Today Smithy hosted last seasons division 1 champions Lingdale FC at Hemlington Rec Park .
Smithy got to a flyer when in the 2nd minute Smithy used the advantage of the wings when left winger Dan Farnaby spotted the run of Joseph McKenna and knocked a perfectly flighted ball over the top for McKenna to run on to 1 0n 1 with the Lingdale keeper closing down Joseph Mckenna tried to round the keeper but the keeper managed to toe it away but in to the path of on coming striker Dave Campbell who slid in at speed to roll the ball into an empty net, 1-0 Smithy.
Instantly Lingdale put pressure on the Smithy FC and from a resulting corner the ball was whipped in for goal Keeper David Usher to parry for the on coming attackers to poke in the net , 1-1 4th minute.
Lingdale were putting the pressure on Smithy FC again pinning them back into there own half and on the counter David John played the ball to Joseph McKenna on the half way line who then played a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Junior Masandi after beating the offside trap dribbled into Lingdale FC box rounding the on coming keeper and walked the ball in to the net making it 2-1 Smithy in the 11th minute.
Was'nt long before Lingdale were level when centre midfield Matty McKenna failed to release the ball and a tackle from behind went un-punished and also left Lingdale striker 1 on 1 with David Usher and it was confidently finished making it 2-2, 14th minute.
A frustrated David Campbell was booked after venting his anger at the referee and seeing himself yellow carded for dissent.
Again Lingdale applied the pressure and from another corner inswinging in towards the keeper for David Usher to punch the ball clear but it dropped 20 yards out and the player struck it un-pressured into the net after Smithy were too slow to react . 2-3 24th minute.
Chances fell to either side and went without scoring when Lingdale had a free header go over n wide and Junior Masandi going close but Denny Alderson went closest to equalising beating 3 players driving into the box and smashing his effort onto the crossbar .
It was'nt until the 31st minute when on the counter Matty McKenna played the ball from infield to Joseph McKenna out on the right for him to knock the ball up field for Junior Masandi to give chase but when the Lingdale centre back looking favourite to clear the ball he miss judged the bounce and Junior Masandi pounced driving into the box beating another defender before powerfully beating the keeper at the near post . 3-3.
2nd half looked to start as the 1st half finished Lingdale having much of the possession and in the 55th minute a poor back line allowed a ball over the top for the on-side Lingdale striker in on goal out pacing the Smithy Captain David John and managing to beat David Usher at is near post to make it 3-4 to lingdale.
A fired up Matty McKenna recieved a yellow card for dissent but this seemed to kick start his game and had more of an impact on the game . this was also helped by bringing on the energetic Paul Jenkins for Joseph McKenna and Smithy started to take the game to Lingdale .
After David Campbell and Dan Farnaby went close to equalising and 3 penalty claims dismissed it certainly didnt look like it was gonna happen for Smithy . so trying to snatch a point by bringing fresh legs onto the pitch Matty Devine replaced Richard may in the centre of midfield .
In the final seconds with no luck from 3 consecutive corners Captain David John took one of his signature long throws adjasent to the 18 yards line into the box for David Campbell to rise and head the ball into the inside of the side netting , the dubious goals panel will need to look at the video as it looked to come off the challenging centre back but it levelled the game finishing 4-4 .
Mentions go to Denny Alderson ,David Campbell and David John for there efforts and in spells the Mckenna brothers showed what there capable of but Man Of The Match went to Junior Masandi who was threatening all game and finished his goals superbly .
well done to all involved for not giving up but we need to start playing more consistantly if were to make any headway in this division but its still early days and plenty of potential going forward.
