Morpeth 1st XI v Richmond 1st XI
Result: 3-1 loss
Scorer: Paul Danecki
M.O.M: Gavin Malecki
D.O.D: John Dixon
Morpeth travelled down to Richmond hoping to build from their win against the Durham University 4th team the previous week. The first twenty minutes went well for the away side as the defence held strong with a half court press, allowing the skilled and youthful Richmond side no sight of the goal. Typical of Morpeth’s play this season, a counter attack was formed from the back after some good tackling had dispossessed the home side and the returning Paul Danecki slotted home a well struck reverse stick into the bottom corner.
Richmond continued to push forward though and piled into the Morpeth D, with their resilience paying off as a short corner was awarded although the decision made by the umpires was questionable. Never the less the equaliser was converted.
Towards the end of the first half Morpeth pushed forward in an attempt to win back the lead before the half time whistle, and this was nearly the case when Ayad Shafiq made a brilliant run along the by line of the oppositions D and played a ball to skipper Will McLean on the flick spot who struck the keeper with his first sweep, and again with his second. All square at half time.
The attacking Richmond side came at Morpeth hard after the break and again, the away sides defence held off the threat. The continuous pressure eventually paid off though when Morpeth got pinned into one of their own corners and were unable to clear their lines, Richmond capitalised and scored to take the lead.
The last fifteen minutes of the game resulted in the young Richmond side dominating most of the possession, and the tiring Morpeth team were subjected to a third goal being scored against them. The match ended 3-1 to the home side, a frustrated Morpeth will hope to produce a better performance next week.
Whilst the result looks bad on paper for the entire defensive line, the scoreline could have been a whole lot worse, and Gavin Malecki was particularly solid at left back earning him the Man of the Match plaudit. The result will prove particularly disappointing especially as Morpeth took the lead and were far from being the second best side on the pitch.
