New Marske 5 - Wolviston FC 3
As the end of season fast approached we were aiming to make it three consecutive victories in this, the penultimate game of the season. And we were forced into a change as Dean had broken his finger in training the day before meaning that Jamie got a start in goal.
A bright start to the game saw us nearly catch Wolviston out within 3 minutes, as the ball was played forward to Joe who was stood in an off side position, however he made no attempt to go for the ball but the alert Liam did, putting a cross into the box. The Wolviston defence regained their composure enough to bundle the ball clear. Two minutes later and it was Wolviston who went ahead. A couple of balls into our box were cleared but then the ball was played wide to the left hand side of the box where a Wolviston player was stood totally unmarked, and it was an impressive finish as he volleyed the ball into the net. 0-1 to Wolviston.
It was not the start we were looking for and the next couple of minutes saw us pinned back a bit by the Wolviston attack. We gradually regained our composure and our first shot of the day came from Danny, but it was well wide of the opposition goal. Joe and Frank were coming more into the game, starting to apply pressure down the other end of the field.
on 17 minutes we were level. Wolviston were forced to defend in their box and block a couple of shots, however the ball fell to Andy who smashed it past the defence and into the net. 1-1. Wolviston were finding it a lot tougher to get forward as we continued to play mainly in the opposition half of the field, and on 22 minutes we nearly took the lead. A long ball out of defence set Frank clear and he hit his shot well enough, forcing the keeper into a save. The ball rolled toward the goal line and before Frank could get to it a defender raced in to hook it clear.
All the pressure came to nothing as two minute later a Wolviston break saw the attacker race clear of Andy who was desperately trying to stop him. Showing composure he steadied himself before putting the ball past Jamie. 1-2 to Wolviston.
We were soon back on the attack and a sequence of three corners finally lead to the equaliser again, when a ball deep into the danger area picked out Frank who headed the ball into the net. 2-2. Wolviston were next on the attack with a free kick awarded on the left close to the 18 yard line. Conor didn't track his man and the free kick was rolled forward allowing the Wolviston player to get a cross in totally unchallenged.
We were playing some decent football and on 39 minutes we took the lead for the first time when Jack won the ball at the back and sent a long ball forward for Frank to run onto. His shot was once more saved by the keeper but this time it fell to Joe who stroked the ball into the empty net. 3-2 to New Marske.
We were pushing Wolviston back more frequently now and a nice header from Joe to Liam saw the keeper make a good save just as the half time whistle sounded.
Half-time: New Marske 3 - Wolviston FC 2
There were no half time changes as the game restarted, and Wolviston were straight on the attack and a snap shot ended up well wide of the goal. The early stages of the second half were proving fairly even with both sides trying to dominate the opposition. We very nearly extended our lead with a lovely move as Jack played the ball to Andy at the back. His ball found Danny in the centre and in turn he set Conor away down the wing. His shot looked like it was in all the way but instead went wide of the goal.
That chance was close and it wasn't long before we extended our lead with an excellent goal. Some superb battling in the centre of the pitch resulted in Liam racing away toward the box, and a lofted shot saw the ball dip over the keeper and nestle into the net. 4-2 to New Marske.
Wolviston were straight back on the attack and a mistimed tackle by Andy saw Wolviston get space to get a shot in that Jamie did well to hold. We once more started to put pressure on Wolviston and began to play more and more in their half, and we were awarded a free kick centrally outside the box. Danny lined it up but it wasn't struck very well and allowed Wolviston to clear the danger.
Our first sub of the day saw Josh replaced by Hubby after Josh had received a knock that required some treatment. Wolviston started to get their game together and we were having to defend a bit more, although they weren't able to create any clear cut chances as the defence were playing well. We really should have extended our lead when we were awarded a free kick that Jack took quickly sending Danny away. He broke into the box and looked like he was about to finish when the ball rolled back to the keeper, presumably from a defensive challenge.
Wolviston found themselves back in the game as our passing entered a phase where we gave the ball away too much. One such pass fell to a Wolviston player near the half way line and as he ran forward nobody closed him down. from about 30 yards he hit a shot that Jamie watched all the way, but somehow the ball squirmed through his grasp and ended up in the back of the net. 4-3 to New Marske.
With only one goal separating the teams Wolviston were pushing on and Jamie was forced to smother a Wolviston shot. Once more we started to press at the other end of the field and Liam, surrounded by three Wolviston players slid a lovely ball to the onrushing David, who saw his shot go narrowly wide of the far post. This was followed up by a shot from Danny, once again ending up wide of the goal.
Wolviston broke away and an excellent save by Jamie saw the Wolviston player foiled before he could score. Wolviston came even closer as a break saw a couple of shots defended before a third shot looked to be going in, this shot was blocked on the line and the ball fell into space where an onrushing Wolviston player looked like he was going tap the ball into the net, but instead he blazed the ball over the bar.
We were being pushed back now as Wolviston went looking for the equaliser but it was New Marske who extended the lead. Wolviston had a free kick and we intercepted it and broke forward with the ball being played up to Frank. He raced away and rounded the keeper to make the score 5-3 to New Marske.
Wolviston tried to get back into the game but the defence were holding firm now, and we really should have extended the lead again as we got a break away. Joe played the ball through to Danny who looked to be clear until a last second challenge saw the ball kicked away for a corner. That was Danny's last involvement in the game as he was replaced by Ben Leaper.
Wolviston broke down our end and forced Jamie into a smart save with a pretty decent shot. A free kick to us up the other end saw Liam do likewise as his shot drifted harmlessly into the keepers hands for the last meaningful action of the game.
This was a good victory once we got to grips with the Wolviston team as we were made to battle all the way.
Final Score: New Marske 5 - Wolviston FC 3
MOTM:- : Danny Latham
Other images from the game...
