Champions!
Within a minute of leaving the pitch after this rousing win,
Newmarket learned that their only possible challengers left for the
Crowe Division 5NW, Bourne, had only drawn, and that their third
league title in successive years had been won. Having now scored 89
goals, and with only 4 games left, Newmarket look more than capable
of collecting their own target of scoring 100 goals in only 22
games.
Newmarket pressed forward from the word go, and, with a particularly
attacking team on the field, at every opportunity thereafter. The
first goal came after only 5 minutes, Ian Starling poaching in the
Peterborough "D". Within a few minutes, Wilson Junior despatched a
short corner hard against the backboards for 2-0. Remarkably,
despite constant pressure, and with Ian Newham and Matt Holden
combining well, Newmarket failed to add to this tally before the
break. Simon Greenwood, again solid at the back, left the pitch
shortly before the break with an ankle injury, to be replaced by
Wilson Senior. Al Heath held the backline together well, assisted by
Rob Horrex.
Within only 2 minutes of the restart, Wilson Junior scored the
second of his four, and Newmarket's third, with an acute shot across
the "D" in at the far post. Ian Starling had a fortunate second,
seeing his shot going wide until deflected into his own goal by a
hapless Peterborough defender. The fifth for Newmarket came from Ian
Newham, after good work from Matt Holden. If Holden had had his
shooting stick with him, he could have had five himself, but left
with a blank on this occasion.
Newmarket then conceded a poor goal, leaving gaping holes at the
back, and poor marking allowed Peterborough a sniff of a comeback,
with 20 minutes still on the clock. However, Wilson Junior scored
another short corner, Peterborough did get a second, good quality
goal, then Ian Newham got his second, the ball striking the post
before rebounding in off the Peterborough net minder. Heath scored
after a short corner for the eighth, and then Wilson scored a
magnificent ninth and final goal. Simon Gibson, industrious as
always on the right, put an inch perfect ball into Wilson's path,
and he hammered it into the Peterborough goal.
The only significant "down" on this title winning day was the
absence of Greg Cummins, Newmarket's outstanding Captain, who had a
prior engagement. He and his squad will now concentrate on that
magic 100 goals, before preparing for a season in Division 4NW and
the announcement of a pitch in their home town, which they hope to
hear sometime in the next two months!
