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Arngrove Northern League Division 2
Saturday, 10 November 2007
A tough afternoon on Tyneside!
As we arrived the clubhouse was full of Newcastle supporters, optimistically hoping to see their team prevail at the Stadium of Light. All of the bonhomie, good grace and intelligent analysis one has come to expect from our friends in the north was on display; until of course Sunderland took the lead! The boys couldn't hold on however, so it was up to Sunderland RCA to fly the flag against the black and whites of Whickham.
Whickham are a tough act to contend with. Much improved from last season, fast and direct, they put us under pressure from the off, and went ahead in the 15th minute with a super strike as a ball was cleared from a corner.
It took us a long time to get to grips, but as the half wore on we came more into things, although still finding it difficult to get it down and pass it, not helped it much be said by Whickham's awful pitch and the strong wind. Still 1 - 0 at the break, and Neil reacted immediately, with all three subs used by the 50th minute. Simon Andrews came on to add more height up front for Lee Bell, while Wayne Henderson and Glen McCartney came in at the back to replace the injured Matt Hyson and Taz Raine.
Now playing into the wind we came more and more into things and began to really press the Whickham back four. Craig Lines held it up well while Gary Shields dropped deep to turn and run at defenders. The goal looked like it would never come, but finally a clever ball from Simon set Craig away and he finished well to bring things level with 12 minutes to go.
There looked to be only one winner at this stage, and it wasn't going to be Whickham, or so we thought. But a quick break exposed a lack of pace at the back and the chance was buried, to leave us with only five minutes to try and salvage things again.
It was not to be, and Whickham celebrated like a cup final on the whistle. They expect to be in contention at the end of the season, and on this performance, particularly since we know we can do much better, so should we.