Sat. 19th Nov.2011 – Stokesley 2nds v Morpeth 3rds
Score:- 1-3, Scorers:- Macdonald, King, Greenbeck, MOM:- Martyn Bott
This was a game that the Morpeth Third Team simply had to win in order to avoid concerns of continually looking downwards within their division and also to make up for the ill-disciplined showing of the previous week. Wholesale changes were in evidence throughout but the away side still managed to dominate the early exchanges with Carlyon, starting as he meant to go on, winning the vast majority of any challenges for possession in midfield. Stokesley appeared to lack confidence in going forwards and started to feel the pressure at their defensive end.
Though no clear cut chances were made, Morpeth won the first of several short corners that they were to be awarded throughout this match. A narrow miss at the near post resulted but after twenty minutes their second penalty corner resulted in a sweetly struck shot towards the far post from Bott being flicked in by Macdonald for a deserved opener. The home side looked to rally but due to sound defensive play they only occasionally managed to force the ball into the offensive ‘D’ and, even then, no shots resulted. At the other end, much pressure came to nothing and a 1 – 0 scoreline was scant reward for the Northumberland-based team’s dominance.
Stokesley started brightly in the second half but any hint of offensive movement was quickly snuffed out by Foster & Bott and the Thirds were soon to benefit from increasing gaps at the other end. A sustained attack from Morpeth eventually left Greenbeck with a chance to score his first ever competitive goal which he achieved by shooting past the ‘keeper’s right and the increased scoreline reflected the weight of play. A third was to follow with a smartly lifted shot dispatched by King, the ball having been played in from his left. Renwick missed further opportunities from close range to put the result beyond any doubt whatsoever and it was disappointing that the North Yorkshire team managed to score when a mishit shot evaded Cook in goal for the ball to easily be put in at thefar post by the unmarked left winger. However, this was mere consolation and Morpeth easily saw out the period remaining.
Good performances from Holden & Race were emblematic of the overall effort & commitment within this third Team performance and it is hoped that this is matched in the forthcoming home fixture.
