Mount Pleasant 2 - New Marske 2
This match was the first midweek kickoff since the hour went forward and we found ourselves kicking the match off without three or four players and both members of the management team, due to traffic problems. A quick discussion by the assembled parents saw a team selected and incredibly we were one goal up after the first attack of the match. A quick attack up the left saw Joe put the ball in the net. 0-1 to New Marske.
While we were still coming to terms with the excellent start we did it again a minute later, as Joe attacked down the left before floating a lovely ball across to Frank who buried the ball. 0-2 to New Marske after 2 minutes. Just then the management and missing players arrived to be greeted by the score.
Our football was excellent in the early minutes as we knocked the ball around very confidently indeed. A free kick, awarded for a foul on Josh was hit into the box, and although the ball bounced around we couldn't get a telling shot at goal. After 15 minutes we won a corner, that was played in and found Frank, who cut back inside hitting what looked to be a goal bound shot. Just as we were ready to cheer the goal, it rolled agonisingly inches past the post.
Mount Pleasants first real shot at goal came on 20 minutes, however it was hit from nearly 30 yards and went well wide of the goal. Our passing game wasn't quite as crisp and accurate as earlier in the game but still we were just about doing enough. Our attempts to catch Mount Pleasant on the break were thwarted a number of times as the passes were overhit on the small opposition pitch.
Mount Pleasant won a free kick just outside the box on their left in a really good position, but as the ball was hit into the box an excellent clearing header by Joe saw the danger dissappear. A corner for us saw the ball bouncing around the box with half of our team having a shot at goal, with the ball being blocked, it finally fell to Jack who leaning back slightly saw the final shot go over the bar.
Mount Pleasant were on the attack when our midfield went missing, forcing a corner. The corner was well worked back away from the box, and after beating a defender the ball was whipped towards goal with Dean scrambling to get close to the ball, and luckily for us it hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.
Another ball over the Mount Pleasant defence saw Liam get away before hitting his shot well wide of the goal. Shortly after, Liam had another chance at goal as a lovely through ball by Matty sent him clear, but this time he could only put his shot into the arms of the keeper. Mount Pleasant nearly caught us out when a ball over the top was misjudged by Bash allowing the attacker to break away, but he could only hit his shot gently into Deans arms.
The game was starting to turn as Mount Pleasant started to take advantage of the space we were giving them in the middle of the park but the referee brought the half to a close.
Half-time: Mount Pleasant 0 - New Marske 2
Even though Mount Pleasant ended the first half quite strongly the second half kicked off with the same team as ended the first half.
Within a minute of the restart the game had changed. A free kick to Mount Pleasant was hit into the box and the ball was missed by somebody when it should have been cleared, this allowed an attacker to hit the ball back over the box and into the goal just inside the post. 1-2 to New Marske.
If that was bad it was a lot worse a minute later. Josh broke away and appeared to be fouled right on the opposition goal line. The referee however give a goal kick that was quickly taken and the ball was hit upfield, where it was crossed into our box, where uncharacteristically the defence seemed to panic and Jack got his head onto the ball only to direct it past Dean into the net. To make the score 2-2.
Now we had a game on our hands. Bash and Tim were taken off and replaced by David and Greg.We should have retaken the lead shortly after when we won the ball well in the middle, allowing Joe to roll the ball forward for Frank who broke clear of the defence. He stroked the ball past the keeper, but also stroked the ball past the post again. Mount Pleasant looked to have got in again when Andy slightly misjudged his challenge, but Jack and a Mount Pleasant player hammered into the ball together and the ball was cleared.
Two more chances fell to Frank but once more we were unable to break the deadlock as the ball rolled wide of the goal. We started to push Mount Pleasant back and a great shot by Joe was saved by the opposition keeper. The pressure was really mounting now and shots by Joe, Jack and Matty weren't able to find the net.
The referee's decisions were becoming increasingly erratic and Frank looked to have broken away when making a run from well in his own half, but he was stopped for being offside. Joe broke through next but he couldn't quite get to the ball before the keeper did. A corner to us saw Hubby hit a shot toward goal, until it was deflected out by a Mount Pleasant defeder for another corner, or so we thought until the referee inexplicably awarded a goal kick.
Mount Pleasant finally relieved the pressure and were awarded a corner that was bouncing around our box before an attacker hit what looked to be a goal bound shot, that was until Greg came in with a superb block. Frank and Josh were next to be replaced as Ben Leaper and Conor came on.
A lovely run by Liam saw a cross hit in toward Joe but his header was hit just over the bar. We had made more than enough excellent chances to win this game but somehow the score was still level. Chances came and went at either end, a cross by Conor that the keeper just about stopped going in, and a Mount Pleasant shot that just cleared the bar saw the game still level.
A couple of missed challenges by Andy and then Jack saw a Mount Pleasant attacker look as if he was in on goal, but Dean was out quickly enough to nullify the threat. A great chance for us came when another ball over the top this time saw joe race away and compose himself, but his final shot was poor and gently dropped into the keepers arms.
Frank reappeared as Hubby came off to make way for the final few minutes of the game. and it wasn't long before we had our next to final great chance of the game. Jack played a lovely ball across for Frank who raced up the right wing before hitting in a lovely ball for Joe. However, he somehow managed to direct his shot wide of the Mount Pleasant far post and out for a goal kick.
The final great chance saw Frank hit the ball centrally to Joe who struggled to control it but managed to hit a shot that the keeper did well to save and turn around the post for a corner, but incredibly once more the referee awarded a goal kick. The final chance of thegame saw two Mount Pleasant attackers chase a long ball over the defence, just as they looked to be in on goal a great challenge by Jack cleared the ball out, and the referee blew the whistle to end the game.
Ultimately this was a very dissapointing result for us taking into account the brilliant start and Mount Pleasant's league position, but to be fair to the opposition they never gave up after the poor start and battled really well for the rest of the game.
Final Score: Mount Pleasant 2 - New Marske 2
MOTM:- : David Upton
Other images from the game...
