New Marske 1 - Bedale JFC 2
Bedale arrived as the first of our unknown opponents for this season. For a change it was a lovely sunny day with no wind, something obviously wrong there!
We started the game brightly, knocking the ball around, with our first chance coming from Frank and Joe who interchanged passes before putting in a shot that the keeper held comfortably. It wasn't long before Bedale tested our defence also, but a couple of good blocks meant the attack also came to nothing. Frank got himself away and was stopped by a good challenge by a Bedale defender before he could hit the shot. Before the defender could clear the ball he was tackled fiercely by Joe, only to have a free kick awarded against him.
It was shaping up to be a good game, with both sides trying to play football, and seemingly being equally matched. Bedale fashioned a chance next, after Tim battled really well to win the ball, before scuffing his clearance to a Bedale player. He broke through and only blocks by Dean and Jack allowed us to clear the ball. That was a bit of a let off for us.
We came even closer shortly after when a through ball sent Frank away on the right. He cut around the keeper and hit his shot goalward, but across the face of the goal with no defender near it. Joe sprinting in on the back post made contact with the ball, but he could only direct it out for a goal kick. David needed treatment for a knock who received at the start of the move, and looked to be struggling but for now he continued.
The game settled down with both teams playing well, making it difficult for chances to be created. We did create one when a lovely ball in by Conor went across the box without anybody being able to get on the end of it. It appeared there was something in the game for either side if they could raise there game slightly, but which side would do it?
The answer to that came after 26 minutes when the ball was lost in midfield, with a quick ball through to the Bedale attacker he hit his shot first time past the advancing Dean to make the score 0-1 to Bedale. This obviously buoyed them as they put us under more pressure, with a shot coming in from about 25 yards. Bedale were starting to find space in the middle of the pitch for the first time in the game.
Bedale started to take advantage of the space and started pushing us back. With the midfield not closing down Bedale were allowed to knock the ball around far too easily. The earlier injury to David finally became to much for him as Bash came on to replace him. The next player injured was Johnny who lunged into a challenge. The game played on while he was down enabling Frank to get away on the left. He cut inside of the defender and struck the ball goalwards, where the Bedale defence managed to clear it for a corner. The corner was poor though and went straight into the keepers arms at the near post.
It was a shaping up to a physical but not dirty game, with both Johnny and Danny being spoken to by the referee. Bedale were keeping us pressure but a couple of quick breaks saw Danny come close. We were still finding it tough to create a real clear cut chance though. It nearly came when a long ball by johnny set Frank away, but the keeper managed to get to it just before Frank did. We were getting more into the game again, and a free kick 10 yards outside the Bedale box saw the ball fall to johnny, who stretching to hit the ball only saw it go tamely back to the Bedale keeper.
A free kick was awarded to Bedale as Joe lunged in to win a ball, but only managed to clatter his opponent. A good header clear from Jack from the free kick saw us move back up field.
Half-time: New Marske 0 - Bedale JFC 1
It had been a good first half of football with both sides performing well, but could we step our game up to make the openings we needed in the second half. No changes to the players were made at half time as the game resumed.
The game started in a similar vein to the first, and the impression I had was that if we could close them down a bit quicker we could certainly go on to win the game. Bedale obviously thought the same though, as it was them who had the bulk of the early possession in the second half. Bedale were holding a high line and we very nearly got in when Danny won the ball and tried to play Frank and Joe in, but he wasn't able to get enough height on the ball to clear the defender.
Shortly after we did get back into the game. Another ball through this time did set Frank away. With the keeper racing out to clear the ball, both he and Frank got there at the same time, with the ball falling nicely for Frank, who with an unguarded goal in front of him, slotted the ball away to make the score 1-1.
Bedale broke upfield straight from the kick off, through the defence and through on goal. Dean came out and got his hands to the ball though. We were starting to get into them much quick now, as Greg and Conor combined to set Frank away. Andy was the next to get into them quickly, clattering a Bedale player just outside the box for another free kick. The free kick was cleared without any problem upfield by Joe.
Frank sent Johnny away on the left, and he hit a great cross into the box, unfortunately we had nobody coming into the box to try and get on the end of it. The game quietened down for a spell as we made our second sub, with Greg coming off and Dougy coming on. The quiet spell continued, well for us it did anyway, as Bedale started finding far too much space once again, as a Bedale attacker managed to go on a run into our box, evading four of five challenges.
Our next attack saw Conor break into the Bedale box, as the challenge came in, he went down very theatrically only for the referee to wave play on. We started to get closer to them and show more determination, as jack battled to win the ball well before setting johnny clear up the left. A good tackle by dougy allowed us to break quickly, but we couldn't quite break free enough to get a clear chance at goal.
We were starting to soak up a bit more pressure again as Bedale pinned us back deep in our half, the defence coping well though as Bedale like us at the other end, couldn't quite get a clear cut chance. It was looking like the next goal if it was to come, could be very important to the side he gets it.
A great ball by Bash sent Frank away but once again nothing came from it. Tim was next to be replaced by Josh. The next goal arrived as Bedale attacked down the left. We missed a couple of challenges allowing the Bedale player to get into the box. As he was closed down he slid the ball across the box to an unmarked attacker who had the simple task of knock the ball into the empty net. 1-2 to Bedale.
Our head didn't go down though, and some good passing between Conor and Danny saw the player put through for Frank, who struck his shot only to see it go narrowly past the post. If that was close he went even closer from the goal kick. The ball was hit straight at him, and he first time swung and hit the ball back goalwards. With the keeper struggling to get a hand to it, the ball smashed against the bar and out. A brilliant effort that really deserved to be the equaliser.
Johnny and Bash combined well in the box and Bash's final shot had the keeper scrambling to make a save. Johnny picked up a knock in the move and was replaced by Liam. He were pushing Bedale back in our search for the equaliser, but Bedale were managing to hold firm. We were knocking the ball around well, but clear chances were limited against the well organised Bedale team, in a very even game.
A spell of ferocious tackling from both teams followed right in front of us as both teams fought to win the ball, with Danny finally hitting a great ball into the box that saw us come so close to the equaliser. We had three players waiting for the ball as it bounced around, with Josh swinging and missing the ball, before Frank made contact and saw it go agonisingly past the post again.
Our workrate was now excellent as we battled to try and get an opening but Bedale were the team to break away as Andy lunged in and missed his challenge. leaving the attacker through on goal. Until Jack came in with a great saving challenge to deny him. Bedale where now pushing on and an attempted clearance by Bash ended up back in the middle, forcing Dean to make a save from the resultant shot.
It was a great end to the game as both teams were totally committed with everybody fighting to win the ball. The final whistled sounded to bring the game to a close. If we can show the determination of the last ten minutes through more of the game, there's no reason why we can't turn this type of game into a victory. Well played to both teams for a compelling game.
Final Score: New Marske 1 - Bedale JFC 2
MOTM:- : Conor Smith
Other images from the game...
