Isn’t it nice when a plan comes together! With relegation staring us in the face and with all the pressure on us we finally came up with the performance we have been looking for and what a time to deliver.
Anything less than a draw in this match would have resulted in us being relegated there and then so the pressure was really on and playing against a team that beat us 5-0 only 3 weeks earlier was a difficult ask.
The lads were up for this from the start and we dominated all the early play then on 7 minutes a Graeme Embleton corner was met by Sean Gregory at the near post who simply wanted to get to the ball more than all those around him and as he made contact with the ball he was facing the other way but still diverted his header into the top corner of the net.
Sacriston were playing with a very high intensity and the work rate of Ward up front was enabling the team to play very high up the pitch. Gregory and Rob Draper were monstrous in midfield winning everything.
Then on 22 minutes Sacriston went 2-0 up when Graeme Embleton’s clever chipped diagonal pass over the Newton Aycliffe defender’s head found Sean Gregory in the box who had made a great run from midfield and he somehow managed to find the power to divert his header back across goal past the keeper and into the net via the far post. It was a very good goal and at that time we were full value for our 2 goal lead.
Sacriston defended comfortably for the rest of the half and although Newton Aycliffe did have periods of possession they created next to nothing with it but that was mainly due to Sacriston’s excellent team shape and discipline.
Newton Aycliffe did clip the post near the end of the first half when Potts was forced into a good save down at his near post and Grant Boyd found himself in a good position to shoot 14 yards out after a sweeping Sacriston move got us close to the goal but he chose to try and set up a team mate and the ball was cut out by the Aycliffe defender.
Newton Aycliffe did have much more possession in the 2nd half and put the ball into our box a lot more but we dealt well with everything thrown at us and we looked very strong and compact and the rare time an Aycliffe player did get in behind us someone was always there to cover or get the last tackle in. Bryan Potts had a good game in the Sacriston goal commanding his area well and his kicking was very assured.
Even when Andrew Collinson got injured on 55 minutes who had an excellent game until then resulted in Rob Draper going back to sweeper with James Thornton coming on in central midfield we still held our team shape well. Ryan Grayson who had been unlucky not to start after impressing at Pelton the previous Thursday came on for Greg Coates on 57 minutes who had done well and gave the team the fresh legs needed up front to help the tireless Ward.
We did defend deeper towards the end but looked comfortable and we easily saw out the later period of the game. Gary Draper came on for Ward on 88 minutes.
This was a thoroughly professional performance against a very good team and one that made me feel very satisfied. The whole team were magnificent and we carried no passengers. Every single player stuck to their job superbly and the absolute sheer commitment of every player not to concede a goal and stick with the Aycliffe runners was the main reason we won.
Danny O’Brien played magnificently well and he was up against a monster of a centre forward but he never gave him a kick. Michael Quinn alongside him was equally as impressive. Andrew Solan had the game of his life at right wing back, he simply was awesome and for such a small lad he was excellent in the tackle and in the air and not only did he defend properly when called upon further up the field he played like a creative midfielder showing excellent feet on the ball and good passing to keep the team moving forward in possession.
Graeme Embleton had his best game in a Sacriston shirt he set up both the goals and demanded the ball from his team mates to set up the attacks and never wavered in his defensive duties either and he never stopped until that final whistle went and he could be heard all around the field urging his team mates to do the same. He has been brilliant for us this season and if we do stay in the league his performances would have been one of the major factors in us doing so.
There was one other player who at the grand old age of 34 rolled back the years to put in his best ever performance for Sacriston just when we needed it most. It was this type of game that I brought Sean Gregory to the club for. The guy is a born winner and while he was on the field today there was no way we weren’t going to win. He was on a mission he spent the whole game charging around the field breaking up play then bombing forward looking to get into the box to score the goals we needed. It was through this sheer determination alone from which he got his goals. The rest of the team were feeding of him and started to do the same and it was a privilege to see that performance.
I would like to mention the support we got today and the support we got at Pelton the other night the people of Sacriston really got behind the team on both nights and this defiantly helped the team. If we could have produced anything close to this kind of performance more often this year we would be nearer the top of the league instead of fighting relegation. However luck has deserted us for many of our games this season and I just hope now that we have done enough to stay up only time will tell if Coxhoe and Washington JFC can get the win they require against Pelton in the 1 remaining game each team has left.
I would like to mention that the referee MR W.Burrell was excellent throughout and he is by far the best referee I have seen in the league this season.
I would also like to thank our brilliant secretary Marc Hall for all his hard work for the season and although he is unsure about carrying on doing the job his work is greatly appreciated by all. The Burn family Lauren, Carol & Megan have been fantastic for the team providing quality food after the games so thank you to them. Thanks to all of our supporters who have been to the games throughout the season and last but not least thanks to my players whose effort as been there all season and we have played brilliantly at times against the best that the Durham area has to offer and I hope we can match it with the big boys again next season. Thanks see you all at the presentation evening.
