Newmarket win hard
fought contest - it's all Greek to me!
Despite conceding the most goals in one league match for over a
year, Newmarket were naturally delighted with this hard fought win
over the local rivals. Newmarket were without regular 'keeper Steve
Freed (holiday), Matt Holden (suspended) and had a couple of regular
squad members injured. Despite this, they clearly needed no
motivational talk from Captain Greg Cummins.
Despite some early pressure from Ely, including the concession of a
couple of short corners, Newmarket soon picked up, and went ahead
after great pressure in the Ely "D" when Ian Starling scored at the
second attempt, having first struck a post. The "away" side kept up
the pressure but were horrified to see Ely score from their only
serious break before half-time, when, with a shot having beaten
Sutherland in goal going wide, the otherwise excellent Rob Horrex
kicked the ball over his own goal line!
Newmarket were stunned by this reverse, and swept forward, with
Cummins as always on top form, and Stavros Badcock and Wilson Junior
both playing their part. Indeed, it was Wilson who put Newmarket
back into the lead with a goal just before the interval.
Roared on by the biggest crowd of the season, both teams started the
second period in good form, and no love was lost in the ferocity of
the tackles, with high quality passing interspersed with tight,
frantic period of play in pockets of the pitch. After about ten
minutes, Newmarket scored from a short corner. This time though, it
was not Wilson but Greg Cummins who received the ball wide on the
"D" and hammered a shot just inside the far post for a 3-1 lead. It
looked all over for Ely, and maybe Newmarket relaxed a tad too much.
Stung into action by the deficit, Ely came forward with more vigour,
and soon had reduced the lead to only 1. With fifteen minutes left,
and at 3-2, the game could have gone either way. The next minute
proved decisive, swinging first one way, then the other. Ely
gathered for a short corner, which was well defended by Newmarket,
before Ely won a second. This one resulted in a third and equalising
goal, and there was every possibility that Newmarket would falter
under pressure. From the push back at the restart, the ball went to
Wilson Junior. In a prearranged move, he sent a superb aerial ball
down into the right hand corner for Simon Gibson to chase. He
collect it, rounded one Ely defender and slotted the ball to Stavros
Badcock in the "D". Less than 20 seconds after the Ely equaliser,
Newmarket were back in front, where they would now stay.
Despite all the previous excitement, the best goal was yet to come.
Simon Greenwood, picking the ball up in his own half, ran towards
the Ely defensive line, and pushed the ball to Greg Cummins. With
his momentum carrying him on rather than anything else, Greenwood
was perhaps a little shocked to immediately get a return ball from
Cummins, which sent Greenwood wide into the Ely "D". In his stride,
he hit a reverse stick shot past the despairing Ely 'keeper - 5-3.
Newmarket now appear to have an unassailable lead in the Crowe
Insurance Division 5NW, and are on target to score 100 goals before
the season is out. Their third title in three years and 100 goals
before the season is out now provide their twin objectives on the
field. Meanwhile, they await news regarding a permanent pitch in the
town. On this front, a Fund Raising evening, which will also involve
the LIA Charitable Foundation, is being held at Newmarket Memorial
Hall on Saturday 12th February at 7.30pm.
