Extremely windy conditions placed massive restrictions on the level of football that was played in this game, but go ahead the game did, none the less.

On one of the better pitches they have played on this season, Garnett made an edgy start, long speculative balls and over hit passes were the norm for the first ten minutes leaving everybody feeling frustrated. The game became heated and in an off the ball incident Alexander was sent off.

Garnett seemed to compose themselves after the sending off, and played some neat one-touch football at times. However with the opposition still battling hard in midfield, few clear-cut chances developed. Garnett won a spate of corners, two of which hit the woodwork and it seemed like the game had 0-0 written all over it.

Half time arrived goal-less, Garnett had failed to score even with the massive wind advantage. The second half started much the same as the first Wallsend took the initiative this time largely due to the windy conditions and for the first ten Garnett were camped in their own half.

As the game went on neither team looked like they were going to score, Wallsend were reduced to long pot shots none of which troubled Fraser, Garnett played some neat football keeping possession well in defence and always looking to play it out from the back but the attacks were quickly broken down by a combination of the conditions and their opposition.

Two substitutions ensued, Alexander replaced by Brown and King came on for Buck. With about twenty minutes left on the clock John Hall converted a low cross from Thompson (I think) and the deadlock was broken. This was on the back of a good move from the heart of defence through to attack. Wallsend made a substitution bringing on a strong experienced forward that was a handful but the defence coped well . The goal had knocked the wind out of Wallsend's sails and Gosforth started to open up gaps in the Wallsend defence. Corcoran missed a sitter from 5 yards after some nice work out wide, but this was quickly forgotten after Thompson finished calmly into the bottom left. 2-0 and the game was won.

Wallsend looked deflated, although to give them credit they still battled to the last minute. Dan Sherwood felt the brunt of this as he and the goalkeeper collided in a 50/50 resulting in both players stricken on the ground and Sherwood was booked for time wasting!

The game ended as scrappily as it had started but the result was what mattered. It was a good performance by the team in spite of the conditions, some star performers Menton (calm and collected.) Cavanagh, (reliable as ever) John Hall (gave 100% till the very end). You can give me those tenner's at training lads.

Lets continue this winning streak and tackle Felling Willows head on this Saturday. Promotion into the Alliance One will be a great challenge for the team and it's all in our hands to decide. Come on lads.

Author: Corcoran

Team: F.Hepburn, A.Alexander (M.Brown), S.Cavanagh, P.Menton, J.Hall 1, D.Mercer, N.Hindley, S.King (A.Buckley), D.Corcoran, D.Sherwood, J.Thompson 1

NB: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the
views of the Gosforth Garnett Bohemian Football Club as a whole.