Newmarket fight back
to take last point of winning campaign
On the excellent
surface of the Perse School in Cambridge (this really was an away
game!), Newmarket never looked like champions, but showed some of
the spirit and resolve that has kept the club fighting for better
facilities in Newmarket over the last 8 years or so.
Having failed to
convert a couple of early half-chances, Newmarket found themselves a
goal down for only the second time this season, after poor defensive
work, which was to characterise the first half, allowed Cambridge
South a clear site of goal and Steve Freed had no chance. However,
this deficit remained for only a few minutes. Newmarket had pressure
on the Cambridge South goal and when the ball left the pitch in the
left hand corner, Simon Gibson hit the ball crisply to Billy Wilson
Junior, who controlled it well and put the resulting shot against
the backboards.
Instead of settling
Newmarket, this seemed to relax them to the point of stupor, and
Cambridge South quickly hit two more to be leading 3-1 with 10
minutes of the half remaining. A little reorganisation on the hoof
saw the defence shored up, and with this sound base to build on,
Newmarket pulled another back before the break. Ian Newham this time
converted after a move involving Gibson and Captain Cummins.
A strong talking-to at
half-time meant that no Newmarket player was left in any doubt as to
what was needed, but after 25 minutes battling, Newmarket had still
failed to pull back that last goal. Indeed, the opposition's 'keeper
had pulled off one stunning save from a Wilson shot, and several
attempts had gone close. Then, for the first time in three weeks,
the short corner routine paid off at last. Gibson pushed the ball
short to Newham, who moved the ball to Cummins via Badcock, and the
Captain rocketed in the equaliser.
Newmarket finish their
league campaign as Champions, beaten only once, and now look forward
to pressing for a third consecutive title next season. Some testing
"friendlies" remain between now and the summer break, starting this
Saturday, at home (Ely!!!), against Shefford & Sandy.
