Skipper's double does the trick
Newmarket chalked up their second East League win
in a row with an impressive performance at Gorleston. With a
stronger squad than in previous weeks, they dominated from the
start, adjusting well to the slow pitch.
However, the defence was caught on an early break
and the home side managed to take a quick lead against the run of
play. Newmarket focused their way back through a "Benny" Bennett
flick after Roger Wise's short corner had been disallowed.
The usually consistent Newmarket goalkeeper Jon
Hall had an uncharacteristically diffident game and handed Gorleston
a two-goal advantage shortly after the break. However, it was then
that the determined Newmarket side began to play with the flair and
resilience they are capable of, creating chance after chance against
an increasingly lacklustre defence. Only a brilliant display by the
goalkeeper kept the home side in the game and the deficit remained.
The pressure continued with 25 minutes left.
Adrian Gurnell, Newmarket's resident 17 year-old South African wing
wonder, constantly hounded the back line while Bennett strutted his
stuff in typical fashion throughout, as threatening and ungiving as
ever. He was finally rewarded with the breakthrough that Newmarket
so desperately deserved when his strong stick work in the D created
half a chance. Sighting a small gap to the left of the keeper, he
shot and scored.
The floodgates were open and flowing hockey
prevailed with the yellow and blue machine on top. Newmarket's
captain strolled through the Gorleston defence with impeccable ease
and victory seemed inevitable.
From a relentlessly puissant performance came two
equally resounding goals by Bob Townson, securing the three Division
Two North points with only minutes remaining. If it was not a
classic match it was certainly not far off.
Newmarket II 0 - 0
Wisbech III
Newmarket became only the third team to take a
point off unbeaten Wisbech who are runaway leaders of the Norwich
Union East League.
Newmarket showed the spirit that has carried them
to a 13-game unbeaten run and they more than matched their
opponents. Town had the best of the first half and Blades, Carter
and Robinson all went close. After a stern team talk at half-time by
Gibson Newmarket went out looking for a winner.
As the halves Harrington and Level battled,
Blades, Gibson and Robinson played creative through-passes, one of
which led to a one-on-one chance for leading scorer Carter but the
keeper made a fine stop. When Wisbech attacked in the latter stages
defenders Mike Morris and Steve Taylor played their usually calming
roles and cleared the danger.
Extraordinary General Meeting
Newmarket Hockey Club is to make great efforts to
lobby decision-makers involved in talks over the siting and approval
of an artificial pitch in the town. This was one of the resolutions
to emerge from an extraordinary general meeting called by the
committee to discuss the club's short and medium term future.
Newmarket will enter two men's teams in the East
League next season and the women will continue to run one side in
the Cambs County league. Training will continue at Ely and members
will attempt to support training whenever possible.
No merger with Ely was considered necessary as it
was obvious that there is still a great support for the club in the
area.
Response to the meeting was excellent with the
vast majority of members attending. The few apologies were due to
work or travel commitments.
Spokesman Harry Mangell said: "There was great
concern shown for the club and several people volunteered to join
the committee for the 1995-96 season which will greatly alleviate
the build-up of jobs for the present committee".
The committee were satisfied with the outcome of
the meeting as it provoked healthy discussion on the future of the
club and enabled the club as a whole to take decisions for itself
which will ensure that future.
