Opportunity to close year on high note
THERE’S so much to talk about after Saturday’s win over Spennymoor Town, so first the negatives.
The referee could quite easily get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the “most wrong decisions in one game”, from the first throw in which should have gone to the away side, to the two penalties, both wrong from where I sat, his complete lack of regard for the simplest of decisions led to a first half of fragmented football, from both sides.
For our part the first 45 minutes were awful, we started on the back foot and soaked up some pressure but when we had the ball we just gave it away.
Winter, O’Halloran and Mantack were the main culprits but it looked like the whole starting 11 were guilty and when we had the ball everyone decided to stand still and ball watch allowing the North East side to steal the ball, things had to change.
The half ended even after the referee awarded us a penalty, I think he felt he’d even up that score after realising what a hash he’d made of the first one he’d given to Spennymoor!
The positives arrived as the second half started, Jim’s words of wonder transformed the lads and they duly took control of the game.
Gary Stopforth took over from the injured Matty Warburton and he ran the midfield ragged, it was yet another superb performance from him.
The crosses improved when Ben McKenna and Adam Thomas came on and no one benefitted more than hat-trick hero Jason Oswell.
His first was the earlier penalty, his second was a real goal of the season contender, some close control to make himself some space, a quick turn and a pinpoint shot into the bottom corner.
The third came from a McKenna cross, Jason threw himself at the ball in a crowded penalty area and his courage, as he placed his diving header across the visitors’ keeper, thoroughly deserved the applause and the man of the match ball (sorry Stephen).
We still had 20 minutes to go and our record this season against the top 10 sides has been awful so far (three points from a possibly 30) but we hung on.
When they hit the bar late on I felt it was going to be our day and so it proved and with a very winnable game at Lancaster in the Trophy next week before games against Curzon and Alfreton coming up, we could be finishing the year on a high and well placed for the run in.