing onto the bar and over the fence to dissappear off down the road.
This signalled a period of play when we were under severe pressure, with attack after attack from HJ, mainly from down their left as Matthew was looking to get on the attack instead of marking the HJ player stood in acres of space. The wind appeared to be increasing as were the HJ attacks, as we struggled to close the opposition down. We did weather the pressure and eventually got something from the game. The ball went out for a throw, but nobody really knew which way it was to go. Danny, not hanging about took a quick throw that left the HJ defence static and set Ben Leaper clear. He got the ball under control before unleashing a great shot that beat the keeper just inside the post. 6-1 to HJ.
Our all round play was much improved as we fought for the ball more and the pressure told as we were awarded a free kick when the keeper launched a ball forward, but was deemed to have still had hold of the ball outside of his box. It was in a good position, but could we make this free kick count. Being indirect, Jack rolled it to Danny who saw his shot blocked by the onrushing defenders and out for a throw.
HJ mounted a couple more attacks, with the first hitting the side netting and the second hitting the bar once again. Joe was next to get a chance but couldn't get his shot in, as HJ raced away onto the attack, with the final outcome yet another shot onto the bar. The woodwork was certainly helping us! Joe and Danny were replaced as Conor and Johnny came back on. Some good passing nearly set Johnny away, but he'd managed to stray off-side.
Greg was replaced, as Liam was re-introduced into the game. The final goal of the game was scored from a HJ corner. The ball was hit to a player just outside the box, and as nobody went to close him down he hit a shot goalwards. It wasn't a brilliantly hit shot, but it did bounce just in front of Dean, and ended up in the back of the net. 7-1 to HJ.
In the final minutes Johnny found himself clear wide on the left, before hitting a shot well wide of the goal.
Final Score: Hartlepool Juniors 7 - New Marske 1
MOTM:- : Andy Fowler
Other images from the game...
