First of all I would like to say well done to Coxhoe WMC not only for gaining a draw in this match against us but for carrying on this season. Many teams in a similar predicament to what they found themselves in this season recently have just folded and took the easy option out.
The game itself was played in pouring rain throughout on a poor pitch which did make things a little more difficult for us but having said that we still should have won by a landslide. I have never seen a more one sided game in all my life that actually ended up with the final result being a draw. It is hard to criticise my team who played really well on the day and created a hatful of chances but the ball would just not go in the net.
The early play in the match was dictated by young Jacob Horner who was running with the ball at the heart of the Coxhoe defence and he had 3 shots well saved by Tom Orton in the Coxhoe goal. Horner was at the heart of everything during the first half and did everything but score.
On 9 minutes Anthony Ward’s shot looped up on to the cross bar and rebounded to Harrison who then hit the post with his shot which then came back out towards Stuart Fenton who’s shot looked in all the way but a Coxhoe defender got in the way without really knowing to much about it.
Sacriston continued to dominate and Grant Boyd enjoyed the freedom of the left wing and he created lots of opportunities with great service in and around the edge of the penalty box which we failed to capitalise on.
To be honest Coxhoe showed very little threat going forward but defended doggedly. Tom Orton in goal had a wonderful match making several crucial saves to keep his side in the match. I don’t think Bryan Potts had a save to make in the entire match in the Sacriston goal.
Sacriston made several changes during the 2nd half with the conditions being so bad it was only right that they got on. This did freshen the team up a bit and the chances rained in again during the 2nd half.
Gavin McCormack nearly scored as soon as he came on when he showed a real turn of pace to get away from the Coxhoe defence and he fizzed a low left footed shot which went just wide at the far post.
On 61 minutes a sweeping cross to the far post by James Thornton found John Harrison who let fly with a first time volley which rattled the crossbar from 18 yards out or so this was the unluckiest moment of the match.
Harrison then hit the woodwork for the 3rd time in the match on 72 minutes when his right footed strike beat Orton but rebounded of the post.
Then on 74 minutes it looked like we were finally going to score when McCormack latched on to a ball over the top and he carried the ball right into the box one on one with the keeper but he wildly sliced his shot wide when under no pressure.
The chances kept coming on 80 minutes after a succession of corners we finally got one to the back post where Daniel O’Brien had got free but from no more than 2 yards out he put the ball over the bar on the stretch.
We tried everything we could to score and put Coxhoe under pressure the entire time camping inside there half. We finally thought we had scored on 85 minutes when Andrew Collinson fired a shot into the goal but was incorrectly ruled offside which was very frustrating at the time.
This was the only error the referee made in the match and it is nice to report that the last 3 referees we have had have all been excellent.
There was time for one more chance in the 92nd minute when John Harrison’s flying header looked destined for the net only to see Tom Orton claw the ball away with his right hand to pull off a miraculous save.
It was just one of those days although our finishing was poor at times we hit the woodwork 5 times and had 2 efforts cleared of the line and the keeper had the game of his life, sometimes it is just not meant to be.
A different test awaits us on Thursday at Hetton Lyons CC.
