Sat 26th October 2002 Fitzgeralds Whitley
Bay 2 (0) vs. (1) 2 Garnett Bohemian
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Garnett left Chruchill Playing Fields bitterly disappointed after surrendering a two goal lead to rivals, high flying Fitzgeralds. Once again the Green and Black were left ruing their lack of killer instinct. Two open goals and a last minute penalty were all missed costing the team two points. Garnett were strengthened by the return, after injury, of skipper Richard Cusworth at right back and the availability of central defensive partnership Sean Cavanagh and Alex Martin. The latter winning his place in face of fierce competition form James Almond who went onto the bench and Tom Webb who went into the Reserves. Fit again Tim Burke-Murphy returned to the midfield engine room while Jason Thompson was given his full debut after an impressive substitute appearance the previous week. Dan McManus and fresher Sam Collins joined Almond on the bench. Fitzgeralds started strongly, their extremely dangerous front two causing real problems. In fact, they created two excellent chances in the first five minutes but poor finishing and last ditch defending saved the day. Garnett then began to pass the ball and totally dominate the game Their opponents spirited but limited, with the exception of their outstanding attacking duo "Femi" and "Dewey" and midfielder general Brady. The home defence could not cope with the passing and movement of the Green and Black. Much of this originated from the composed play of our defence, where Cavanagh once again excelled. A superb run and pass by Thompson picked out Dave Mercer's untracked burst into the box but with the whole goal at his mercy he passed the ball feebly wide of the far post. Mercer and Burke-Murphy bossed midfield with Mercer's thumping tackles unsettling the opposition. Garnett took the lead they deserved with a soft goal, Alexander following in Hindley's deflected free kick to score easily from close range. Garnett continued to dominate for a while but became over confident and gave the ball away sloppily allowing Fitzgeralds back into the game. Super keeper Michael Crammond had to be alert on more than one occasion to preserve Garnett's lead. Thompson missed a good chance and Burke-Murphy twice went close with long range efforts before a quick break saw Thompson set Alexander up with a clear chance unfortunately his close range effort was deflected just wide by the home keeper. Unbelievably the first half lasted for 54 minutes, which was a mystery to all apart from the man in black. Garnett got off to the best possible start in second half when Alexander scored a second and his fourth of the season after Cavanagh got on the end of a Neil Hindley free kick, an almighty goalmouth scramble ensued and it took three attempts to eventually beat the keeper. It was vital that Garnett stepped up a gear for the next ten minutes but unfortunately this did not happen as Fitzgeralds battled their way back into the game. Amazingly the referee decreed that a Craig Rowson aerial challenge in the box was a penalty, a decision even the opposition found hard to fathom. Despite a great effort by Crammond the penalty was powerfully dispatched in the top corner. This was only one of many decisions that infuriated Garnett as Fitzgerald literally kicked their way back into the game. Martin and Cavanagh were both recipients of horror challenges that would surely have resulted in Red Cards in the Premiership. With the tiring Burke-Murphy replaced by McManus, Garnett attempted to get back in the game. Unfortunately Fitzgeralds won control of the central midfield area and their direct tactics were putting the Garnett back four under real pressure. Another contentious decision led to the equalizer but Garnett's lack of discipline must also be held to blame. A harsh free kick awarded against McManus or Martin, no one really knew who, was quickly taken and not properly cleared. The resulting low cross was finished from close range by an unmarked player. A very poor goal to concede! Collins replaced Logan with Alexander going wide right. Despite losing control of midfield and hardly stringing two passes together the whole of the second half, Garnett still created chances. Thompson pressurised a defender into an ill advised back pass to the keeper who passed it straight to Collins with an open goal at his mercy, unfortunately the young striker's finish lacked composure. The referee then surpassed himself by sending a spectator out of the ground for alleged verbal abuse. Worse was to follow when Hindley was pole axed in the box and Garnett had a chance to win the game at the death from the spot. The confident Hindley took the responsibility but fatally he changed his mind at the last moment allowing the keeper to parry. The ever-alert Alexander was then two footed from behind just as he was about to score the rebound. It was a clear penalty but the whistle did not blow. In the ensuing melee Cavanagh was clearly punched in front of the referee with no action taken. The final whistle left Garnett aggrieved and frustrated, after creating more clear chances than at any other time this season. Though to be fair Fitzgeralds created more at the other end than any other side has done. It is easy to see why they have done well this year as their strikers a real handful and they really battled hard. As easy as it was to blame the referee for his penalty decision and lack of control, at the end of the day once again the Green and black had only themselves to blame. Team: M.Crammond, R.Cusworth (J.Almond), C.Rowson, N.Hindley, A.Martin, S.Cavanagh, A.Logan (S.Collins), D.Mercer, J.Thompson, D.Alexander 2, T.Burke-Murphy (D.McManus) |
Late
penalty miss by visitors
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FITZGERALD'S
WHITLEY BAY 2 FITZGERALD'S started this match |
stole in behind a sleepy Fitzger- |