Sat. 3rd Dec 2011:- Wilton 2nds v Morpeth 3rds
Score:- 2 -2
Scorers:- Renwick, Cook
MOM:- P.Durance
Although not ultimately ending in a victory, this was possibly the Third team’s best performance of the season thus far. The game needed to be started with only 9 Morpeth players on the pitch due to transport problems en route to Teeside. With Booth starting well in a solo advanced position, the away team avoided the situation of becoming too entrenched in their own half due to sheer lack of numbers. However, the resistance was only to last so long. Before ten minutes had passed, Wilton broke through from their right wing to score in a central position following some hesitant defending. This, though, was the exception to the rule and throughout the remainder of the match the Northumbrian team defended stoutly with Holden, Gordon & Durance featuring equally.
Once up to their allowed 11, Morpeth started to exert some pressure of their own. Ireland, as combatative as ever in midfield, started to not only break up play but initiate progressive movement. Wilton had already been awarded a few penalty corners before Morpeth won one of their own through incisive forward play from Macdonald. This first clear sight of goal was not to be wasted as Renwick fired a ball just inside the left hand post and though this part of the goal was protected the defender was unable to cope with the sheer weight of shot. Further good play from the away side meant that Wilton were now starting to feel pressured whilst in possession and especially when in defence.
The second half saw Morpeth continue to compete on equal terms with a team much higher up their league table. Wilton clearly possess some players with fine stick skills and good movement but this was matched by sheer endeavour & commitment to the cause with Foster embodying same, managing to play through a shoulder injury and with good effect.
The Teeside-based team did resume the lead but only as a result of quick play down their left and a very well taken shot dispatched from a good distance out with pinpoint accuracy inside the far post. Morpeth refused to let this set them back in any way and they resumed their harrying efforts. This was rewarded by possesssion being regained on an ongoing basis and ultimately resulted in a richly deserved equaliser. Good combined play & finely timed running resulted in an initial shot from Cook being well blocked by a defender. However, the ball merely rebounded to the Morpeth captain to allow him to strike the ball past the opposing ‘keeper from six yards out. There should have been only about five minutes left for the away side to hold out for a well-merited point. However, the umpire timing the game decided that earlier minor injuries had caused over ten minutes of delay.
In fact, Morpeth had chances of their own to edge this hard-fought encounter. Booth failed to score from two separate close-to-goal opportunities, trying to force the ball through the goalkeeper’s pads when laying the ball off would have been the wiser option. The final whistle eventually arrived and this meant that Wilton had failed to win at the Thornaby ground for the first time – a true indication of the measure of achievement for this fully determined Morpeth Third team.
