MATCH REPORTS - Wearside League 2009-10

6 March 2010 - Wearside League - Scarborough Town 5 Cleator Moor Celtic 1

Town continued their promotion push with a convincing win against third-placed Cleator Moor Celtic.

Wayne Brooksby returned to the Town side after his visit to Australia, and Jamie Patterson was back in the starting midfield formation after a few games on the bench.  Town were also pleased to welcome back Dean Craig who took a place on the bench after a long injury lay-off.

Town started brightly and clicked straight into their high-tempo passing game.  After a corner, Josh Greening pivoted neatly but his drive went over the crossbar.  The Cumbrians' keeper Craig Devine then made a superb flying save, only to see the loose ball collected by Greening, touched to Billy Logan and steered on to Brooksby who crashed the ball into the net to put Town one ahead after nine minutes.

Greening, playing as a central striker with Logan outside him and Brooksby bursting through from midfield, had another chance when he brought a long ball under control but shot tamely past the post.  The same player then connected sweetly to bring another good save from Devine.

The versatile Joel Ramm, filling in at left back on this occasion, made two strong forays down the wing to unsettle the Celtic defence, then Greening worked himself yet another shooting chance but was denied once more by the acrobatics of Devine who parried the ball and was grateful not to see any Town forwards following up.

Mark Barber was in commanding form in midfield, spraying passes out to both flanks or incisively through the middle as Town stayed on top.  When Cleator Moor managed to keep possession for a period, they finally had the opportunity to display the talents which had seen them climb the league table with five away wins in a row.  On 23 minutes Leigh Dunn put in a low cross from the right which was neatly headed in by Robert Fowler for the equaliser.

However Town took only one minute to regain the lead, Greening breaking away down the left and pulling the ball back for Brooksby to calmly make it 2-1 to Town.  Back came Cleator Moor, earning a corner which was cleared at the near post and Rob Clark then clutching an effort from Darren Johnston from a narrow angle.  The entertainment continued with a Greening shot deflected away from danger and a long-range Nathan Cook effort flying over the bar.  Logan showed a neat turn in the area but his goalbound effort was blocked, however Town's pressure was rewarded after 42 minutes when Georgie Rose's strength and persistence won the ball at the Celtic end before passing to Brooksby who converted from a narrow angle to complete a first-half hat trick.  In the final seconds before the break, a trademark 40-yarder from Nathan Cook thudded into the goalkeeper's midriff.

Town began the second period determined to add to their score and piled men into the Celtic penalty area, gaining their reward when the ball broke loose to Rose who blasted the ball inside the far post from just inside the 18-yard line.  Logan then broke away on the left and closed in on the keeper, but side-footed the ball wide of the far post.  Substitute Matty Brown shone brightly after being introduced to the Town midfield, and made a great run down the right before hitting a low cross which was almost turned into his own net by a flustered Celtic defender.  From the corner, the ball was rolled back to Nathan Cook who drove narrowly over the bar from 25 yards.

Ramm was next in line to have a shot blocked by a desperate defender, and a superb ball from Carl Cook sent Brooksby away but the youngster was crowded out at the last moment.  A skilful six-man move from Town ended with Nathan Cook rocketing a shot towards the top corner, only to see Devine soar to the rescue once again.

The scoring was completed on 81 minutes when Ramm made an interception in midfield to feed Brown whose delightful footwork created a chance for fellow-substitute Joe Danby to score from ten yards to make it 5-1 in Town's favour.

Town: Clark, Rose, Ramm, C Cook, Waterfield (Danby 69), N Cook, Patterson, Barber (Craig 60), Brooksby, Greening, Logan (Brown 60).

Attendance: 115

Referee: Jeffrey Chapman (Trimdon)
 
 

20th February 2010 - Wearside League - Scarborough Town 2 Windscale 0
 
With a group of volunteers having cleared the overnight snow, the pitch was muddy in places but overall in good condition.  Mark Barber and Georgie Rose lined up for their 50th competitive games in the team as Town entertained an in-form Windscale outfit.
 
Youngster Billy Logan began the game in a midfield role, allowing Joel Ramm to move up front alongside Josh Greening, but Logan and Ramm soon proved able to interchange positions at will.

After a tentative beginning, visiting keeper James Dolan was forced into a full length save from Nathan Cook after Logan had held the ball up well.  Then Windscale stormed forward and player-manager Matthew Henney's powerful shot just cleared the Town crossbar.
 
Full-back Danny Jenkinson showed a willingness to push forward down the left-hand side and earned a corner with his persistence, however he also earned an admonishment from the referee after a rash challenge.  On the other wing, Matt Perry was continuing in his unaccustomed wide role and provided several useful crosses.
 
On 20 minutes Dolan picked up a deflected ball which the referee deemed to be a back pass, giving Town a free kick from 15 yards which Barber blasted against the defensive wall.  Greening got up well to meet a cross from the right but his header cleared the bar, but then the Town defence was caught in possession and Windscale set up a scramble which Town were grateful to hack to safety eventually.  Windscale's long balls to the livewire Dean Rogers were causing problems for Town, with Neil Waterfield and Carl Cook needing to be at the top of their game to repel their opponent's forays.
 
A Greening corner was pulled back to Nathan Cook 25 yards out, but the defenders reacted well to block the ball.  The visitors then worked a great chance when Henney and Rogers combined to set up Andrew Hurley, but his shot drew a great save from Rob Clark in the Town goal.  Town took the lead on 40 minutes when Ramm timed his run well to pick up a pass and beat Dolan from 12 yards out.  Town ended the first half on top, with Greening's shot blocked by a determined defender.
 
Windscale began the second half in fine style, getting the ball quickly into the Town box and Rogers asking in vain for a penalty as he went to ground.  Then Barber needed to be alert as Windscale took a quick free kick which put the Town defence under pressure.  Town were soon back down the other end, and a Nathan Cook free kick found Perry who fed Ramm to turn niftily and shoot marginally too high with the visiting keeper well beaten.
 
Back came Windscale, with Clark tipping a cross over the bar and then pulling off a great save as the visitors strove for an equaliser.  Things soon looked even more ominous for Town, when Nathan Cook launched himself into a challenge which saw referee Graeme Hopper produce a red card.  Town were certainly under pressure, and a mazy run from Sean Pollan looked dangerous until Carl Cook nipped in to the rescue.  Town could not settle back into their normal pass-and-move game, but a determined run from Perry earned some respite with a run which was cleared for a corner on the right.
 
With the next goal likely to prove decisive, it was Town who struck when Josh Greening sprinted away from his marker and rounded the keeper to put Town 2-0 ahead in great style.  Windscale countered with a sweeping move sending Henney away on the right and crossing for Peter O'Donnell to volley just wide of the post.  Waterfield's height was proving useful in the Town defence as he headed clear on several occasions as the visitors piled forward, and the home team needed to defend in numbers to keep their goal intact.  Windscale's frustration boiled over in the final minute when full back Ryan Fitzwilliams was red-carded after an assault on Town substitute Joe Danby.
 
Town: Clark, Rose (Patterson 65), D Jenkinson (Brown 68), Waterfield, C Cook, N Cook, Perry, Barber, Greening, Logan (Danby 80), Ramm.
 
referee:  Graeme Hopper (Gateshead)
 

6 February 2010 - Wearside League Cup Quarter Final - Scarborough Town 8 Boldon CA 1.
 
Town's inventive attacking style took them past a very competent Bolden side to reach the Semi Final of the Wearside League Cup with Josh Greening notching a hat-trick and a revitalised Luke Jenkinson adding two more.
 
Ricky Ossai replaced the injured Rob Clark in goal, and Jenkinson was back in the line-up at centre forward hoping to end his lean spell in front of goal which stretched back to a previous round of the League Cup at Willington in November.
 
With only four minutes on the clock, Jenkinson chased a through ball and lifted it over the keeper, only to be brought crashing to the ground by Bolden's Number One Kris Anderson on the edge of the penalty area.  Referee John Harrison was remarkable lenient by allowing goalkeeper Anderson to remain on the field at the expense of a yellow card, with Town's only recompense being a free kick.  A well-rehearsed move saw Mark Barber hit a low twenty-yarder which Anderson parried, only for justice to be done when Jenkinson reacted swiftly and tapped the ball into the net from close range to put the home side 1-0 ahead.
 
Town were restricted to a couple of long-range efforts which did not trouble the Boldon defence until after 19 minutes Nathan Cook's pass split the defence to send Joel Ramm racing down the left and squaring the ball for Josh Greening to beat the keeper from eight yards out.
 
Boldon were playing some neat football in midfield without much of a cutting edge, but striker Kris Robertson controlled a long ball superbly and hit a sweet shot which brought a great save from Ossai.  On 29 minutes Boldon were back in the game courtesy of Eric Thompson who hit a blistering left-footed shot into the top corner from 25 yards out to make the score 2-1. 
 
Matt Perry ventured forwards on several occasions, finding space on the right wing to send in a cross which Anderson could only tip away, Georgie Rose's first-time effort being blocked and the follow-up from Mark Barber deflected away for a corner.  Back came Boldon to exert some pressure on the Town goal, but Ossai gathered the ball and his accurate long throw sent Greening probing deep into opposition territory.  There was little to choose between the sides at this stage and Boldon set up a scramble in the Town goalmouth where the home team needed some determined blocks to preserve their lead.
 
The whole complexion of the game changed in the final three minutes of the first half.  Perry surged upfield again and tried a shot which bounced off Jason Jones' knee for a corner.  The ball was worked into the penalty area but Town's final effort was half-cleared, then another blocked shot sent the ball looping into the air and coming down to the left foot of Town centre-back Neil Waterfield who found the corner of the net from 15 yards out to put the home team 3-1 ahead.  Within a minute, a foul on Nathan Cook saw the free kick placed through the defence by Greening for Ramm to burst clear and finish with confidence for Town's fourth, and straight away the ball was back in the Boldon penalty area for Greening to exhibit some superb close control despite being tightly marked and calmly beating the keeper again from close range to send Town in for the interval with a flattering 5-1 lead.
 
Boldon pushed forwards on the re-start, forcing a melée in the Town goalmouth, but Town countered at lightning speed, Ramm bursting clear of the back four but losing out to keeper Anderson and Rose's follow-up screamed wide of the goalpost.  Town made three substitutions after 52 minutes, and new arrival Billy Logan was straight into action, setting up a hectic scramble in the Boldon goalmouth which brought two great saves from Anderson and two last-ditch blocks from desperate defenders.  Logan then hit an effort just too high, whilst at the other end Ossai tipped a cross-shot from Thompson over the bar.  The fitness and determination of Town full-back Danny Jenkinson began to create more opportunities, and a one-two with Ramm sent Jenkinson away only to be thwarted by the outrushing Anderson.  Ramm then worked another opening and unselfishly put the ball across goal to Luke Jenkinson whose shot was deflected wide.
 
Boldon were still competing for every ball, and full-back James Donnelly hit the post with a swerving effort as the second half progressed without further addition to the scoresheet.  Anderson excelled himself with a fine save from Jamie Patterson, but once again Town were to score three times in the closing minutes of the half.  On 81 minutes excellent work from Luke Jenkinson set up a chance for Greening to convert from close range to complete his hat-trick.  Within 60 seconds a superbly-timed run from Logan was picked out by a through ball from Barber to give Luke Jenkinson the opportunity to make it 7-1.  Patterson and Ramm had further chances blocked, but on 87 minutes Patterson threaded the ball through to Barber who coolly dummied the keeper and Town's Number 8 netted goal number 8.
 
Boldon collected five yellow cards in a game which was by no means dirty, but substitute Andrew Whalley was fortunate not to see red in the final minute when he cynically took Luke Jenkinson out of the game.
 
Town now travel to either Jarrow or New Marske in the League Cup Semi Final, whilst in the other half of the draw Ryhope CW will be at home to either Annfield Plain or Easington Colliery.
 
Town: Ossai, Rose (Patterson 52), D Jenkinson, Waterfield (Danby 52), C Cook, N Cook (Logan 52), Perry, Barber, Greening, L Jenkinson, Ramm
 

27th January 2010 - North Riding Senior Cup Third Round - Town 0 Northallerton Town 3 (at Whitby Town FC)
 

Town were knocked out of the North Riding Senior Cup by Northallerton Town of the Northern League.  Town started brightly on a very muddy Turnbull Ground, and Josh Greening had an early one-on-one saved by visiting keeper Alex Kell before following up to push the ball across goal from a narrow angle without a colleague able to get forward fast enough to tap the ball in.  A free kick from 20 yards out was taken by Wayne Brooksby but went just wide of the post.
 
Town were creating the better chances, but a header from Northallerton's Carl Chillingworth glanced off the crossbar with Rob Clark beaten.  Greening again went clear on goal but was foiled once more by Kell, and the defenders recovered in time to bundle the ball off the line from Greening's follow-up.
 
Town player-coach Mark Barber suffered an ankle injury and was substituted two minutes after half time, and within a minute the visitors took the lead when a 30-yarder from Chillingworth found the net.  Joel Ramm made a surging run from left back and exchanged passes with Greening to find himself with only Kell to beat, and although Ramm's effort cleared the keeper it fell just wide of the right hand post.
 
On 70 minutes the decisive goal came when Steve Allison bore down on the Town goal and hit a fierce shot which was well parried by Clark, only for the ball to come back off Carl Cook and trickle into the net.
 
Town seemed to have earned a way back into the game after 78 minutes, when a dazzling Brooksby run ended with a foul which was clearly inside the penalty area but the referee awarded Town a free kick on the edge of the box which came to nothing.  Northallerton gained a flattering 3-0 scoreline in added time, when Andy Ramsbottom dashed clear to finish neatly.
 
Town: Clark, Perry, Waterfield (Danby 80), C Cook, Ramm, Rose, C Cook, Barber (Patterson 47), Brooksby, Logan, Greening (Brown 63)

23rd January 2010  -  Wearside League  -  Scarborough Town 5 Jarrow 0.
 
Scarborough Town earned another three points to further their promotion ambitions with a deserved victory over Jarrow.  With midfielders Mark Barber and Jamie Patterson absent, Wayne Brooksby dropped into a deeper role in the centre of the park alongside Nathan Cook and Georgie Rose.  Billy Logan continued up front for his second start in a Town shirt.
 
A Josh Greening through ball allowed Luke Jenkinson an early sight of goal, but his curling effort just cleared the bar.  Town had claims for a penalty when Jenkinson seemed to be brought down by a rash challenge, but Jarrow had the clearest chance to take the lead when Chris Lunn failed to connect properly from ten yards out.  Visiting keeper Tony Orr made a good save and also blocked a follow-up when the shot hit him on the head and bounced away.
 
Town were now controlling the game, and Jenkinson glanced a header wide when well-placed in front of goal.  Then a superb run by Joel Ramm from the halfway line saw him exchange passes before clipping the ball narrowly over the bar.  A goal was definitely overdue, and on 21 minutes Town took the lead.  Orr bravely saved one effort, then Logan's effort crashed back off the crossbar before finally Greening netted to put Town 1-0 up.
 
Greening had another chance within a minute and tried to chip the advancing keeper but did not get enough height on the ball and Orr made the save.  At the other end Rob Clark was brought into action and made a superb block when Peter Kirkham shot strongly from ten yards out.
 
Nathan Cook tried a couple of long-range efforts without troubling the opposing keeper, but Town's pressure earned them a series of corners which led to goal number two after 29 minutes.  The ball was worked from the left corner flag to Logan, who held the ball well before pushing the ball to the edge of the area where Nathan Cook met it with his right foot to send a low shot scudding into the net.  Logan showed excellent control before unleashing a snapshot which went wide of the post, but just on half-time Jarrow's Lunn hit a fierce effort which just cleared the bar.
 
Town had to make more positional changes at half time when Joel Ramm could not continue.  Joe Danby came on at right back with the versatile Matt Perry switching to the left hand side.  Jarrow began the second period with a slick passing move from one end of the field to the other, having two shots blocked and earning a corner which was headed over the bar by Peter Kane. 
 
Great work from Rose on the right wing provided a chance for Greening which he chipped into the goalkeeper's arms, then a surging run from Nathan Cook was halted by a last-ditch tackle before Greening blasted a 25-yarder which skimmed the crossbar.  At the other end, Kane worked the ball onto his left foot but hit the ball just outside the post, but Town came back with Perry heading over after one of many Town corners.
 
Greening again cleared the bar with a well-struck effort from the edge of the box before having a further shot blocked by Jarrow's inspirational skipper Lee O'Neil.  Town's third goal was not delayed for long, when Logan robbed a defender and Town piled men forward, Brooksby sliding the ball into the path of Joe Danby who finished calmly to make the score 3-0 after 71 minutes.  Within two minutes Logan was the victim of a horrible foul on the right wing, but carried on and centred for Danby to hit a scorcher into the net from 15 yards to make it 4-0.  Referee David Toor had played the advantage rule to great effect before going over to book the Jarrow offender.
 
With substitutes Sean Exley and Danny Jenkinson freshening up the team, Town looked likely to add to their tally, but goalkeeper Orr continued to frustrate the home forwards with a close-range block from Luke Jenkinson and diving at the feet of Wayne Brooksby who had been fed a great ball by Exley.  Town topped off the scoreline when Nathan Cook spotted Orr too far off his line and found the net with an accurate 40-yarder in the 90th minute to make it 5-0.
 
Town:  Clark, Rose (Exley 70), Ramm (Danby 45), Waterfield, C Cook, N Cook, Perry (D Jenkinson 60), L Jenkinson, Brooksby, Logan, Greening.
 
Attendance: 92

12th December 2009 - Wearside League Cup First Round - Scarborough Town 2 Teesside Athletic 1

With Georgie Rose still injured and Mark Barber unavailable, Joel Ramm moved into a different role as an attacking midfielder with Danny Jenkinson making his third start of the season at full back. Also stepping up from the Under-19s was striker Billy Logan to make his Town debut.

Teesside Athletic, playing with the confidence engendered by a long unbeaten run - only one defeat in all games this season - were the first side to exert pressure which ended when skipper Andrew Bell shot just wide. Town countered after Wayne Brooksby was fouled and Josh Greening's cross was bundled wide at the far post by Neil Waterfield. Then a quick throw from Logan almost earned a chance for Ramm but Athletic goalkeeper Stuart McDonald was quickly off his line.

Both sides were playing the ball around in entertaining style, keeping possession and looking for the killer pass. Town keeper Rob Clark saved competently from the Wearside League's top goalscorer James Kesterton, and a timely tackle from Jenkinson ended the visitors' next attack. Brooksby made two lightning-fast runs down the left but failed to create a clear chance, and at the other end Clark was troubled by an inswinging corner but cleared at the second attempt. Clark then excelled with a reflex save as Kesterton powered a header towards goal. Nathan Cook tried two long-range efforts after Town failed to play their way through the Athletic defence, and Clark made another save from his namesake Jamie in the Teesside number 10 shirt.

As the interval approached, Brooksby seemed to be obstructed in the penalty area but got back to his feet to earn a corner which was hit low and hard to Nathan Cook on the edge of the box. His shot took a deflection and came back off the goalpost, but Ramm was on hand to tap the ball into the net to give Town the lead. Within a minute Athletic had a great chance, but Jamie Clark again foundered on the Town keeper when he should really have scored from eight yards out. The importance of this miss was underlined when Town went further ahead in the final seconds of the half. Ramm was brought down twenty yards out, and Brooksby's free kick hit the post but bounced back across goal where Ramm was on hand to snap up the chance to put Town 2-0 ahead.

Town began the second period with a long spell of pressure, a Brooksby cross narrowly eluding Ramm and then Ramm shooting straight at the keeper in a crowded goalmouth. A powerful header from Jenkinson in midfield set up the next chance, but Logan's run was thwarted when McDonald deflected the ball wide of goal. Within minutes an overhead kick from Logan had McDonald scrambling across his line but the ball fell just wide of goal. A long through ball was chased by Brooksby who reached it just before the outrushing keeper and prodded it past Athletic's last man but agonisingly wide of the post.

Teesside were still sticking to their footballing principles in a pleasant contrast to the over-physical approach of many Wearside League teams, and an intricate five-man move ended with Rob Clark making another good save. Jamie Clark shot just wide, and skilful work from Dale Mendum earned a corner which came to nothing. However on 70minutes Athletic got back into the game with a goal from Kesterton. Ramm had been harshly penalised for handball 25 yards out, with the resultant free kick taking a ricochet off the defensive wall to give Kesterton a chance which he took with aplomb.

An astute ball from Jamie Patterson was intercepted at the expense of a corner for Town which led to a goalmouth scramble and several chances which came to nothing. At the other end Joe Danby made a good block at the near post when Athletic broke away, but Town came nearest to scoring when a corner resulted in a chance for Luke Jenkinson who crashed the ball against the crossbar from 15 yards out. At the final whistle Town had just shaded the game, earning a home tie against Boldon in the Quarter Final.

Town: R Clark, Perry, D Jenkinson (Danby 68), C Cook, Waterfield, N Cook, Patterson (L Jenkinson 80), Ramm, Brooksby, Logan, Greening (Brown 78)

5th Dec 2009 - Wearside League - Windscale 3 Scarborough Town 3

Town squandered a three-goal lead to share the points with a much-improved Windscale side after a lengthy trip to the Lake District. Under clear skies after recent torrential rains, the pitch at Egremont was heavy but in good condition, with the grass long and lush.

Town welcomed Mark Barber back into midfield after recovering from his recent car accident, replacing injured skipper Georgie Rose. Barber, Jamie Patterson and Nathan Cook formed a solid unit in central midfield, with Wayne Brooksby and Josh Greening working up and down the flanks and Luke Jenkinson spearheading the attack.

After ten minutes of parity, Town began to get on top and took the lead after 12 minutes. A through ball from Matt Perry sent Greening away down the left wing. Cutting inside, Greening progressed into the penalty area and coolly placed the ball past James Dolan in the home goal.
Another Greening centre just eluded Jenkinson by the narrowest of margins, and Barber chipped a shot which cleared the crossbar, but the home side came close when Dean Rodgers shot from the edge of the box and Rob Clark parried the ball to safety.

On 25 minutes a Jenkinson shot from the edge of the box was arrowing towards the top corner when Dolan pulled off a splendid save, but Town were not to be denied and within two minutes a good passing move between Joel Ramm and Nathan Cook gave Jenkinson the opportunity to turn inside and feed the ball to Brooksby who doubled Town's lead.

On the half hour mark Town went three goals ahead, with defensive midfielder Patterson venturing forward as the ball was fed into the box from the right hand side to hit the ball home from 12 yards despite the close attention of two defenders.

A long-range Nathan Cook effort was blocked, and the home defenders swarmed around Jenkinson as he anticipated a half-chance just in front of goal. With Town dominating, Windscale were reduced to playing on the break, but Neil Waterfield and Carl Cook were coping easily with long balls, and Town's hard-working midfielders were dropping back efficiently to prevent the Cumbrians from a clear sight of goal. Just on half time, some admirable one-touch football from Town saw Jenkinson move along the 18-yard line and hit a shot which Dolan saved well at the foot of the post.

The second half began uneventfully but after 55 minutes Town made a rare error in defence, Clark coming out but the ball was headed away without any great power, and Windscale's Lee Dixon took the chance to lob the ball neatly into the net to make the score 3-1. Town's coach Mitch Cook freshened up the side by deploying all three substitutes - withdrawing both Cooks along with Josh Greening to give teenagers Danny Jenkinson, Matty Brown and Joe Danby a slice of the action.

However Town seemed to lose their rhythm and the game became more evenly-contested and more physical. After 72 minutes Windscale struck again from a well-worked corner, the ball being flicked on at the near post for Peter O'Donnell to tap in from short range to make the score 3-2. With ten minutes still to go, Windscale's Dave Gullen was sent off for a second bookable offence but this seemed to spur the home side on even more, and on 88 minutes, a series of free kicks ended with Dean Rodgers hammering the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box to earn the home side a share of the points which they deserved after a determined second-half performance.

Town: Clark, Perry, Ramm, Waterfield, C Cook (D Jenkinson 60), N Cook (Brown 60), Patterson, Barber, Brooksby, L Jenkinson, Greening (Danby 60)