Newmarket
back on track - one more win for title
Newmarket bounced back
in some style from their first league defeat in over a year, knowing
that two wins from their last three matches would secure their
second consecutive league title. Now a so-called "home" game at Ely,
against Boston next Saturday, could prove to be a day for
celebration after an emphatic away win.
Once again, as so often
this season, a quick start helped to settle Newmarket, and after
only 5 minutes Ian Newham scored from a scrappy short corner. Seven
minutes later, he added a second from open play, and Newmarket
started to really relax, and played 15 minutes of excellent hockey.
On 18 minutes, Captain
Greg Cummins fired a third, and on 28 William Wilson hit another for
4-0. Newmarket made three substitutions before half-time to make
good use of their squad, and Ian Starling was the main beneficiary.
He scored with almost his first touch on 30 minutes, and then again
on 33, for a half-time score of 6-0.
Into the second half,
and Newmarket again started brightly. Inside 2 minutes Starling had
his hat-trick, and 3 minutes later Paul Young scored a good goal
from an acute angle after good work in midfield.
Unfortunately, not for
the first-time this season, Newmarket then spent some time
forgetting all their good work, and became a little disjointed, with
big gaps opening up between the attack and defence. On one such
occasion, and in no small way due to an incident between one of the
defence and an errant mobile telephone, Peterborough scored their
consolation goal.
However, less than five
minutes later, Starling added a fourth for himself, and a ninth for
Newmarket to further bolster their already superb goal difference.
With closest
challengers Bedford not playing, Newmarket now have a four point
cushion, having played the same number of games, both teams having
just two fixtures to go. Newmarket are hoping for a larger than
average attendance at Ely next Saturday to inspire them to that last
win which will clinch the title. Members and players past and
present will be very welcome for what promises to be a further
moment for the club's historians.
Newmarket
face Boston II
on Saturday, home, at Ely,
push back at 4.30pm
