Newmarket turned up today with a full squad as they faced a
struggling Wisbech side, but were without the centre back duo of
Badcock and Freed.
With Newmarket seeing the return of Chris Jefferson in midfield, Jez
Harris stepped into defence, alongside Adrian Atkinson, Jordan, Sean
Watts and Simon Greenwood.
The defence held off the Wisbech attacks without error and the
midfield of Magnus Magnusson and Jefferson worked well to supply the
balls out to wide players Adam Gallop, Josh Dawson, Barney Bowen and
Will.
Newmarket's first goal came from Mark Pears, who connected well from
a Gallop cross into the D, and it was not long after that when
Jefferson made it 2 to the home team.
The third goal came from Gallop, who made good work of a badly
pushed out short corner by drilling past the keeper from the top of
the D.
Newmarket's confidence was surging, and this was reflected in some
great passing of the ball and the movement of the players. The
yellow and blues went 4 - 0 up when Ian Starling put his ninth goal
of the season past the young Wisbech keeper.
Injured Captain Neil Badcock gave the half time talk, but found it
difficult to boost the players as they where already at the top of
their game, so he just praised the performance the team had given to
this point.
The second half started quickly, this time the away team had the
difficult job of defending with the sun in their eyes, giving
Newmarket more advantage.
Josh Dawson was unlucky to have a penalty flick claim taken away
when his impressive drag flick was deemed to be taken from outside
the D. Harris scored his second goal of the season with a perfectly
timed reverse stick hit, catching both the defence and keeper
unaware.
Wisbech caused some problems for the home defence, making it into
the D many times and forcing Dan Brown to some very good saves, but
when a shot on goal was stopped by a defender's
foot, Wisbech were awarded a penalty flick. The away team got their
consolation goal when the Wisbech striker pushed it low into the
corner passed the left leg of Brown.
Gallop responded with a well taken shot, scoring his second of the
game. Harry Bell also had some chances but with the away keeper
making some good saves Bell was unlucky not to get onto the score
sheet. The seventh goal came from Gallop, who took a shot at goal
and saw it deflect off of a defender's
stick. This sealed his first hat-trick
of his Newmarket career, but Gallop was not happy with his
controversial 3rd goal and made a great effort to drill his fourth
goal from the top right hand side of the D, making no doubt he was
Newmarket's man of the match in a game that ended 8 - 1 to
Newmarket.
Next week Newmarket are away to Cambridge City V, push back at
12:30pm.
