Acklam Football Club

COULBY NEWHAM ‘C’ v ACKLAM FC

Sunday 14th January 2007 

 

Acklam’s first league game of 2007 saw them visit Coulby Newham ‘C’.

This is always a tough, fiercely contested match, more so this time as both sides knew a win would put them into to second spot in the table.

A strong wind blowing across the pitch meant the early stages of the match were scrappy. It took both sides the best part of 10 minutes to adapt to the conditions, after this, as expected most of the action was taking place in midfield. Any forays into the oppositions half, were quickly snubbed out by two well-drilled defences. The first half saw few clear- cut chances with both keepers dealing well with long shots. Towards the end of the half both sides took turns attacking but the best either side could muster was a corner each both of which were easily dealt with by the defensive side.

An enjoyable, and despite the conditions, an entertaining first half ended

Coulby Newham ‘C’ 0 v Acklam 0. 

The second half kicked off with the wind thankfully easing. Acklam started the half stronger and made early inroads into the Coulby half.

Coulby’s keeper was now the busier of the two keepers and did well to stop a couple of snapshots from Adam Lane, then dived bravely at Josh McDermott’s feet to smother the ball. Acklam’s pressure eventually paid dividends. Mid-way through the half Adam Lane chased what seemed like a lost cause but managed to stop the ball from going for a goal kick, then from a narrow angle instinctively lobbed the ball over the advancing keepers head towards the goal, Josh McDermott was first to react and as the ball travelled goal wards he bundled the ball over the line to put Acklam 1-0 ahead.

The goal gave Acklam a lift and they put more pressure on Coulby’s defence, again the keeper had to be alert and another good save from an Adam Lane shot prevented Acklam going further ahead.

Coulby recovered from the setback of the goal and pushed Acklam back. Excellent work from Joe Stubley in Acklam’s midfield who won numerous 50-50 balls and broke up a number of Coulby’s attacks kept Coulby at bay. When they did breakthrough into the area Coulby found Joe Parkin in the Acklam goal in commanding form with good handling and positional play preventing any Coulby goal.

The match then became very stretched with Acklam seizing the initiative and Coulby’s keeper and defence were now the busier. Acklam didn’t have it all their own way by any means and Coulby pushed on into Acklam’s half, sterling work by Acklam’s defence, superbly marshalled by Gavin Stubley held firm. Acklam’s fighting spirit came to the fore as the defence withstood the pressure. With the game reaching it’s closing stages Acklam broke out of their half and attacked Coulby, Sandy Davison latched onto a defensive clearance and fired a shot from outside the area that found its way past two Coulby defenders and past the unsighted Coulby keeper into the net to put Acklam 2-0 ahead.

This was almost the last kick of the game as Coulby hardly had time to kick off before the referee blew for full time.

Coulby Newham ‘C’ 0 v Acklam 2 

This was another hard fought match, both teams showed great quality and commitment and produced a very entertaining game. Acklam just about had the edge over a skilful hard working Coulby Newham ‘C’ side.

The defence and keeper dealt with all the Coulby forwards threw at them, the midfield fought for every ball never allowing the Coulby players to settle, and the attack again combined well to get the all important first goal.

Acklam knew they had to be at their best to get a win from this game and played to their usual high standards.

Both sides can be proud of their efforts.

 

M.O.M. – Gavin Stubley – Played a captains match, inspired the players around him by the example he set and marshalled the defence excellently.