2 May 2009 - Scarborough Town 12 Redcar Rugby Club 0
Town stormed to the Teesside League Division Two title with a stunning 12-0 win against Redcar Rugby Club.
After some initial midfield sparring, Town banished their nerves as early as the eighth minute when Neil Thomas blocked a clearance to send Robbie Hawkes away to find Mark Barber in the middle, who beat his man and hit the ball low into the net to give Town the lead. Redcar, on the back of five wins in their last six games, nearly hit back but Town keeper Rob Clark saved with his feet from Stuart Poulter.
A strong run from Joel Ramm led to a dangerous ball from Wayne Brooksby skimming across the Redcar goalmouth, then Mark Barber surged through the middle but was foiled by oncoming keeper Adam Preston. Neil Thomas hit the ball straight at the keeper when released by Brooksby, whilst at the other end Liam Gildea had to be on his toes to deflect a shot from Jamie Graham.
Thomas was denied by Preston again, before some Brooksby trickery gave Hawkes a shot which went over the bar from 15 yards out. The industrious Jamie Patterson won the ball in midfield and drove towards goal, a subtle pass finding Hawkes who dragged his shot wide of the far post. Then Ramm picked up a loose ball and fed Nathan Cook whose 20-yarder was arrowing into the top corner until met by the fingertips of Preston with a superb save.
Not until the half hour mark could Town increase their lead, but a splendid curling cross from Hawkes was met at the far post by Jamie Patterson to head Town 2-0 in front. A free kick from Ramm was safely pouched by the Redcar keeper, but Barber and Brooksby then combined to set up a straightforward chance for Thomas to convert from six yards out. The same player nearly notched another goal when he went clear of the defence and around the keeper, but his goalbound shot was cleared by a covering defender.
On 39 minutes Brooksby went away on the right and wrong-footed the entire defence with an inch-perfect pass to Barber who slotted the ball home to give Town a 4-0 lead.
Town kicked off the second half and within ten seconds the ball was in the Redcar net without a visiting player having managed a touch, Hawkes cutting open the defence and feeding Brooksby who pushed the ball neatly past the keeper for Town's fifth goal. An excellent Hawkes dribble brought another chance for Thomas whose shot was blocked by the keeper yet again.
Town brought all three substitutes onto the pitch, and Joe Danby made an impact by cutting through the defence to pull back for Thomas to score. Josh Greening then forced the keeper to make a wonderful full-length save before making a well-timed pass for Thomas to complete his hat-trick. Liam Gildea had moved up front and was twice denied by the keeper, as was Thomas yet again as Preston deflected the ball wide with his feet.
The goal of the game came on 78 minutes, with Nathan Cook spotting the keeper off his line and unleashing a rocket from 45 yards to make the score 8-0. Greening created some space on the left before cutting in and finding the corner of the net to add to Town's tally, then Cook set up Danby who finished calmly to bring the score into double figures.
On 86 minutes Gildea won a tackle and sent Brooksby sprinting away, keeping his feet despite two attempted fouls to tuck the ball away to make it 11-0. The rout was completed in the last minute when Gildea crossed from the right for Greening to net Town's twelfth of the day.
The Mayor of Scarborough, Councillor Eileen Vickers, presented the trophy on behalf of the Teesside League to Town's skipper George Rose who had missed this game through injury.
Town: Clark, Ramm (Barber 51), Perry, Gildea, Craig, Patterson, Barber (Greening 51), Cook, Brooksby, Thomas, Hawkes (Hickin 55).
25 Apr 2009 - Whinney Banks 0 Scarborough Town 2
Town all but ensured the Teesside League Division Two title with a hard-fought win at third-placed Whinney Banks.
A very hard and bobbly pitch made for difficult ball control, but Town stuck to their normal close passing game. Joel Ramm ventured down the right wing to set up a shot for Neil Thomas which was blocked, but with Whinney Banks keeping their defensive line high up the field, Town were caught offside on a number of occasions. However Thomas then chased a good diagonal ball from Mark Barber and forced Banks' keeper Andrew Vickers to hastily hack the ball away for a throw.
A flowing move involving Robbie Hawkes and Wayne Brooksby set up a chance for George Rose which was blocked, whilst a breakaway from Whinney Banks saw Ramm make a timely interception to save the day. Goalmouth excitement was in rare supply, but Thomas came closest to opening the scoring when he dispossessed a defender and brought a good save from the keeper at the near post.
The second half began goalless but the deadlock was nearly broken when Rose made a great run down the right and the subsequent shot from Matt Perry went just wide. Town looked the likelier side to score, with Hawkes showing some neat footwork on the left wing and after 59 minutes he outpaced his marker and squared the ball for Thomas to put the visitors ahead. Vickers was straight back in action, diving at the feet of Mark Barber, but a free kick at the other end gave Whinney Banks the chance to set up an almighty scramble in the Town box which was eventually cleared.
The Teesside League's top scorer, Danny Lockwood, was once again kept under control by Perry and Liam Gildea and failed to get a shot on target all game. Town introduced three substitutes, and Joe Danby had the chance to convert a through pass but over-ran the ball. Then Nathan Cook had a long-range drive which was safely held by Vickers. After enduring a squall and sudden gale-force winds, Banks earned a corner as the game entered added time for which they piled men into the box including keeper Vickers. Town cleared the danger, and Josh Greening shielded the ball upfield and calmly rolled the ball into the net to make the score 2-0.
With one game to go, at home to Redcar Rugby Club next Saturday, only a bizarre and unparalleled set of results can now deny Town the Teesside League Division Two title.
Town: Clark, Ramm, Gildea, Perry, Craig, Brooksby (Danby 65), Patterson, Barber, Rose (Cook 75), Thomas (Greening 60), Hawkes
18 Apr 2009 - Scarborough Town 3 Teesside Athletic 1
Town left it late before claiming the three points which keep them in pole position for the Teesside League Division Two championship. With time running out, Town were on level terms but pressing hard for the vital winner. Then two strikes in the last few minutes gave Town the win which they had thoroughly deserved.
The game began in uneventful fashion, both teams trying to keep the ball down and play attractive football but being frustrated by the hard pitch and the occasional unpredictable bounce. Town gradually began to get hold of the midfield, with Jamie Patterson and George Rose winning the ball and Mark Barber and Wayne Brooksby probing to create chances. Joel Ramm ventured forward to stab the ball wide at the near post from a Barber cross, then Ramm switched roles to create an opening for Barber which was bravely blocked by defender Phil Maidens.
A foul on Barber just outside the box brought a free kick for which the midfielder took responsibility but the ball scudded just outside the post. Long-range shots from Barber and Robbie Hawkes were off target but Brooksby's more accurate effort was saved by Athletic keeper Paul Orange.
It seemed the deadlock would be broken after 29 minutes when Hawkes was impeded ten yards from goal and the referee awarded Town a penalty. Ramm had converted five previous penalties this season but on this occasion was thwarted by Orange who then beat away the follow-up from Barber. Within moments the keeper made an inspired save from a Patterson piledriver and then bettered it with a superb full-length save from a Ramm free kick. On 44 minutes Town finally got the ball into the net, Hawkes making a great run down the right and hitting the ball across low and hard for Neil Thomas to score from close range.
The second half began in disappointing fashion for Town when they failed to clear a corner and Athletic's Jon Kirk netted from six yards out. A free kick was conceded just outside the home penalty area which Paul Lyons hit powerfully but just over the bar. However Town came storming back onto the attack, an incisive pass from Barber sending Hawkes away on the right wing but Thomas blasted the ball over the bar from very close range. Keeper Orange then took centre stage, saving a powerful shot from Hawkes and also pushing away the follow-up from Matty Brown. Then Rose crossed from the right for Thomas to connect with a well-timed header but again Orange saved superbly.
As Town flooded into the Teesside penalty area, a Joe Danby effort went straight at the keeper's midriff, a Josh Greening shot was deflected wide and a Hawkes effort brought another fine save from the Athletic Number 1. A flying save from a Greening free kick brought well-deserved applause for the visiting keeper, who also got himself into position to save from Rose after a Thomas cross-shot had come down off the Athletic crossbar.
Town were creating chance after chance but seemed destined to have to settle for a draw until the 89th minute when Joe Danby latched onto the ball and unleashed a tremendous drive from 20 yards which rocketed into the net with Orange beaten at last. In added time, determined harrrying from Brown earned a chance for Hawkes to break away and blast the ball into the net for the final 3-1 scoreline.
Town now have two games remaining from which to secure the three points which will earn them the divisional championship.
Town:
Clark, Ramm (Greening 68), Hickin, Gildea, Craig (Danby 60), Patterson (Brown 68), Rose, Barber, Brooksby, Thomas, Hawkes
28 Mar 2009 - Grangetown YCC 0 Scarborough Town 7
Town maintained their position at the top of Teesside League Division Two with an emphatic win at Grangetown YCC. With Mark Barber ruled out through illness, Nathan Cook stepped in to make his second start of the season in midfield.
In windy conditions, Town went straight onto the attack and pulled the Grangetown defence in all directions. A superb move was frustrated when Grangetown goalkeeper Steve Williams made an acrobatic save from Wayne Brooksby, and the keeper was straight back into action when tipping over a free kick from Cook which was heading for the top corner. Neil Thomas then robbed a defender but pushed his shot just wide of the post.
With Town completely in control, the only surprise was that it took them 22 minutes to open the scoring. Robbie Hawkes made a tricky run down the left and pulled the ball across the face of the goal for Joel Ramm to score from close range. Within four minutes the lead was doubled when Brooksby received the ball in the box, shimmied past two defenders and slammed the ball unstoppably into the top corner. The next Town attack was ended when Williams smothered the ball right on the goal line, but his goal was under siege as a Hawkes shot went narrowly wide and Ramm's shot was blocked by a last-ditch challenge. Neil Thomas went clear on the left and lifted in a cross which glanced away off the bar, then the same player was foiled when Williams made a point-blank save at his feet.
The second half followed the same pattern, but Jamie Patterson lofted the ball over the bar from close range after good work from Ramm. Within moments Ramm had gone clear in the centre and calmly converted the chance to put Town 3-0 up. Town used their three substitutes to take advantage of the overworked Grangetown defenders who were clearly tiring, and Ramm sent Josh Greening clear to coolly draw the keeper and place the ball into the net. After 75 minutes substitute Joe Danby found space and netted powerfully from 20 yards. Three minutes later Town were six up when Thomas outpaced the defence and rounded the keeper.
Double figures looked a distinct possibility by now, but Town took their foot off the pedal. A Danby shot glanced the outside of the post and Thomas lifted the ball over the bar when one-on-one with the keeper, but in the final minutes great work from Greening set up Danby to make it 7-0.
Town: Clark, Ramm, Parry, Gildea, Craig, Patterson, Rose (Hickin 67), Cook, Brooksby (Danby 60), Thomas, Hawkes (Danby 60).
21 Mar 2009 - Scarborough Town 0, Norton & Stockton 0
Town’s title challenge stuttered as they failed to find the back of the net for the first time this season against a well organised and hard-working Norton and Stockton side. Town dominated throughout but they lacked their usual cutting edge in the final third of the pitch. Norton and Stockton rarely troubled the Town back four but nearly stole the points in the last minute but somehow, with an open goal in front of them. managed to blaze wide.
Town started brightly and on three minutes Robbie Hawkes was the first to try his luck but he dragged his shot wide after a neat interchange with Neil Thomas. Moments later another neat passing move ended with Neil Thomas’ shot being blocked by the Norton and Stockton defence. Town were dominating possession but for all their neat approach play they didn’t really threaten the Norton and Stockton goal. The first real chance came on 17 minutes. Neil Thomas broke down the right, got to the by-line and cut the ball back to Jamie Patterson who could only smash the ball straight at Shaun Coleman in the Norton goal from 10 yards. Coleman was called into action again two minutes later when Dean Craig was played in. His effort looked destined to find the far corner of the net but Coleman produced a magnificent fingertip save at full stretch
Norton & Stockton were content to sit back and try and hit Town on the break with Steven Oakley, Matthew Crossnan and Matthew Richardson all looking lively. Robbie Clark in the Town goal barely touched the ball in the first period.
Neil Thomas was causing problems for the overworked Norton & Stockton defence. On the half-hour he picked the ball up just inside their half and with no support near him burst forward into the box and only a last ditch block denied him what would have been a wonderful solo effort. From the resulting corner Wayne Brooksby tricked his way to the by-line, his cut back found Matt Perry who miskicked when well placed. As half time approached Town worked a corner to Mark Barber on the edge of the box, his rasping shot was bundled away off the line by a combination of keeper and defender. Moments later, Coleman in the Norton goal produced another great save, this time to deny the marauding Liam Gildea.
The second half started in much the same way as the first, Town doing all the pressing without creating clear-cut chances. On 52 minutes Wayne Brooksby beat his defender, got to the by-line, his pull back was half cleared and fell to Robbie Hawkes on the edge of the box but his crashing drive was blocked by Neil Thomas.
On the hour Town boss Mitch Cook changed things round. Nathan Cook was brought on for Jamie Patterson and Josh Greening came on for Robbie Hawkes. Greening almost made an immediate impact. Picking up a slide rule pass he raced into the box and pulled the ball back for Neil Thomas, but not for the first time his shot was straight at the keeper. Greening was giving the defence a torrid time and he was contentiously judged to have been offside as he raced clear of the defence.
Norton & Stockton started to up the tempo. They harried and hassled the Town players at every opportunity and the pressure started to tell as Town were rushed into making errors all over the park. With twenty minutes remaining Joe Danby was brought on for Neil Thomas. Liam Gildea was pushed up front with Josh Greening as Town swapped to a more conventional 4-4-2.
Desperation was starting to creep into Town’s play. They were dominating possession but not creating the clear cut chances they normally produce. Liam Gildea thought he had broken the deadlock on 83 minutes. He chased a through ball and managed to toe-poke the ball past the advancing keeper only to see his effort bounce wide. Town were throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the visitors but Marc Thompson was in inspired form at the heart of the Norton defence. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Mark Barber launched a long throw into box, but Wayne Brooksby could only glance his header at the covering defender. There was a big shout for a penalty from the Town players but referee Kev Howe was well placed and waved play on. Then came a heart stopping moment for the Town fans. Norton & Stockton won a rare corner. Robbie Clark came to punch but missed the ball and it reached a Norton player in front of goal 8 yards out, but like Matt Perry for Town in the first half he miskicked horribly.
As the game entered stoppage time Barber launched another long throw into the box, this time Matt Perry made good contact and only a combination of the post and Coleman in the Norton goal keeping it out. Town laid siege to the Norton goal and Man of the Match Liam Gildea nodded the ball past the advancing Coleman who seemed to impede Gildea as he recovered to palm the ball to safety. At the final whistle, Norton celebrated as if they had won the FA Cup final whilst the Town players sunk to their knees in disappointment.
Town: Clark, Patterson (Cook 60), Rose, Craig, Gildea, Perry, Ramm, Barber, Brooksby, Thomas (Danby 70), Hawkes (Greening 60)
14 Mar 2009 - Friendly - Barton Town Old Boys 2 Scarborough Town 2
Scarborough Town were without defenders Joel Ramm. Matt Perry and Tom Hickin but welcomed Denny Ingram as a temporary replacement. The game started brightly, with both sides eager to attack on a very firm pitch.
Town keeper Rob Clark saved neatly from a Barton free kick, and Nathan Cook fed Mark Barber to bring a full-length save from the home keeper. A Barton shot fizzed over the crossbar, followed by Barber setting up Robbie Hawkes whose shot went straight at the keeper.
Skipper George Rose, playing deeper in defence than his normal role, was showing great determination and setting up Town's attacks on the right hand side, and as the Barton defenders moved across to counter the threat Hawkes began to find more space out wide on the left wing.
Midway through the first half Town piled on the pressure, and Wayne Brooksby brought a good save from the keeper. Then Rose worked an opening for Jamie Patterson whose shot was blocked. Liam Gildea made a good interception to thwart a Barton breakaway, but hesitancy in the Town defence cost them a goal when Gary Dickinson ran on to a long through ball after 29 minutes to lift the ball neatly over Clark to put the Swans ahead.
Town were playing some neat football without reward, but the equaliser came after 38 minutes in unexpected fashion when a long clearance from Clark was missed by a defender and Neil Thomas nipped in to touch the ball around the keeper to make it 1-1. Town almost went in front when Hawkes cut in from the left but shot straight at the keeper, Nathan Cook won a tussle to set up a Thomas shot which just cleared the bar, then a piece of Brooksby trickery brought a shot from Hawkes which thumped against the post with the keeper watching helplessly.
Town began the second half as they had ended the first, the home keeper going down to save at the feet of Thomas and a thunderbolt from Barber just clearing the bar. Substitute Josh Greening earned a corner which produced more Brooksby magic and a great lay-off to Barber who crashed the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar to put Town 2-1 in front after 52 minutes.
Barton seemed surprised at the quality of the opposition and their tempers began to fray a little, but in a rare attack Barton's Dickinson hit a rasping drive which rattled the Town crossbar. Town soon got back on top, with Cook making a strong run from midfield to give Greening a chance which the keeper did well to smother. It looked odds on that Town would increase their lead, with a Greening shot clearing the bar, a 25-yarder from Joe Danby just too high, and Danby failing to hit the target after collecting a weak clearance from the home keeper. Denny Ingram had had an effective game but was caught in possession late on, losing out to his opponent and grateful to see the shot clear the crossbar by some distance.
The game had a sting in the tail after six minutes of stoppage time, when a hopeful low shot was pushed away by Clark, only for Karl Hull to net an unlikely equaliser from a narrow angle.
Town: Clark, Patterson (Danby 45), Rose, Craig, Gildea, Ingram, Cook, Barber, Brooksby, Thomas (Smart 65), Hawkes (Greening 45)
7 Mar 2009 - Coulby Newham 1, Scarborough Town 1
Town remained on track for the Teesside League Second Division championship with a 1-1 draw at Coulby Newham who extended their season-long unbeaten home record.
On a very bumpy and unkempt pitch, Town started with the wind at their backs on a grey and gloomy Middlesbrough day, but after five minutes of midfield stalemate Coulby took the lead with a long-range goal from Anthony Peacock. Peacock, a product of the Middlesbrough FC Academy and proud winner of an FA Youth Cup winners medal in a team containing the likes of David Wheater, Adam Johnson, James Morrison, Lee Cattermole and Tony McMahon, hit a speculative effort from 40 yards which dipped into the net to put the home side ahead.
Town were finding it difficult to keep the ball under control, but after 9 minutes a trademark flowing move ended with a Neil Thomas shot being blocked. Wayne Brooksby then jinked past two defenders in the penalty area but shot into the side netting, and when the tricky Brooksby was brought down on the edge of the box the resultant free kick from Joel Ramm was deflected for a corner.
The Coulby Newham side contained some talented players but in the first half they relied to a large extent on brute force and intimidation, putting in some crunching tackles and constantly haranguing the referee. They also prevented Town from taking their normal quick free kicks and were quite happy to take the pace out of the game at every opportunity.
Josh Greening made a well-timed run to beat the offside trap but shot straight at the keeper, then a powerful run out of defence by Liam Gildea set up a chance for Thomas who shot narrowly wide from 20 yards, but at the interval Town still trailed by the only goal of the game.
Playing uphill into the wind in the second half seemed to suit Town better, and Dean Craig began to find more space on the left hand side to set up attacks. Centre back Matt Perry went upfield for a free kick and found himself in the clear but his left-footed effort cleared the keeper and the crossbar.
Robbie Hawkes came on as substitute to bring more width to the Town attack, and his first action was to cut in from the left to unleash a thunderbolt which keeper Graham Turner tipped over the bar. When Craig was brought down 20 yards from goal the free kick was threaded through to second substitute Joe Danby who went wide of the keeper but failed to hit the target from a narrow angle. A quick turn by Danby brought a clumsy defensive lunge on the very edge of the box, the free kick leading to a shot from Jamie Patterson which was blocked to bring the first of a series of Town corners.
Turner needed to sprint out of his area to deny Hawkes, but Town were now piling on the pressure with Gildea having moved to play up front and an equaliser looking ever more likely. On 85 minutes Thomas chipped the ball accurately to Gildea who brought the ball down and prodded it into the net from six yards out to deservedly level the scores at 1-1.
Both sides worked half-chances in the seven minutes of added time, but Town were so confident of a winner that they sent goalkeeper Rob Clark up to join the attack for a corner. In the end, both sides could take positives from this result with Town staying top of the league and Coulby Newham in fourth position.
Town: Clark, Ramm, Perry, Gildea, Craig, Patterson, Rose (Cook 74), Barber, Brooksby (Hawkes 59), Thomas, Greening (Danby 69).
28 Feb 2009 - Scarborough Town 3 Acklam Steelworks 0
Scarborough Town 3 Acklam Steelworks 0
Town maintained their unbeaten Teesside League record with a 3-0 home win over a talented and hard-working Acklam Steelworks side. Town welcomed the return of Liam Gildea (right), who had progressed through the Boro ranks before spending several years with Blyth Spartans and now slotted into place at the heart of the Town defence.
The game started slowly, with Dean Craig making several probing runs down the left, but Acklam goalkeeper Robert Dean was untroubled by a George Rose shot over the bar and a Mark Barber effort which came straight at him. At the other end, the Steelers’ big striker Kris Maloney had a clear chance but shot well wide. As Town finally began to turn on the style, a sweeping move involving Rose and Josh Greening ended with Barber’s shot being blocked. Acklam were tackling ferociously and a little tardily at times, bringing them four first-half yellow cards, including one for central defender Stephen Boyle who brought down Greening as the youngster broke clear just outside the penalty area. Wayne Brooksby’s free kick was safely held by Dean.
As the second half began, midfielder Barber spotted Dean off his line and tried a shot from 45 yards but the keeper recovered his ground in time. A good run from Craig then set up a chance for Greening to clear the bar, and substitute Darren Clough sprinted away before pulling the ball across to Barber who shot wildly over. The opening goal finally arrived after 60 minutes, as a precision pass from Rose sent Brooksby sprinting into the box only to be brought down as he shaped to shoot. Josh Greening continued his duties as penalty taker by calmly netting to put Town 1-0 up.
The ever-persistent Barber then threaded the ball through to Rose, who selflessly passed across goal to Clough but the young winger failed to make contact. Acklam remained in the game, with a shot from Damien Gee pushed away by home keeper Rob Clark and then Boyle blustering his way through the middle to shoot powerfully but just too high.
The decisive goal came after 76 minutes, Joel Ramm taking the ball to the bye-line and pushing the ball across the six-yard box for Clough to tap the ball home to put Town 2-0 ahead. Gildea than advanced on goal but Dean made a great save with his foot, and Hawkes sprinted away but lost control allowing Dean to snatch the ball to safety.
Town made it 3-0 after 85 minutes by putting heavy pressure on Acklam and keeping the ball in the visitors’ penalty area until Joel Ramm took the opportunity to turn and shoot home from eight yards out. Clough went clear and tried to round the keeper but man-of-the-match Dean saved well, and a final Barber effort was held confidently by the keeper.
Town: Clark, Ramm, Perry, Gildea, Craig, Patterson (Hawkes 75), Rose (Cook 70), Barber, Brooksby, Thomas (Clough 57), Greening.
21 Feb 2009 - Billingham Kader 1 Scarborough Town 3
Scarborough Town continued their pursuit of the Teesside League Division Two championship with a hard-fought win at Billingham Kader. Mark Barber took his place in the line-up despite an injury doubt, but with Joel Ramm unavailable Joe Danby came into the side for his second start of the season. Josh Greening also made his second start as a result of his recent hat-trick against Coulby Newham.
On a bumpy pitch totally unsuited to Town’s short passing game, the hosts soon showed that their main priority was to keep the game tight with a very deep-lying midfield and a reliance on long balls upfield towards their two hard-working strikers. Having not played a game since the end of January, Town did not play with any fluency in the early stages and frequently conceded possession when the ball proved difficult to keep under close control.
Town went behind in bizarre fashion after ten minutes, a long cross from the right led to a misunderstanding in defence and Danby looped a header over his own keeper to put Kader 1-0 ahead. The visitors’ first clear chance came when a short corner allowed Greening to cut in and unleash a shot which was parried by keeper Stuart Trotter and Wayne Brooksby blasted the rebound wide. The home keeper’s next action was to make a smart save from a header by his own central defender following a long throw-in from Barber. Danby then took up an intelligent position to take a shot from close range which was deflected wide.
Town equalised on 37 minutes when Brooksby cut in from the right and was clumsily brought down by Kader centre half Donat Gomez. Greening stepped up to convert the penalty with confidence. Gomez compounded his error six minutes later when a rash swipe at Neil Thomas gave the referee no option but to point to the penalty spot again. Greening again netted without difficulty to give Town a 2-1 lead at half-time.
Town keeper Rob Clark was having a fairly uneventful afternoon, making a couple of catches and punches but without a direct shot to save although a swerving effort from Anthony Liddle was only narrowly off target. Town were also finding it difficult to obtain clear-cut chances against a phalanx of tall and robust defenders, but after 72 minutes Town piled men into the opposing penalty area to create a scramble which ended with Barber slamming in a shot which deflected off Brooksby and the keeper before ending up in the net to give Town some breathing space at 3-1 ahead.
Town finally began to impose themselves on the game, with a Robbie Hawkes effort just inches wide after a good passing move and a long range effort from Nathan Cook clearing the bar. Greening chipped the keeper after being set through by Darren Clough, but the ball dropped narrowly wide, and a Brooksby free kick from 20 yards was similarly off target.
In the end Town claimed the points without playing well, and remain seven points clear of South Bank St Peter’s at the top of the league.
Scarborough Town: Clark, Danby (Hawkes 65), Hickin, Perry, Craig, Barber, Patterson, Rose (Cook 68), Brooksby, Thomas (Clough 58), Greening.
31 Jan 2009 - Scarborough Town 5, Coulby Newham 1
With Joel Ramm and Robbie Hawkes missing through injury, 16-year-old Josh Greening made the starting line-up for the first time and celebrated by hitting a hat trick as Town beat fellow promotion contenders Coulby Newham 5-1.
Town looked disjointed in the early stages, conceding possession too easily to a side who had only lost one previous league game this season. Skipper George Rose, returning to action after injury, linked up well with Dean Craig to force Coulby keeper Graeme Turner to make a smart save. Another confident passing move allowed Neil Thomas to swivel and shoot, but defender Martin McManus blocked courageously, and after 12 minutes the next piece of interplay on the left flank produced a centre which was prodded home by Town centre-back Tom Hickin for his first goal of the season.
Greening homed in on goal but was denied by a good tackle from McManus again, then Rose went outside his marker to swing in a cross which defender Ricky Woodhouse headed over his own crossbar. A second Town goal was imminent, and after 15 minutes a curling centre from Craig was met first time by Greening to put Town two goals in front.
Coulby Newham were not out of the game and attacking midfielder Sean Wilkinson was creating space, but the visitors were restricted to half-chances by the determination of the Town defence. After 30 minutes Town went 3-0 ahead when Rose and Thomas linked up to send Greening speeding away to find the bottom corner of the net. Coulby had their first shot on target after 36 minutes, but Rob Clark made a comfortable save. Two minutes later Coulby were awarded a direct free kick just outside the box which David Dowd struck well and brought a superb diving save from Clark.
Greening continued to cause problems for the Coulby defenders as the second half began, forcing defenders to make desperate last-ditch interventions on two occasions. After a spell of Town pressure, the ball was worked to Mark Barber whose crisp cross-shot zipped into the net to put Town further ahead. Town suffered a setback on 57 minutes when Hickin was adjudged to have handled the ball and James Myers slammed in the penalty to give Coulby a glimmer of hope. However within three minutes the four-goal cushion was restored when Wayne Brooksby hurdled two challenges on the left touchline to cut in and be brought down for a penalty which Greening confidently converted to complete his hat-trick.
Substitute Darren Clough made an excellent run but shot just over the bar, then Barber earned a shooting chance but his careful sidefooted effort went inches outside the post. Coulby continued to compete energetically in midfield, but Town keeper Clark twice punched clear when they finally put the ball into the penalty area. Greening nearly added to his tally when he curled a left footer just wide of the goal and then brought a great save from goalkeeper Turner after Clough had chased a long through ball from Nathan Cook.
In the end it was a comfortable win for Town which extends their unbeaten run and keeps them ahead of the pack at the top of the league table.
Town: Clark, C. Cook, Hickin (Danby 70), Perry, Craig, Barber, Patterson (N. Cook 70), Rose, Brooksby, Thomas (Clough 55), Greening
24 Jan 2009 - St Mary’s College 1, Scarborough Town 4
Town recorded their tenth league victory in a row with a convincing victory over Middlesbrough outfit St Mary’s College. This win takes Town four points clear of rivals South Bank at the top of Teesside League Division Two.
On a heavy and bumpy pitch, the home team started well and nearly shocked Town when Lewis Kaid broke away and rounded keeper Rob Clark, but found himself at a very narrow angle and allowed Clark to recover and intercept the shot. At the other end a Wayne Brooksby shot was parried by home keeper Tom Straker who then bravely deflected Neil Thomas’ follow-up shot over the crossbar. With Town now getting the upper hand, Darren Clough broke through the defence but the College keeper again pushed the ball away for a corner. When a further corner was only half-cleared, Tom Hickin crossed the ball back into the danger area and Neil Thomas nodded the ball inches wide. Clough also headed just wide following a great run and cross from Robbie Hawkes.
St Mary’s were playing good football whenever they got the ball, without resorting to the physical and cynical approach so prevalent in the Teesside League. They put together an excellent flowing move which ended with Ryan MacKey shooting narrowly wide. However it was no surprise when Town took the lead after 31 minutes. A superb turn from Wayne Brooksby wrong-footed two defenders and set up a shooting chance for Clough which came back off the goalkeeper’s feet to Joel Ramm who blasted the ball into the net.
The home side went straight onto the attack, and only a superbly-timed tackle from Matt Perry denied St Mary’s a clear chance in front of goal. Hickin then won a vital header to keep the home side at bay, but at the other end Clough threaded his way through a maze of defenders to set up a chance for Hawkes who pushed the ball past the keeper but just wide of the post. On 42 minutes Town extended their lead thanks to the selfless harrying of Brooksby who forced a defender into a hurried clearance towards Neil Thomas, Town’s leading scorer connecting sweetly with the ball to send it rocketing into the net from fully 35 yards.
After only two minutes of the second half Town found themselves 3-0 ahead when Hawkes went outside his marker on the left and pulled the ball across the goalmouth where Clough was able to tap the ball in from a narrow angle. With the points secured, Town made a triple substitution after 54 minutes to bring on Carl Cook, Nathan Cook and Josh Greening. Dean Craig was as dependable as ever in defence, but found time to race down the left wing and put in a cross which brought a double save from Straker, firstly from his own defender’s deflection and then from a close-range Ramm follow-up. Brooksby’s outstanding close control allowed him to embark on a mazy dribble through the College defence, ending with a crude foul on the edge of the penalty area but the free kick from Hawkes was deflected away for a corner.
After an excellent passing move, Hawkes held off the challenge of both central defenders to push the ball past the keeper for the fourth goal, despite Chris Norlund’s brave attempt at a goalline clearance. Town lost their shape in the final stages of the game, allowing St Mary’s to net a consolation goal which Ben Cotts tucked away neatly from ten yards to make the final score 4-1.
Town: Clark, Ramm, Hickin (C. Cook 54), Perry, Craig, Patterson, Barber (N. Cook 54), Brooksby, Clough, Thomas (Greening 54), Hawkes.
17 Jan 2009 - MacMillan Bowl – Quarter Final
SCARBOROUGH TOWN 1 NUNTHORPE ATHLETIC 2
Two goals in the last six minutes from first division Nunthorpe Athletic sent Scarborough Town crashing out of the Teesside League Cup after they had seemed to be on their way through to the semi final. Town had deservedly gone ahead in the first half but had to play the final thirty minutes of the game with ten men after Darren Clough had been sent off.
Town, playing their first game for four weeks, were still without injured skipper George Rose and started hesitantly on a very heavy pitch. Joel Ramm seemed to be fouled on the edge of the Nunthorpe penalty area, but the visitors went unpenalised and broke upfield where Darren Fixter pulled his shot wide of the goal. Wayne Brooksby broke clear down the right and pulled the ball back for Ramm to hit the ball first time but just over the bar from 20 yards. Then Neil Thomas cut in from the left and hit a thunderous shot which came down off the underside of the bar with Brooksby only able to prod the rebound wide. After a well-worked short corner, Carl Cook headed goalwards but blasted his shot over the bar, then defender Matt Perry picked up the ball in midfield and from 35 yards hit a blistering effort which goalkeeper Lee Rodgers tipped over the bar. Mark Barber’s long-range left-footer also cleared the bar, and Carl Cook chased a long ball to win a tussle with the goalkeeper but pushed the ball into the side netting from a narrow angle.
Nunthorpe were rarely troubling the home defence, with Michael Wade’s hopeful effort going well wide but Rob Clark having to react swiftly to block the ball in a melee. Brooksby continued to create chances for Town, but the final touch was eluding his fellow forwards. With three minutes of the half remaining, Barber pushed an accurate ball into the path of Ramm who went into the box and placed the ball neatly into the bottom corner to put Town 1-0 ahead.
Nunthorpe were playing a very physical game which earned them five yellow cards, and Brooksby was cynically chopped down after going past his marker, Cook’s free kick being pushed away by Rodgers. Dean Craig was also effectively joining in the attack on the left-hand side to set up several chances, and Thomas was inches away from connecting after chasing a long through ball. Athletic’s Wade hit a powerful effort which swerved wide of the goal.
Substitute Darren Clough joined the fray in the 55th minutes and immediately went to ground in the Nunthorpe penalty area. The Nunthorpe defenders demanded that Clough be booked and the referee obliged, earning Town only their second yellow card in nineteen games. Bad turned to worse two minutes later, when a scuffle between Clough and his marker on the right wing saw the referee produce the yellow card again and send an astonished Clough off the field. Nunthorpe now came into the game more, but Thomas had a shot blocked after good approach work from Robbie Hawkes and a free kick from Josh Greening narrowly cleared the bar.
Town were being subjected to increasing pressure from Nunthorpe despite the efforts of the tireless Jamie Patterson in midfield, but Perry and Tom Hickin were quick to react to the visitors’ approach work and snuff out the danger. However disaster struck after 84 minutes when a long ball into the box fell to the feet of Rob Hutchinson to slam the ball into the net from 8 yards. Town broke away to win a corner which scudded across the face of the Nunthorpe goal, but with three minutes remaining it was again a long ball which caused the problem, Ian Hugill getting up at the near post to head the visitors 2-1 ahead. Goalkeeper Clark joined the attack as Town forced a late corner but Patterson’s header dropped wide of the post and Town’s last chance had gone.
Town:
Clark, Perry, Hickin (Clough 55), C. Cook, Ramm, Patterson, Craig, Barber, Brooksby, Hawkes (Greening 74), Thomas
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