21st Allstars B 4 - New Marske 1
After last weeks excellent victory over Whitby, we made the trip to Darlington to play what promised to be our second tough game in a row
The game kicked off and within a minute we had a delay while the referee tried to locate a ball that wasn't soft. Once the game restarted both team were looking bright, and an early break by Frank saw him out pace the Allstars defence forcing the keeper to make a smart save with his feet. Shortly after the same thing happened twice more with Frank racing away causing the opposition defence problems. One of the breaks ended with a ball into Joe who forced the keeper to push the ball out for a corner.
It was a very lively start from us with our pace upfront causing all sorts of problems, and Allstars hadn't been able to fashion a chance. However when they finally did create their first chance on 12 minutes they ruthlessly punished us. A couple of decent challenges around our box looked like we would clear the ball, eventually saw the ball fall to an Allstars player who hit a first time shot into the corner past Dean. 1-0 to Allstars.
The goal came totally against the run of play and the team went very quiet as they came to terms with conceding the goal. We responded in the best possible way 6 minutes later when a great flicked header from Joe looked like it was heading into the keepers arms when Frank nipped in and hit it past him to make the score all level at 1-1.
In an end to end game Allstars retook the lead when Andy appealed for an offside decision that the referee didn't agree with. Trying to get a challenge in he then stumbled before he could make the challenge leaving the attacker free to put the ball into the net. 2-1 to Allstars. Allstars were buoyed by the goal and an attacker raced through under challenge from Andy. The pressure was just enough as he put his shot just wide off the goal. We settled back into the game, playing some good football as we pushed for another opening.
A quick break from defence saw Frank race deep into the Allstars half, being challenged all the way by one of the defenders, before forcing the keeper to knock the ball around the post for a corner. A good ball in saw the ball fall toward the back post, but nobody was able to make up the ground to fashion a chance at goal.
On 30 minutes we were once more punished as Allstars went 3-1 into the lead. A break into the box saw Dean make a smart save with his foot, but the Allstars players was first to react as he turned toward the goal with the ball. Andy stood his ground rather than close the player down as he unleashed his shot into the roof of the net.
Worse was to follow 3 minutes later when a long ball over the top saw the defence caught square with an attacker racing through toward Dean. As he came out the ball was chipped past him into the net. 4-1 to Allstars.
Half-time: 21st Allstars B 4 - New Marske 1
The half time score line was hard to take as it had been a very even end to end game where we had had as many chances as the opposition, but the difference was they clinically finished almost every chance with a goal whereas we were tending to squander most of ours.
The second half started off tentatively as we struggled to get any sort of passing game going, with us giving the ball away to the opposition. This lead to a chance for Allstars when Danny gave the ball away and the goal bound shot saw Dean scrambling across to try and reach it, with the ball finally going narrowly wide of the goal.
We made a couple of subs as Matthew and Conor were replaced by Hubby and Josh. We came into the game slightly and a run by Frank down the left saw him try to pick out the run of Josh, but the ball ran through before he could claim it. There was another break in play as an Allstars player got treatment for an injury.
The second half was very scrappy from both teams as we struggled to get out of our half due to the poor passing. Tim came on to replace Liam when was struggling with a trapped nerve in his back. Our defending was looking a lot better in the second half as Allstars struggled to create a scoring chance, but unfortunately neither could we. The effort and determination of the first half was sadly lacking in the second half as we continued to struggle to get out of our half. We were playing against the wind now but it didn't really seem strong enough to be influencing our play the way things were shaping up.
Another substitution by us saw Bash come on for David at left back. Allstars worked a couple of corners but couldn't cause a problem as the defence managed to clear the ball comfortably. Finally we came close to getting a goal back, as we were awarded a free kick in a great position on the left just outside the box. Danny played the ball in and the onrushing Josh looked like he was going to score from a yard out, but instead found himself needing treatment as the ball somehow found it's way past the post.
Straight from the free kick we had another chance, when Josh powered a header forward to Frank, who turned but hit his shot over the bar. We were finally creating chances again as Frank once more raced away only to see his lob over the keeper go narrowly wide of the goal. Allstars started exerting pressure on us but the defence were coping well in this half. A couple of free kicks for Allstars didn't cause any problems as one was headed clear and the other fell nicely into Dean's arms.
Once again in this half we started to struggle to pass the ball, which allowed Allstars to push us back into our half, however they weren't able to break through our defence, as the game was finally brought to a close by the referee.
It was a strange game with Allstars taking virtually all of their first half chances in a game that in truth was very even. With more clinical finishing and a bit more belief in the second half the result would certainly have been a lot closer. It should be an interesting game when we meet in the return game later in the season.
Final Score: 21st Allstars B 4 - New Marske 1
MOTM:- : Jack Lochrie
Other images from the game...
