This was a very breezy afternoon and
a little overcast.
This was a very important return
match against Richmond whom we had beaten the previous Sunday
6-3 away.
This was never going to be easy as
Richmond included players missing from the previous game. The
breezy conditions made football difficult with the need to try
and keep the ball on the ground There were few chances in the
first half and the first chance of the game fell to Hudson but a
good block by the opposition keeper kept the ball out and a
couple of scares at the Saltburn end, one due to some careless
piece of defending when the ball virtually stopped on the goal
line before being cleared then an excellent double save by
Saltburn keeper Walters kept the score 0-0. However we were not
to be denied and eventually a deserved goal came when Whiley
took a corner and was headed home by Hudson on the half time
whistle. The second half was much the same with no team
particularly dominating. The opposition then got the goal we
were worried about when a long throw was met first time by there
excellent striker Gurung and it was 1-1. After a period of play
without any real opportunity suddenly Clark was free through the
middle inside the 18 yard box but delayed his strike and was
tackled. Due to illness Graham had been subbed at half time and
Atkinson replaced him at centre half. Whitfield was given the
task of marking Gurung and apart from his goal Whitfield stuck
to his task and Gurung became ineffectual. The other change was
to
get the wingers Axe and Hoggard to
swop wings and this paid off as Hoggard caused continual
problems down the wing and eventually one of his runs and a good
cross found Naughton at the back post 10 yards out and he duly
drove the ball past the keeper into the net. The play of the
opposition became frantic as they tried for an equaliser but our
defence stood well and denied them any chances and a further
late goal for Saltburn came when another cross from the left
found Naughton again at the back post and again he drilled the
ball low past the keeper. This was to be the final result of 3-1
to Saltburn and overall deserved. Good performances from Whiley
and Whitfield earned dual man of the match awards. Also keeper
Walters was solid behind the excellent defence where Hitchen on
his first full game played well at left back which released
Atkinson to midfield initially where he played well and latterly
at centre back. Hudson always was a threat up front. Although
they were Saltburns best performers all the team who played
contributed greatly to the win which keeps Saltburn at the top
of the division .
