Tornadoes set up Storm Semi Final! The boys made a lot harder work of the quarter final than it should have been, despite dominating we couldn't finish off the feisty reds until late on. Having said that the awful pitch and a fired up all action Newbiggin side didn't help our normal flowing game.
EDIT JUST REALISED PUT DETAILS IN AS IF WE WERE HOME SIDE, THIS WAS AN AWAY GAME.
At the start the Reds had the best spell of the game, forcing a couple of corners, and Aaron having to make one save. After that point up until the fourth quarter, don't think Aaron had to make another save. Despite dominating in the middle of the park, we struggled when it came to the business end of things. We were taking slightly too long with our final ball or getting our shots away. Dylan had a couple of shots saved, and Elliott's cracking long shot just went wide of the post. From one of many free kicks James had the best chance of the game, just putting his shot wide from around four yards away. The pressure finally paid another good Elliott free kick into the box was not gathered thoroughly by the keeper and James was on spot to stab the ball home. 1-0 Tornadoes.
Second quarter and again it was all the Tornadoes, Sam and Harry dealing with all the danger at the back, Elliott kept getting free kicks for continued foul play, and he had three shots just go wide of the post, we also had a disallowed goal when a good corner was handled by Dylan before Joseph bundled over the line. Dylan also had a shot blocked and good defending kept us out. 1-0 Tornadoes end of 2nd.
Third quarter - Pattern continued, Tornadoes on top, and the game littered with free kicks for foul play by the Reds, chances kept coming for Tornadoes, Elliott forcing a superb save from the keeper, and going just wide on two occasions. Despite this good play the second goal had a bit of good fortune about it, a chipped ball from Joseph should have been dealt with by the keeper, but James got the reward for chasing it down and the keepers clearance came of James and went into the goal. Good pressing James. Started to pass it a bit better, with Dylan being blocked by the keeper and then Dylan forcing a good save from the keeper. End of third Tornadoes 2-0.
Fourth quarter and we switched off and allowed the Reds back in to the game, our midfield was not getting back and our defence at times was too far up the field, the warning sign, came when Aaron who'd had such a quiet had to come out and make a tremendous save with his legs when the Reds striker had been left one on one. A couple of minutes later, and Sam thinking the ball was over the lightly marked line handled the ball from the resulting free kick, we scrambled it out, only for the ball to come back in, and the striker who we later found out had kicked Aaron just placed ball over line. This gave a rather false picture of the game, but it did seem to force us into life, with Elliott going close a couple more times, and Josh's shot just getting crowded out. Then in a two minute spell we finally put the game beyond doubt. Dylan playing nicely on the right put Joseph away, who despite the attention of two defenders came across the byline and pulled it back superbly for Josh to make no mistake, lovely composed finish, good team work lads, great battling Joseph. Soon after Dylan and Elliott combined to put Joseph away one on one with the keeper and with the outside of the foot or toe some would say, he stabbed it past the keeper and it went in off the inside of the post. At last we had got our passing going in the final third! Final score 4-1.
We made hard work of it, but on a poor surface, against a physical Reds side we came through in the end and that is the main thing. We do know that we can play much better, and we will have to be at the very top of our game on Tuesday when we welcome our good friends and local rivals Bedlington Storm, if we want to have a chance of reaching the final.
For man of the match awards, Dylan got the opposing coach's decision, and when coming back on final quarter did some really good work, and had plenty of good runs through out the game, just decision making could have been a bit better but that could be said about of all the boys today. Elliott was strong as ever and was clattered lots of times, James got his goals from putting pressure on, just need to remember the defensive aspect of game, Sam & Harry were pretty composed most of time just switched off a little, Josh did some good work down the wings at times, Aaron when called upon did well, one excellent save. Just sneaking it for his performance in last ten minutes for me was Joseph, after a slow start he came into the game and certainly was mixing it physically with the Newbiggin lads, so for his two assists and goal Joseph is home choice. Well played Tornadoes in the end! TUESDAY NIGHT - PLEASE CAN WE HAVE LOTS OF VOCAL PARENT SUPPORT ON THE SIDELINE, AND IF WE CAN INVITE AS MANY PEOPLE DOWN AS POSSIBLE TO CHEER THE BOYS ON! LETS GO TORNADOES!!!!!
