Newmarket display
Jekyll & Hyde characteristics - again!
Newmarket were not best pleased to have the time of the game
changed, only the night before, to two hours later than planned.
However, this should not be seen as an excuse for a somewhat
lacklustre display. Nevertheless, if the saying that teams who can
win when not playing well are champion potential, then maybe all is
not lost!
Taking the game to the opposition from the word go, Newmarket were
ahead before long through Matt Holden. The pressure kept on until
half-way through the first period, when a somewhat fortunate
deflection in the Newmarket "D" saw the ball creep in at the far
post of the despairing Freed. Nevertheless, he was fortunate not to
be cautioned for his subsequent reactions.
This goal, rather than spur on the away team, seemed to deflate
everyone, and Bourne broke away for a second just before the break.
Newmarket, unaccustomed to being behind, and certainly after such a
period of time, were given the wake-up call they needed by Captain
Greg Cummins. Cummins left no-one in any doubt as to who would be to
blame if the game was lost. Certainly a little more professionalism
is needed in the preparation, as late nights, drink and lack of
concentration accounted for at least two poor performances.
Even so, Newmarket came out for the second half fighting, taking
heed from their Captains words. Superb inter passing saw attack
after attack, without quite finishing the move. A short corner
seemed destined for the net until it hit a Newmarket player on the
back, several players found themselves in good positions, free in
the "D", without either the final pass, or the final touch begin
good enough. During this passage of play, keeper Freed received a
caution at the other end, and may be considered lucky to have stayed
on the pitch.
Newmarket equalised through Ian Starling, and went ahead with a
Geordie Young scrambled effort. They relaxed, played better, and
looked to have an opportunity to secure victory with ten minutes
left when they were awarded, rather fortuitously, a penalty flick.
Wilson Junior stepped up and put the ball not just over the goal but
nearly out of the arena. Newmarket kept the pressure on after this
mishap, and never really looked like letting Bourne equalise.
Away again next week, to March Town II, Newmarket need to get back
to their previous ways, controlling their own game as much as the
oppositions, and maintaining on pitch discipline better than on this
occasion.
