Derby win eases relegation fears
Newcastle’s football 2nds stole a last minute victory from poly 3rds following Chris Holt’s late substitution
Henry Scutt takes the attack to Northumbria’s third team Photography: Hubert Lam
Men’s Football
Newcastle 2nd 2-1 Northumbria 3rds
Last Wednesday, a late winner from substitute Chris Holt earned Newcastle 2nd XI a narrow 2-1 victory over Northumbria’s 3rd team on the Longbenton 3G. Earlier, captain Arthur Okonkwo had seen his first half penalty cancelled out by another spot kick, this time in favour of the away side, before Holt notched the decisive goal late on.
It was the Newcastle outfit who started the game by far the brighter, and were rewarded for their early dominance when forward Tom Stapleton was fouled just inside the penalty area. Okonkwo stepped up to coolly slot the spot kick home, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way.
The Royals were unlucky not to double their advantage soon after. This time, the Northumbria ‘keeper had to be at his very best to tip a well-placed Jonny Sexton free kick narrowly around the post.
The away side eventually sprang to life, shading the remainder of the half. Their best chance came when one of their centre-halves was left unmarked at a corner, but he could only divert the ball over the crossbar, leaving the home side’s ‘keeper, Matt Thorpe, untroubled.
The rest of the half passed with relatively little incident, as the Royals’ backline proved more than a match for the away side’s direct approach. Bookings were exchanged before the referee called half time on an encounter that had so far been more an exhibition of graft, rather than guile.
The second half began in a similar vein to the first, with the home side having the better of the opening exchanges. The impressive Mark Turner just failed to convert a couple of half-chances, before a menacing cross from winger Henry Scutt was well cleared.
Once again, the away side responded quickly, coming extremely close to leveling the scores soon after. On this occasion, the Poly forward saw his acrobatic effort cannon off the crossbar following a superb inswinging free kick.
However, the away outfit eventually got their reward for their continued spell of pressure, as a free kick from a similar position was hoisted into the box once more. This time, the ball struck a Newcastle hand as a mass of bodies fought to challenge for the flighted cross. The penalty was then well converted, leveling the scores with 20 minutes to play.
The equaliser brought with it an immediate change of personnel from the home side. The tireless Stapleton was replaced by Holt, with Okonkwo making the switch from centre-half to centre-forward to pair up with the substitute. Ed Holden also came on to deputise for Okonkwo at the heart of the defence.
The revitalized front-line immediately looked menacing, as a tired looking Poly defence struggled to keep tabs on the troublesome pair. First, Holt was inches away from getting on the end of whipped free-kick. Moments later the same player came close again as, following a clever knockdown from Okonkwo, his goal-bound effort was deflected wide.
However, the lively Holt was rewarded for his endeavor from the resulting corner. This time, a clever near post run enabled the substitute to divert the drilled set piece goalwards past the hapless away ‘keeper, taking the home outfit into a 2-1 lead.
In all honesty, it wasn’t pretty; but the Royals will be delighted in claiming three all important points that will undoubtedly prove vital in their continued fight for league survival.
