Newmarket Mens 1s picked up their second win of the season with a 4v2 victory over UEA 2s. An early goal from Captain Simon Donald set Newmarket on their way and Newmarket found themselves 2v0 up at the break when Matt Holden bundled the ball home after a melee in the UAE D. Newmarket went 3 up early in the second half when Donald deflected home a short corner for his second, but UEA pulled 2 goals back in quick succession to put the game in the balance. With opportunities for both teams continuing through the half, the game was secured for Newmarket by Tim Sale’s reverse stick strike beating the UEA keeper at his near post. A good win and Newmarket blended experience with youth well in this game. Hoping to continue with another win next week, the Mens 1s travel to Norwich City 3s for proper 6 pointer.
Newmarket Mens 2s travelled to Ipswich 3s looking for an improvement in recent form. With only a bare bones 11, Newmarket could only look at Ipswich’s 6 strong bench with a degree of envy. Ipswich opened the scoring through their star player making his debut for the season, with a goal rarely seen in div 4NE, a reverse stick strike, on the angle and from the edge of the area, into the top right corner of the goal. Two further strikes both of impressive ability for the league made the score 3v0 to Ipswich at half time. Newmarket came back into the match in the second half, with the defence solidifying somewhat and the forward line taking the game to Ipswich. A goal was pulled back midway through the half when Man of the Match Drew Wood found himself unmarked on the edge of the Ipswich area and calmly slotted home a first time strike, but no more goals were had and Newmarket now look forward to hosting Norwich Dragons 4s next week.
Newmarket Men 3s also travelled to Ipswich, in their case to play Cranes. In whirlwind opening 15 minutes Newmarket scored 3 goals, through Ben Atkinson, Peter Booth and Hugh Griffiths with his first league goal for the club. In a high quality performance Newmarket continued to create opportunities at one end and snuffed out the threat of Cranes at the other. Just after half time Man of the Match Ben Ennion-Smith, who had provided drive and direction all game, picked up a loose ball 25 yards out from goal and Messi like danced through 3 tackles before slamming the ball into the back of the Cranes net 4v0. Newmarket then conceded two short corners, both well dispatched by Cranes to cause some worry, but managed to regain control and see out the match 4v2. Next up for the 3s another trip to Ipswich this time to play IES 4s.
Newmarket Ladies 1s made the short trip along the A14 to play Cambridge South 2s. With the two teams sitting in 6th and 7th place Newmarket were expecting a tightly fought affair. Cambridge South made home advantage count as Newmarket took time to get used to the trampoline that is the Long Road pitch, scoring an early short corner. Newmarket struck back through a short corner of their own, when Lydia Evans nestled the ball in the top left corner of the South net. The game became bogged down a bit in midfield as both sides wrestled for control. South again struck early in the second half and Newmarket needed yet another strike from Jess Richardson to earn themselves a well deserved point. The result leaves Newmarket closer to the top than bottom and with games in hand over some of those above them. Next up Peterborough 3 come to Newmarket.
Newmarket Ladies 2s finally put some breathing room between themselves and the chasing pack winning 5v0 whilst Ely 2s slipped to their first defeat of the season. A hat trick from Jess Malings and one each for Tracey Cockerill and Emily Sargeant saw off St Neots 3s. Next up a trip to Peterborough 4s.
Players – GK Jess Boyle, Vicky Benedikz, Jo Graham Thompson, Melanie Benedikz, Isabel Verdonk, Alex Lowe, Robyn Kennedy, Leah Palmer, Zoe Bailey and Natalie Rice.
Newmarket Ladies 3s made the trip to Wisbech L3’s with only 10 players after a late (unavoidable) drop out on Friday. After starting well with many good attacks down the right from Captain Fantastic Bailey, Wisbech took the opportunity to dribble through the mud to score and slipped unfortunately through the keeper’s legs, when she was caught between holding or closing down, with ball creeping in the near post. 0-1 Wisbech.
We were determined to push back – attacks coming from the left with Kennedy, Rice and Palmer linking up nicely and Bailey continuing to be a menace on the right, sadly, the attacks came away with only a duck.
With a minor change between Verdonk and M Benedikz – mother and daughter linked up with some good play slipping it up to Palmer to attack down the left but sadly again no score.
First half 0-1 Wisbech
Wisbech pressed from the off and at this point had only just realised Newmarket had 10 to their 13. Some great stops from Bailey, Graham-Thompson, Verdonk and Lowe on their main dribbler meant we could break, and Palmer, Rice and Kennedy had their best attacks of the game. Then Wisbech broke and scored again – near post same player 0-2 Wisbech.
Wisbech used that swing in momentum and attacks came thick and fast with stops coming on the line and lots of missed passes by the attacks giving Newmarket a reprieve.
Annoyingly the same Wisbech player, scored a third identical goal, although had that player passed Wisbech could have had several more. 0-3 Wisbech. Newmarket did not give up and maintained their attacking pressure with Palmer taking on the GK a couple of times with Kennedy and M Benedikz coming into support.
Full Time 3-0 Wisbech
Newmarket should not be disheartened by this result as they displayed lots of great team work, passing and determination despite being only 10 in number.
No Liv – but no gulls in sight either.
Thank you Wisbech for the great teas as always and there was a very fun puppy that arrived to the clubhouse later who played with Zoe and a pinecone.
Lemon after the game – Zoe and her foot – so Zoe was struck across the bridge of the foot a few minutes before the end after a swing and miss from Wisbech – but Zoe proceeded to put her foot on the table after teas with a ice pack down the sock looking like a club foot. You did need to see the photo / be there.
Player of the match – Robyn Kennedy for continually attacking and finding great space.
