Newmarket
secured their 5th win of the season with a convincing win over Market
Deeping, earning the 3 points to keep them top of the table. The home team
started the game at full pace, governing the pitch with quick movement and
sharp passing, utilising the back four to direct the ball from one side of
the pitch to the other. Attacking down the flanks were quickly rewarded
when Harry Bell used his striker's instinct to move behind the Deeping
defence to find the back of the goal.
Newmarket
kept their structure and players never broke position, keeping the game in
the opposing half. Magnusson and Dawson commanded the centre of the park
with Nowell, Drane, Freed and Level providing back up, forging a strong
base from which to attack. Bell and Bowens ran the wings, providing for
the upfront duo of Starling and Pears. The yellow and blues went 2 – 0 up
when Mark Pears made no mistake by beating the keeper, with Ian Starling
making the assist.
Newmarket
continued to terrorise the visitors with their speed and movement, but
Deeping were not going to be beat easily, as their keeper made some good
saves and the defenders stopped several shots off the line. Although
Newmarket won a few short corners, they struggled to convert from the set
pieces, but when one of the Deeping defence cleared the ball to Captain
Duncan Freed, there was no stopping his ferocious strike into the bottom
left hand corner, scoring his first goal since April 2006.
With only
minutes left of the half Newmarket stepped down a gear and were punished
for this, by giving away a short corner to the opposition, which they
scored despite the efforts from keeper Chris Warren. Newmarket finished
the half in disbelief, conceding a goal after some outstanding hockey, so
they decided to start the second half as they started the first. Attempts
from Dawson, Bell, Starling and Pears where all stopped by the away
keeper, and at the other end of the pitch the back four held strong,
preventing Deeping to claw their way back into the game.
Duncan
Freed got man of the match for stopping many attacks from the away side,
and for his determination in pushing forward in Newmarket’s counter
attacks. Freed unfortunately received a yellow card towards the end of the
game, and Deeping thought they could get back into the game but with the
defence having their best game of the season there just wasn’t a chance of
them scoring again.
Next week Newmarket travel to
Peterborough in a top of the table clash, with Newmarket wanting to pick
up all 3 points to remain top of division 5NW.
