Saltburn  V  Acklam - CUP MATCH

Conditions were nigh on perfect for this Sunday morning cup encounter between the two Division 5 teams. Expectations are always high in the hope of a good cup run and today was no exception. Saltburn however faced the prospect of playing the match with only 10 men following the unavailability of key players. It was always going to be a ‘backs to the wall’ job and this disadvantage prompted a 4 – 4 – 1 formation with Anthony Prouse ploughing a lone furrow up front. Saltburn seized the initiative early in the game taking a 1- 0 lead following good work by Anthony Prouse who rounded the Acklam keeper to open his account for the season. This seemed to stir Acklam into action and it wasn’t long before they grabbed the equaliser. Following the opening goals both teams attacked and the cup match developed into an end to end encounter. Anthony Prouse’s pace proved to be a constant threat to the Acklam defence and it wasn’t too long before David Hanlon took good advantage of indecision  in the Acklam defence to put Saltburn 2 -1 up. Was this really happening ? Even at 2 – 1 the nature of the game meant there were more goals to come and the equalising goal came following an attack down Saltburn’s left flank. By half time Dan Readman and the Acklam keeper had plenty to do and the half time whistle gave a well earned breather to the Saltburn team.

The team was encouraged to continue with their industrious performance and try to frustrate Acklam in the hope of a counter attack. It wasn’t long however before a Saltburn attack resulted in them taking the lead for the third time in the game with the busy David Hanlon popping up to slot home Saltburn's third. Could we hold on to a 3 – 2 advantage with resolute defending from the back four of Luke Elston, Thomas List, William Walters and Liam Williams ? At this stage there was even talk of money changing hands to reward David Hanlon for his contribution and the princely sum of £20 from Eugene Hanlon for the hat trick seemed to encourage him to continue despite taking a winding when he was hit full force with the ball. The Saltburn mid field of Alex Whiley, Liam Emmerson, Michael Daniel and David Hanlon continued to work hard despite the obvious signs of tired legs. Liam Emmerson was another casualty suffering a kick to the ankle which resulted in the Acklam team sportingly attending to his injury. Despite his obvious discomfort he had no alternative but to soldier on and this summed up Saltburn's dogged determination on the day. The game had now taken on a familiar pattern and Saltburn let slip the precious lead for the game to be tied at 3 – 3. Full time was now approaching and we did not want the daunting prospect of extra time as the temperature and tiredness were taking their toll and Acklam would be favourites to make progress to the next round. What happened next could not have been predicted by anyone and it is that stroke of good fortune which you sometimes hope for. The Acklam keeper went to take the goal kick and in doing so struck the ball twice in what appeared to be a moment of indecision. The referee awarded an indirect free kick to Saltburn on the six yard line. This surely would be our last opportunity and one which we had to take full advantage of. Three players stood around the ball and Thomas List rolled the ball to Alex Whiley who fired in a shot high into the Acklam net !! The mobbed celebrations ensued and no sooner had Acklam taken the centre before the referee blew for full time and a 4 – 3 victory which on balance was well deserved. This was a pulsating cup tie which raised the blood pressure on a number of occasions and was greeted with a comment of “ there is a God up there after all “ after the teams headed off the pitch.