◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
| Date Published |
Saltburn V Northallerton |
| 25/09/2005 |
This was an important league match for both teams.
For Northallerton it was a chance to retrieve some
pride following a drubbing in the League cup on the
previous Sunday. For Saltburn it was an opportunity
to build on the battling performance which brought
us success in the previous week’s cup match against
Acklam. Saltburn were encouraged to take the
initiative by attacking the home side and a 4 - 3 -
3 formation was adopted with Jordan Tierney leading
the attack with Liam Emmerson and David Hanlon. Liam
Williams was pushed into the left hand side of
midfield and Michael Daniell occupying the left back
position. The game started with both teams struggling to retain possession and Northallerton took the early advantage when the number 14 ( who was to be the thorn in Saltburn’s side ) picked the ball up on the Saltburn right and hit a shot which beat Dan Readman. Early in the game the Northallerton goalkeeper was replaced due to illness and it was soon apparent that the replacement was not a regular keeper. Both sides attacked but these frequently broke down with a number of offside decisions. However before the interval a Saltburn ball was played forward and David Hanlon appeared to beat the offside and struck a shot which was well placed into the keeper’s bottom left hand corner netting his third goal in two games. Just before the interval Luke Elston had to be replaced following a tackle leading to the introduction of James Caird at right full back. At the half-time interval the Saltburn team were told to quickly close down the Northallerton players and in particular the number 14 who posed a constant threat. More shots on goal were required if Saltburn were to test the Northallerton keeper who had dropped the ball on several occasions. The Saltburn pressure resulted in a ball being played out to the left wing where Liam Emmerson went on a run beating two players and hit a good shot across the Northallerton keeper to put his team 2 – 1 up. The Northallerton team continued to press forward and it wasn’t long before the ball fell to the Northallerton number 14 who hit a shot from the left hand side of the Saltburn box which evaded the diving Dan Readman whose view of the ball was obscured by a group of players. The game was evenly balanced and a mistake by William Walters at the back could have proved costly had it not been for a timely intervention by James Caird. Saltburn pressed forward but shots on goal were rare. The best chance falling to Liam Emmerson who found himself unmarked with the goal at his mercy. His hastily taken shot however missed the target. At the opposite end a ball forward beat the Saltburn defence and had it not been for the advancing Dan Readman who made a great save Saltburn could have found themselves coming away with nothing from the game. As it happened the game finished at 2-2 and Northallerton seemed the more pleased of the two teams at the final whistle. From the Saltburn view point it was a slightly disappointing result but nevertheless resulted in the first League point of the season. As the Saltburn team made their way off the pitch it was commented that the pace of Anthony Prouse had been missed as he would have taken full advantage of the fairly pedestrian Northallerton defence. |