NO

Dan
Turland
Linesy
Broomy
Shaq
Mally
Boardy
Brads






A WIN IS ROUND THE CORNER !!

Sedgefield NETPark 4 – 5 Coxhoe

So the first league game was upon us and a somewhat under strength squad turned up which was a disappointment. Unfortunately we have been without the benefit of a full squad throughout pre season and with new players coming in its been a bedding in time for the lads with mixed results. After the drubbing we received from Hetton Lyons F.C. on Sunday this was an opportunity for the lads to put things right in our new division following promotion last season. With the team selected the lads went out to warm up for the match only to find that the referee didn’t turn up despite confirming the game on the afternoon of the game. After waiting a while former star Mally Dickenson agreed to officiate over proceedings in a reduced time match.

We started poorly to be fair and Coxhoe had all the early possession passing the ball around well and duly took the lead early on. They had the opportunity to extend the lead after Brian Platts was adjudged to have fouled in the area and a spot kick was given, We were given a reprieve when the Coxhoe midfielder crashed his spot kick off the bar and away for a goal kick. It gave us the kick up the backside we needed and we started to get into the game much more and create chances. We got a throw in on the right edge of the box Kev Broom put one into the area Nick Walker flicked it onto the back post and Chris Barber managed to scramble it over the line to equalise. Straight away after Nick Walker was getting joy against his man and when Todd Young played a ball down the right Nick got the better of his man again only to be hauled down on the edge of the box. From the free kick Lee Peat rose at the back post and powered a header into the net to make it 2-1 to NETPark. Unfortunately we couldn’t hold onto the lead as they scored from a corner which should have been easily dealt with. Once again we came forward trying to get back in the lead and it was Nick Walker who was again hauled down by his man on the edge of the box. Kev Broom’s whipped free kicked curled onto the inside of the far post only to cleared away off the line to safety. Half time came 2-2.

Spanna and Pulla seemed reasonably happy with the effort and performance but we had to try and cut out the silly mistakes and the game was there for us to take. But low and behold we conceded a shocker of a third goal as Billy managed to punch his cleareance into his own net. 3-2 and we had it all to do again. As we won a corner the move broke down and disappointingly they managed to break away virtually unchallenged squared to ball for our defender to finish off for an own goal to make it 4-2. To our credit we didn’t give up tried to get ourselves back into the game once again and forced the issue. We won a corner on the right and as the ball came into the box it was half cleared to Nick Walker who controlled and shot and with the help of Chris Barber who eased it goalwards we were back in it again at 4-3. We knew we deserved to get something out of this one but once again succomed to another error as Billy was inexplicably no where near his goal and the ball rolled horribly into the corer. No one will be beating himself up more than Billy last night but im sure he will want to put it right next week cause that’s what winners do. 5-3 and it was looking desperate but again we pushed on and a little ball over the top saw Nick Walker rush through and as the defender panicked he flicked the ball into the top corner of his own goal to make it 5-4. We were really up against the clock to try and get the equaliser and probably one more chance at best. We did push forward and carved out one more opportunity as the ball fell on the half volley on the edge of the box to Peter Sedgewick I have to say I fancied him to score but he didn’t catch it well and it went wide, it was a difficult chance being fair. Final Score 5-4 and we have to be disappointed not to get something out of this one. A very positive performance as we know Coxhoe are definitely one of the better teams in the division and we mixed it with them. We still have big big players to return for us in Martin Broom, Stephen Turland , Dan Canning, Martin Lower, Chris Lines, Boardy and others who will make a huge difference but the lads who played last night certainly staked a claim for their shirts.