A gutsy and brave team-performance by Yetminster Sharks saw them claim a last-gasp victory over Provost Barbarians Reserves at the Shark Pond. The hosts led 2-0 at the break, but had to withstand a fierce Provost onslaught in the 2nd period that saw the visitors claw their way past the home side and into a 3-2 lead with a little over 10 minutes to play before the Sharks delivered a timely coup-de-grace.
With Ben Jones and Adam Marsh settling on a 4-4-2 formation due to the absence of central-midfielders and defenders alike, the Assistant Manager Marsh stepped into the right-back position to join Norton Payne and the hugely impressive centre-half pairing of Jamie Lukosius and on-the-day captain Mark Clifton. Kade Masters returned to the Sharks midfield to partner the fit-again Lawrence Hallett, with flyers Luke Conway and Nathan Ruscoe resuming their wing roles. Mark Whitmarsh joined the free-scoring Sam Murley to spearhead the Sharks' attacking line, with Craig Woolley making his competitive debut for Yetminster in goal. Sam Carver joined the walking-wounded Ben Jones on the bench.
The game began at a frenetic pace, with both sides looking to craft an opening, and Sam Murley very nearly opened the scoring after latching onto a superb Lukosius through-ball, but saw his effort well saved by the on-rushing Chris Fitzpatrick.
There was plenty of to-and-fro as the half progressed, but the deadlock was broken very suddenly just before the half-hour mark. Mark Whitmarsh released Luke Conway down the left, the winger breezing past the full-back before coolly nutmegging a desperate Fitzpatrick to cue a wild celebration that will surely live in infamy.
Yetminster doubled their advantage not 10 minutes later with Whitmarsh again the architect. Sam Murley has a staggering goal-scoring ratio at present, and his stock continues to rise, the striker buried his effort from 12 yards into the right side of the goal. Whitmarsh himself was not without a couple of opportunities himself, but the best of his efforts, a 25 yard belter was narrowly too high and wide.
After the interval there was a major paradigm shift however, the Provost players came out firing and pulled a fortuitous goal back in the 54th minute. Craig Woolley was the unfortunate victim of a swerving and dipping free-kick, and couldn't pounce on the rebound before it was turned in by a Provost attacker. The onslaught continued, and Simon Allen scored an excellent 2nd after escaping un-marked down the Yetminster right before gliding the ball into the bottom-right-hand corner of the net.
Yetminster looked to respond immediately, but fell behind for the first time in the game in bewildering fashion after a mix-up between Lukosius and Woolley saw the former accidentally steer the ball past the helpless Woolley into the net.
If anything could galvanise this brave and determined Yetminster side though, surely that would prove to be the moment. So often before have the Sharks fallen foul to a late goal that ends up costing them, but not today.
With Mark Clifton rousing his troops once more, Yetminster turned the screw, and in a big way. Nathan Ruscoe was released down the right-flank, won the foot-race to the ball with ease before delivering the ball to Murley. Yetminster's top scorer, with his back to goal, produced shades of Thierry Henry with an audacious back-heel that beat the dumbfounded Fitzpatrick at the far post. The hosts weren't done there though.
Deep into injury time, a half-break forced a corner. The Sharks sent forward the cavalry once more, a delicious ball from Lawrence Hallett was met superbly in the air by the imposing Mark Clifton who guided his header in at the near post to spark yet more wild Yetminster celebrations. The captain capped a marvellous defensive performance with the match-winning goal, and led his side superbly throughout to collect the Man-of-the-Match award as well as all 3 points.
