Match Report:

Hebburn Town (Home) | Saturday 7th August 2010 3pm | Northern League Div 2 | Result 1 - 1 (Draw)

Marske fielded four debutants in the side, as well as changing the formation from last season to 4-3-3.  Goalkeeper Danny Dixon, defender Lee Donachie, midfielder Adam Gell and forward Anthony Ormerod all played their first game for the club, whilst Dom Gamble was handed the responsibility of captaining the side for the first time.

There was a dull start to the game, with both sides reluctant to commit men forward.

With fifteen minutes gone, the first chance of the game brought about the first goal.  Rob Jones played the ball out wide on the left hand side for Adam Gell to run onto, and he delivered a good low cross into the centre of the box that Hebburn’s Robbie Blemmings blasted into the top corner with Danny Brunskill right behind him ready to pounce.

Marske were spurred on by taking the lead and Brunskill and Josh Myers both had half chances blocked before Hebburn had the ball in the net on 24 minutes.

Marc Brocklehurst put a lovely ball behind the Marske defence for Neil Scott to run onto.  The midfielder slid the ball past Danny Dixon into the net but had his effort ruled out for being offside.

Jones had a chance to score on 24 minutes after managing to get past Town goalkeeper Andy Hunter, but Andrew Grant-Soulsby got back to make a saving block.  The ball fell to Anthony Ormerod who could only manage a tame shot that was easily dealt with by the defence.

The first corner of the game didn’t come until the 33^rd minute, allowing Marske several chances to shott from close range, all attempts being blocked until Lee Donachie teed up Jones to let fly, but Hunter pulled off a tremendous full-length save to deny him a certain goal.

Despite seeing plenty of the ball, Marske failed to add to their lead, and Hebburn came close to grabbing an equaliser three minutes before the interval after Donachie conceded a foul just outside the penalty area.  Grant-Soulsby smashed a shot at goal from 25 yards that just skimmed the side netting.

Half-time:  Marske United 1v0 Hebburn Town

Hebburn started the second half brightly, Garry McCartney forcing a good save out of Dixon in the opening minute from the edge of the box.

An equaliser was always on the cards for Hebburn as Marske were playing with no width in the side, and therefore no outlet to get forward, and it inevitably arrived after 57 minutes.  A good passing move from left to right was finished off by Brocklehurst who headed in a deep cross from the right wing.

The away side were now on top and growing in confidence as Grant-Soulsby tried his luck again from distance on the hour mark.

Hebburn almost grabbed a winner two minutes later when the lively Grant-Soulsby broke through behind the defence and fired his shot against the post with just Dixon to beat.

It took until the 73^rd minute before the home side tried to change things as Derek Bradley replaced Ormerod and the team reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

A free kick into the box on 73 minutes saw Blemmings given time to take a touch and set himself up for a shot which deflected off Mark Taylor for a corner.

Owen Dixon replaced Anthony Roberts late in the game and drew in an immediate foul from Danny Hall, but neither side were able to carve out any further chances, and weren’t helped by referee Gary McClelland blowing for an end to proceedings with just 87 minutes gone.

Full-time:  Marske United 1v1 Hebburn Town

All-in-all it was a poor start to the season as for the third time in four seasons we failed to win our opening game.  The new signings however, look good and it surely won’t be too long before we start to put a winning run together.

Teams:

Marske United:  D.Dixon, Roberts (O.Dixon),

Gamble, Swalwell, Donachie, Taylor, Gell, Myers, Brunskill, Ormerod (Bradley), Jones. 

Not Used:  Thompson, Dalton, Morris.

Hebburn Town:  Hunter, D.Myers, Hall, Grant-Soulsby, Blemmings, Catto, Carroll, A.Myers, McCartney, Brocklehurst, Scott.  Subs:  Duncan, Gray, Elrington, Crew, Quine.

philjones wrote:  

Not the start many had in mind, a one all draw which we could have easily lost.
An own goal hammered in at the near post gave us the lead in the first half before their keeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny us a second. That save seemed to wake up Hebburn who went on to create way more chances than us, dominating the remainder of the first half, domination which continued for most of the second half too and they will think themselves unlucky not to have taken all 3 points as we created nothing in the second half.
Fortunately the ref had had enough too and only seemed to play 42 minutes in the second half!
Still, a chance to quickly get into gear comes on wednesday with a trip to face Washington.
C'mon Marske

pied piper wrote:

Can't disagree with that report Phil. In my opinion the performance was no different from any of the 6 pre season friendlies we played. We don't seem to play with any width and we are struggling to score goals. I know it's early doors yet, but unless we change the formation to 4-4-2, I can't really see us challenging at the top of the league this season. I know we had 3 lads on holiday today ( what's that all about ? ) and Benn is injured but there doesn't seem to be a spark in the team. Let's hope we can bounce back on wednesday at Washington and then show Hebburn the real Marske United next saturday in the F.A. Cup tie at their place.

Scotsmac wrote:

I spent the first half trying to work out our formation - was it 4 1 3 2, was it 4 2 2 2, I don't know. Other than Dom we seemed to have little or no width to our play. We were very fortunate to get a draw.

MO55Y wrote:

Totally agree.
The one time we got out wide in the first half, we scored, albeit by an own goal (although Bruno would have buried it if the defender hadn't).
We have the team in place to gain promotion, we just need to play everyone in the correct system.
4-3-3 didn't work in pre season and it ain't working now!
A few tweaks to the side and I'm sure we'll be there to be reckoned with.