After last weeks below par performance picked up 3 points, we looked to get another 3 on the board on Saturday with a better display. The game came to life after a quiet first 10 when Alnmouth scored the opener, thanks to more refereeing controversy. It seems to be something every other week with us at the moment, this time a goal coming from a free kick that never was. Kieren Laverick cleared the ball via a tackle and was caught late by the Alnmouth skipper, yet the free kick was given the other way for some reason that nobody could seem to fathom. The initial ball into the area travelled to the opposite side of the pitch before coming back in to be headed home by the captain who had won the free kick 60 seconds earlier. We began to grow into the game by pressing high and expoilting the wide areas with Newbrook and Nolan finding Smith and Wilson down the flanks, however the away side managed to clear every cross or shot that was taken. Next up was another crucial decision, again going against us and again hard to accept. A hopeful long ball was played forward by Weir resulting in Wilson pouncing upon a defensive mix up to round the keeper and tap home comfortably to equalise. Or so we thought, the referee, despite initially giving the goal, went back to disallow it for offside. When the ball was played Wilson was 10 yards onside, and the next to touch the ball was their defender who headed up into the air before Wilson pounced on the loose ball. Five minutes later a decision finally went our way when Newbrook broke free and was taken down by the keeper, a penalty was given along with a yellow card. Wilson, who had scored two from two penalties so far, stepped up and seen his low attempt saved very well. As always in football if you don't take your chances then you're always vulnerable of being punished, and we were as Alnmouth scored their second of the game, a very well taken goal too drilled from the edge of the area into the side netting of Symingtons goal.
The second half got under way and as the day went on the game became more and more scrappy. Neither team really completely taking control of the tie with the wind picking up causing more difficult playing conditions. With a few half chances in between, Nolan grabbed his 10th of the season when the first clear cut chance came our way. Newbrook drifted wide before putting a ball into the area where Nolan controlled and took his time beating the keeper comfortably. Watson came on to replace the injured Wilson however couldn't quite provide a final product. The more we pushed in the final 15 the more of a grip the away side got of the game, which they made the most of in the last minute of normal time. Symington, who had previously kept us in it with a blinding save mid way through the second 45, was caught in two minds along side centre half Adams which allowed the forward in to kill the game off.
Last weekends performance was a bit of a warning sign, and this weeks result is a wake up call. We felt hard done by after the first 45 conjuring up two crucial decisions against us, although we had our chances to get back into the game before the break. We'll be stepping it up again this week to put right Saturdays wrongs against Swalwell this weekend.
