11/04: DRAMATIC FINISH AS KIRBY NETS EQUALISER AGAINST TITLE FAVOURITES
Category: Match Reports
Posted by: Dan
The Woolpack FC 3 - 3 Barge Albion
Starting Line-up: Battye, Crowther, Kirby, Turpin, Martin, Shaw, Farrand, Ginty, Arnold, Ro.Hawkyard, Newburn
Subs: Herbert on for Turpin
Goals: Kirby, Newburn (2)
Man of the Match: Kirby - Solid in the first half and never afraid to get forward. And then of course he popped up with the equaliser in the last minutes.
After that bad defeat midweek and the hammering at Britannia last week it seemed like a bad time to play division two favourites Barge Albion away. And to make matters worse the Woolpack only had a squad of 12 players.
Luckily Daniel Farrand returned and he started on the right, Tom Crowther moved to right back to allow Martin to play at centre back where is more comfortable. Kirby came in at left back and Arnold moved up front with Shaw, Ginty and Ross Hawkyard making a three man midfield.
The first half had the feeling of a cup tie, as possession moved from end to end with both defences cancelling the the attackers out. At the Woolpack end, Martin made a great tackle on the edge of the box, Turpin was rarely beaten and Kirby looked comfortable at left back.
At the other end the Woolpack were making some lovely moves, particularly down the right hand-side through Crowther, Shaw and Farrand, who created the first two goals. The second was a carbon copy of the first as he floated a cross to the back post where Scott Newburn appeared to head home.
Barge Albion ended the first half the stronger side, although Chris Shaw had a golden chance to make it 3-0 but he scuffed his shot. Dave Ginty also hit a cracking shot just over.
At half time Barge made a few subs and this strengthened their weak spots at the full back closing out the Woolpack main threats. It also brought extra attacking pace which put the Woolpack defence under pressure from the start, on what was an awful pitch.
Barge got their first goal as their attackers followed in from a free kick which caught the Woolpack napping. It wasn't long after when Turpin was beaten to a 50-50 ball and the striker got through to make it 2-2.
Soon after Turpin came off after taking a knock and Tom Crowther moved into the middle with Herbert now at full back. Barge kept applying the pressure but they couldn't score, despite hitting the post and forcing Battye into a few saves.
At the other end the chances kept coming, but they were all scrappy and never really looked dangerous. But then on the counter, Barge got in front, although two players could have been offside as the cross came in from the right and the two attackers fought for the finish at the back post.
The equaliser then came as Kirby went forward to take a throw-in which Farrand took off him. As Kirby ran into the box the loose ball fell to him and his first shot hit another player and bounced back into his path for him to finish. With 10 minutes left it felt like a cup final winner. And the Woolpack dropped back and remained solid for the remainder of the match, although Barge appealed for a penalty in the dying seconds, and the referee (a Barge player) very honestly gave a goal kick.
It was a great result for the Woolpack who, depending on other results, may now still have eyes on a fourth place finish, and the 20 point target.
Starting Line-up: Battye, Crowther, Kirby, Turpin, Martin, Shaw, Farrand, Ginty, Arnold, Ro.Hawkyard, Newburn
Subs: Herbert on for Turpin
Goals: Kirby, Newburn (2)
Man of the Match: Kirby - Solid in the first half and never afraid to get forward. And then of course he popped up with the equaliser in the last minutes.
After that bad defeat midweek and the hammering at Britannia last week it seemed like a bad time to play division two favourites Barge Albion away. And to make matters worse the Woolpack only had a squad of 12 players.
Luckily Daniel Farrand returned and he started on the right, Tom Crowther moved to right back to allow Martin to play at centre back where is more comfortable. Kirby came in at left back and Arnold moved up front with Shaw, Ginty and Ross Hawkyard making a three man midfield.
The first half had the feeling of a cup tie, as possession moved from end to end with both defences cancelling the the attackers out. At the Woolpack end, Martin made a great tackle on the edge of the box, Turpin was rarely beaten and Kirby looked comfortable at left back.
At the other end the Woolpack were making some lovely moves, particularly down the right hand-side through Crowther, Shaw and Farrand, who created the first two goals. The second was a carbon copy of the first as he floated a cross to the back post where Scott Newburn appeared to head home.
Barge Albion ended the first half the stronger side, although Chris Shaw had a golden chance to make it 3-0 but he scuffed his shot. Dave Ginty also hit a cracking shot just over.
At half time Barge made a few subs and this strengthened their weak spots at the full back closing out the Woolpack main threats. It also brought extra attacking pace which put the Woolpack defence under pressure from the start, on what was an awful pitch.
Barge got their first goal as their attackers followed in from a free kick which caught the Woolpack napping. It wasn't long after when Turpin was beaten to a 50-50 ball and the striker got through to make it 2-2.
Soon after Turpin came off after taking a knock and Tom Crowther moved into the middle with Herbert now at full back. Barge kept applying the pressure but they couldn't score, despite hitting the post and forcing Battye into a few saves.
At the other end the chances kept coming, but they were all scrappy and never really looked dangerous. But then on the counter, Barge got in front, although two players could have been offside as the cross came in from the right and the two attackers fought for the finish at the back post.
The equaliser then came as Kirby went forward to take a throw-in which Farrand took off him. As Kirby ran into the box the loose ball fell to him and his first shot hit another player and bounced back into his path for him to finish. With 10 minutes left it felt like a cup final winner. And the Woolpack dropped back and remained solid for the remainder of the match, although Barge appealed for a penalty in the dying seconds, and the referee (a Barge player) very honestly gave a goal kick.
It was a great result for the Woolpack who, depending on other results, may now still have eyes on a fourth place finish, and the 20 point target.
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