Newmarket lose for
the first time in a year - beaten black and blue
Newmarket suffered
their first league defeat in over a year, ironically to the last
team to beat them. Pensive before the game due to a rough experience
a year before, when several players came away nursing injuries,
Newmarket had the chance to seal the league title with a win.
Once again, a quick
start helped to settle Newmarket, only this time the goal did not
follow, as it has so often this season. In fact, the score could
have been 3-0 to Newmarket, if only the Bedford 'keeper had not
played such an inspired first half. Three short corners, two from
William Wilson and one from Greg Cummins were all expertly saved,
all having been goalbound. Indeed, Bedford took the lead with a
miss-hit shot halfway though the first period, and Newmarket knew
they had a real game on their hands.
Some poor tackling, a
very physical Bedford side who took no prisoners, and some bad luck
with decisions defined the score at the break. For the second week
in a row, on the very stroke of half-time, a further goal appeared
to have been scored by Newmarket, only for the umpire to decree that
he had blown the whistle for the break just before the ball crossed
the line.
Into the second half,
and Newmarket again started brightly. However, after five minutes of
excellent pressure, they seemed to lose their way, and gave Bedford
further opportunities. Having said that, the defence generally stood
firm, with Robert Horrex superb throughout.
It seemed that the
Newmarket equaliser was not to be, especially when the Bedford
'keeper pulled off two further excellent stops, and eventually
Bedford netted their second.
This inspired Newmarket
to greater heights, and intense pressure led to a goal with only
minutes to spare, Magnus Magnusson turning in a short corner after
Newham had fed Gibson, whose shot had been saved by the 'keeper.
Newmarket continued to
apply pressure for a deserved equaliser, only for the umpire to blow
the whistle as they were 2 yards from goal and certain to score,
after another good short corner routine. All in all, a draw would
have been a fair result, but it wasn't to be.
With no game next week,
Newmarket must now wait until Saturday 20th February to travel to
Peterborough Athletic III, in a game that could decide the league
title.
