Leeming FC 3 - New Marske 4
After the good win against Thornaby a few days earlier we started our final away game of the season against Leeming, knowing that it was a must win game if we wanted to regain the advantage against them in the league. The previous meeting saw our only 0-0 game in what to be honest was a very lack lustre with neither side looking like they were ever going to score a goal.
The first minute saw Leeming take a free kick mid way in our half, but the resultant kick sailed over everybody and out for a goal kick. A minute later and Leeming were awarded another free kick on the left hand side this time, with this one being punched clear by Dean. We managed a break when Frank broke away on the right before crossing the ball that the keeper deflected away.
We were looking very scrappy and our passing wasn't good as Leeming pushed on sending another shot wide of the goal. Although the previous day in training was spent practicing one touch football we were doing the opposite and wanted to hang onto the ball for far too long. From a throw in, a Leeming attacker looked to have broke clear and just as he was about to unleash his shot Greg came in with an excellent challenge to deny him.
We were under pressure as Leeming pushed on and a couple of clearance were needed before we could break up field where we won a free kick on the right hand side. Liam took it but the ball only found it's way into the Leeming keepers arms. We were nearly caught out when Leeming broke away and for some reason Tim stopped and let him go, suddenly realising he chased after him before getting a tackle in that went for the first of two successive corners.
We were awarded a free kick just inside our half that Jack took short to Greg. The referee blew up as he hadn't seen it taken and so this time Jack launched it long into the box where it fell allowing Frank to break through and one on one with the keeper he only managed to hit it well over the bar. It was a very scrappy game with the referee very willing to blow his whistle for fouls on any occasion.
On 16 minutes yet another free kick was conceded just outside the box by Danny, and when the ball was hit in an unmarked Leeming player headed the ball into the net. 1-0 to Leeming, and you could see it coming the way we had been playing. there were a couple more corners to Leeming before we managed to pass the ball upfield allowing Joe to get forward but with only the keeper to beat his poorly hit shot rolled gently well wide of the goal.
Things went from bad to worse when Leeming had the ball around our box, and almost unchallenged put the ball to the back post where the ball was tapped into the net, 2-0 to Leeming. This was as poor a performance as we had had for quite a while, and a minute later it got worse as Leeming got their third goal in a pretty one sided half. A Leeming attack down the left saw the ball crossed in and palmed out by Dean straight to the feet of another Leeming player who gratefully took the opportunity to extend their lead.
The management team must have been pulling their hair out (well the one of them who still had hair) at this utterly shambolic performance. To try and change the game Greg was withdrawn as Hubby went on to replace him. Our passing was very sloppy and Leeming were very quick to try and exploit our non-performance. Two half chances for a break fell to Joe and Frank but in keeping with our performance both times things fizzled out to nothing.
Hubby who had come one was putting a lot of effort into the game to try and lift it, but there were still too many players who were looking uninterested. The frustration mounted as we finally put a decent move together to allow Joe to get through but his shot ended up more like a simple pass back to the opposition keeper than a shot. Danny was next to be replaced as Josh came on to replace him.
The changes seemed to be making a difference and on 39 minutes we managed to get a goal back. Frank got away down the right and crossed the ball which found it's way through to Josh, who seemed to scuff his shot, however it managed to beat the keeper and bounced in off the post. 3-1 to Leeming.
Half-time: Leeming FC 3 - New Marske 1
The second half started a lot more brightly for us as we started trying to knock the ball around a bit more. The effort and commitment also increased massively and we were at least hoping to regain our pride after such a pitiful first half.
The minutes ticked by and our renewed enthusiasm ensured that Leeming didn't find anywhere near the space and time they were having as there chances of a shot at our goal dried up. A quick break ended with a shot from Frank straight into the keeper. Leeming did get another chance only to see the shot clear the bar.
Tim came off the field as Greg came back on in his place. A free kick from us was struck by Liam and with Jack coming in on the back post the ball was parried out for a corner to us. Matty just about managed to get his head on the corner but could only direct the ball out for a goal kick. On 55 minutes though we got another goal back, and what a good goal it was. The ball was played out to Liam and he looked like he'd hit the ball too far as it seemed to be going out for a goal kick, however he chased it down and somehow managed to dig a superb cross out that evaded the defender and allowed Frank to hit a brilliant looping header over the keeper and into the net. 3-2 to Leeming.
This was more like it, we had a different game now. Leeming were really struggling to get space and control of the ball as the whole team fought with a passion that was missing in the first half. Leeming were getting some attacks but great defending especially from Jack was keeping the opposition at bay. Amazingly on 59 minutes we equalised. Some composed passing around the Leeming box eventually saw the ball played forward for Frank, however it looked to have gone too far but his determination saw him win the ball and get a shot in. The keeper could only parry the ball and once more Josh was waiting and hit his shot nicely inside the post. 3-3, and what a game we now had.
The game was really livening up and a free kick was awarded to Leeming when Joe crunched into a Leeming player. On 61 minutes unbelievably we took the lead. After some excellent battling we won the ball and it was hit forward past Liam. He really chased hard for the ball and got in front of the defender who fouled him. The referee played the game on as he saw David arriving to control the ball and his incisive pass sent Frank forward. Shrugging off the challenge from two defenders he kept cool and put the ball past the keeper to make the score 3-4 to New Marske.
We were really fired up now and looked like we really wanted to win the game. Epitomised by Frank who ferociously flew into tackle after tackle to try and win the ball around the Leeming box. The whole team was performing the same way and Leeming were now hardly getting a sniff of a chance at goal. Frank very nearly got his third goal when once more he fought through three defenders before hammering his shot over the bar.
This was great stuff now, but Leeming looked to have got through on goal as the dangerous number 9 for Leeming broke away. Jack held him up well and with a beautifully timed challenge calmly took the ball off him to avert the danger. The game should have been sealed shortly after when excellent battling once more saw Frank race away but screw his shot past the post.
Liam left the pitch as Danny came back on for the final few minutes. And with Matty running the ball into the corner the referee blew his whistle to bring to an end the ultimate game of two halves.
A brilliant second half performance from the lads. If we can put the same level of performance in from the start as we did in the second half, in my opinion there may be a few teams who end up on the wrong end of a good hammering.
Final Score: Leeming 3 - New Marske 4
MOTM:- : Josh McMillan
Other images from the game...
