MARSKE
UNITED v HALESOWEN TOWN
Back to Mount Pleasant as Marske’s cup runs
(and unbeaten league record) continue with a match today against Halesowen Town
from the NPL Division 1 South. Of the four Northern League teams still in the
FA Cup, Marske have the best chance of progressing against a team one step up
in the pyramid, whereas West Auckland, Guisborough and Penrith all face
Conference North teams, three steps up.
A big crowd is expected and parking is a bit
of an adventure for an incomer like me, but arriving 25 minutes to kick-off is
good enough to secure easy entry and a bumper 66 page programme. The weather is grey, autumnal and threatening
showers, so a spot under the shelter of the long low covered standing area
along the touchline is the best bet. For the players the conditions are
perfect.
Halesowen are in blue shirts and black
shorts and Marske are clad in yellow and blue, as is their new mascot, or
should it be Marske-ot, in the form of a human bulldog with a head more
resembling a wild boar than Churchill the insurance dog; as the teams line up
and go through the pre-match handshake ritual he insinuates himself into the line-up
to the bemusement of the officials and opponents who find themselves grasping a
huge furry mitt.
Marske start well and have two early long
range strikes on goal; one by tall number nine Jennings whose volley glances
the post, and the other from right back Gott that the Halesowen keeper parries
away.
While Marske pass and move Halesowen look to
hit early direct balls to test the pace of the defence and the organisation of
the offside line, and 14 minutes in a short through ball looks equidistant
between Marske keeper Dean and his centre half; as both hesitate Halesowen
speedster Haseley doesn’t, getting there first to prod the ball past Dean and skip
round him to slot it into the empty net.
This score is against the run of play but it
settles the visitors who now have an equal share of the ball and territory, a
good midfield battle developing between Butterworth and Johnston for Marske and
Lait and Martin for Halesowen.
Play ebbs and flows. Marske strike with Jennings
heading straight at the keeper then Halesowen have a good spell with two long
throws posing danger. Marske respond with a long throw of their own that
Jennings flicks on forcing keeper Pearson to react quickly and tip over the bar.
Marske continue to press with a succession of corners that produce chances, an
effort from Butterworth is deflected wide and another Jennings header goes just
past the post.
The Marske pressure is all very well but it
leaves lots of space for the speedy Haseley and the surging Lait to exploit, which they
do five minutes from half time when Haseley breaks clear. A desperate tackle
dispossesses him but the ball runs to Lait whose shot is only half saved by
Dean, but it is enough to give Gott time to shepherd the ball clear before it
reaches the goal.
It’s not quite the last action of the half.
Marske produce a move of quality when Butterworth spreads the ball wide to
Alexander on the right; he jinks past a defender and crosses firmly back into
the path of Butterworth who, steaming in at pace, can’t get the shot on target from
just ten yards out. That was the chance to go in level, but the team are still given
a rousing reception as they go off for the break, one down but not out of it.
Back for the second half Marske attack early
and after two minutes get a soft free kick for high feet; it is swung in to the
penalty area, and as players compete for the loose ball it drops to centre half
Wheatley who hammers it goalwards through the ruck and into the net for an
equaliser greeted with expansive celebration by players and crowd alike. For
those around me these celebrations include banging on the low metal roof of the
stand creating a light rain of rusty green paint flakes to descend gently and
settle on heads and shoulders.
Before the hum of excitement can die down
Halesowen respond with one of their quick balls forward and again it is the
impressive Haseley who latches onto it before anyone else. He’s twenty-five
yards out but trusts his left foot and lashes the ball into the top corner of
the net before Dean can even move.
The mood is momentarily deflated but Marske
roll up their sleeves and get stuck in again. Jennings takes this a bit far
when he’s second to a race onto a through ball but still goes on and clatters
the keeper, earning a yellow card. He’s
soon in more legitimate action with a header that is blocked; he’s first to the
rebound but that shot is well saved by Pearson.
Halesowen are sitting back on their lead,
but it’s precarious. Marske left back O’Sullivan combines well with his winger
to get to the by-line and cross along the six yard box, but neither Alexander
nor Jennings can get a touch.
There is a good twenty minutes left but the
visitors but are already trying to wind down the clock, and the referee takes
action and books Tonks for time wasting; this winds up the visitors and next
Martin joins him in the book for dissent.
After a rare attack from Halesowen, with
substitute McKenzie just beaten by Wheatley to yet another through ball, Marske
return upfield and put the ball back in the Halesowen box. The centre half
miskicks and his lunge to recover sees a Marske player fall to the ground, but
no penalty is given. The next attack creates a similar mêlée and this time when
Alexander goes over the decision favours Marske. Alexander himself takes the
penalty and coolly slots it home for 2-2.
Ten minutes left and there’s all to play for.
Marske don’t relish a midweek trip to Birmingham so continue to push forward.
Halesowen will settle for a draw but look rattled to be pegged back twice. It’s
still level entering added time as Butterworth draws a foul 35 yards out on the
right; left back O’Sullivan comes over to swing in another left footed free
kick into the Halesowen box. As the ball bounces about in the crowded area Jennings
finds it within his considerable range, pivots, and volleys hard and true into
the back of the net. More joy erupts and more rusty green paint descends on the
fans as they relish the potential winner with time nearly up.
But the minutes added on for the visitor’s time-wasting
now come to their aid as the referee stubbornly refuses to blow for time.
Marske drop deep, Jennings now a third centre half, as Halesowen pour forward.
For the first time they look short at the back and Marske substitute McDonald
uses his pace to race through and win some respite with a corner. This perversely
provides space in the Marske half and Haseley again sprints through after a
long ball, seemingly set on completing his hat trick. This time Dean’s
desperate dive at his feet is effective and the ball is hacked clear for a
throw. It’s another long one into the heart of the Marske six yard box but it’s
cleared and the final whistle goes to signal a historic win for Marske and to light
the touchpaper for the crowd to go wild and the bulldog to dance a jig.
As the players shake hands some
unpleasantness breaks out and a mass brawl is teetered upon before calmer heads
restore order and the referee singles out Halesowen’s Martin for a post-match
red card. The Marske manager Ted Watts wisely gathers his players in the centre
circle until the visitors have made their acrimonious exit, before leading them
off to a fine ovation from the 800 plus crowd.
Persistence and perseverance paid off for
Marske as possession and territorial advantage finally produced chances that
were belatedly taken. Halesowen Town had more pace in the team and used it to
good effect in their two goals but otherwise rarely threatened.
Marske United go further into uncharted territory with a place in the final qualifying round and while they remain unbeaten in the season who should they fear?
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