This game followed a very similar pattern to last week’s game with the big difference this time being a 93rd minute heart breaking injury time winner for Kelloe.
Sacriston made 2 changes from last week with Gregory replacing Wood and Collinson replacing the injured Bladen.
Sacriston started very well and took the game to Kelloe and this time we had lots more possession and created lots of very promising situations in and around the penalty box. Then on 21 minutes Sacriston took the lead when Collinson cleverly come up from his sweeper position to exchange passes with Embleton from a short corner which enabled Embleton to get nearer the goal and a better angle for his cross which he fizzed along the 6 yard box and was inadvertently deflected into his own net by the Kelloe defender.
It was no more than we deserved and with Sean Gregory dominating in midfield we had good control of the game. We put 2 or 3 really good moves together with some good passing but occasionally resorted to the long ball too often which often resulted in giving away the ball.
This time Sacriston held on to the lead longer and looked comfortable for the first 15 minutes in the 2nd half and still remained a threat.
Kelloe made a positive change to their formation in the 2nd half and decided to go with 3 at the back and 3 up front and Stuart Thompson give them some much needed speed in the forward areas which in turn was allowing Kelloe to get further up the field
Kelloe by now were beginning to enjoy longer phases off possession and Sacriston were being forced into more and more defending and from deeper positions being forced well back into they own final third. Bryan Potts was forced into some good saves in the Sacriston goal.
Greg Coates replaced Grayson on 60 minutes in an effort to freshen up the forward areas. On 70 minutes Sacriston had a great opportunity to go 2-0 up when O’Brien got clear from his marker from Graeme Embleton’s corner at the back post but powered his header just wide of the post. Then a few moments later Sacriston broke away down the right hand side with Gregory & Ward who then pulled the ball back to the edge of the box to the arriving Graeme Embleton who took his shot first time but hit it straight at the keeper, he was in more space than he thought and could have taken a touch but in the heat of the moment he wasn’t aware of this.
This proved to be the pivotal moment of the game and on 75 minutes Kelloe drew level. Kelloe took a corner which went deep to the far post and Potts in the Sacriston goal didn’t get much contact onto his attempted punched clearance and the Kelloe player managed to get enough contact on to his header to put in the net.
By this time Kelloe were starting to pin us back and we were being forced into some desperate defending and Potts made 2 outstanding saves in the final 10 minutes to keep the scores level. He denied Craig Coates goal bound header brilliantly flying across his goal to the left hand side to tip it round the post.
Sacriston made one more change with Andrew Solan coming on for the excellent Andrew Collinson who had made a great return to the side after not being involved in the last 2 weeks for the final 7 minutes with Quinn coming inside from right wing back.
Then with the last passage of play deep into injury time Sacriston finally seemed to get clear and Gregory came surging forward with the ball from midfield and attempted a pass through the Kelloe defence towards Greg Coates which if he had found him with would have put him in the clear but the ball was intercepted and Kelloe quickly got the ball forward towards the edge of the Sacriston penalty area where a speculative shot was taken which was probably going wide of the far post but Potts flapped at his attempted palmed save and the ball fell perfectly at the far post to the Kelloe number 2 who had a simple tap in which he converted.
The goal I clocked at 92 mins 45 seconds and there was simply no time for us to respond and the final whistle was blown shortly after the re start which just proved how close we were to taking the game into extra time. There was no doubt Kelloe were finishing the match the stronger team but we would have loved to have had the opportunity to get the team together to re-group and go again with 1 sub left to use, however it was not to be!
This was probably the most guttering experience I have ever had with this team but our lads have absolutely nothing to be ashamed off we have given I think the best team in the county 2 brilliant games and we were only behind for about 20 seconds out of the 180 minutes we have played against them in the last 2 weeks.
Unfortunately though that is when it counts at the end and that is probably why Kelloe have won the numerous trophies they have in the recent past because they find a way to win.
The Sacriston team put in a fantastic effort physically and each and every player put in 100% all game and for that I was very proud and if we can put this effort in for the 2nd half of our league campaign we should stay well clear of the bottom 2.
For an hour Sean Gregory was fantastic in midfield for us and Anthony Ward showed remarkable fitness levels to chase down anyone in a Kelloe shirt all game long. Grant Boyd was superb at left wing back and our defence remained solid throughout and although our goalkeeper did make the 2 mistakes which ultimately caused us to concede the 2 goals without his earlier saves we wouldn’t have taken the game deep into injury time and there was nobody more gutted than him in the changing rooms but this is a team game win as a team lose as a team and as I was so proud to later find out in the club drink as a team. By mid afternoon you probably couldn’t tell what result we had had earlier in the morning which proves what a great team spirit we have and what good losers we are to which is always more difficult to be.
I would like to say a few words about the Kelloe lads who both weeks came into our club for a couple of drinks after the game and were very gracious in behaviour shortly after victory.
The final word should go to our brilliant support on the sidelines who cheered the team on throughout and the support was varied from the very young to the more experienced and it is appreciated by the team. Cheers Richie!
