ROYALS RELIGATED
MEN'S FOOTBALL 1STS
Newcastle 1
York 2
A scene of devastation greeted the final whistle as Newcastle’s firsts’ were beaten in the relegation play-off, amidst controversial circumstances. A courageous performance at Cochrane Park was not enough to save the Royals from relegation, as they went down 2-1 to York firsts. Having dominated for most of the game, they will feel aggrieved at the result and the consequences it now entails for the club.
The controversy centred on York’s winning goal ten minutes from time. The Royal’s defence were left stunned as a visiting striker was allowed to lift the ball home from what looked to be an offside position. After the ball was played through, their appeared to be daylight between York’s striker and Newcastle’s back pairing of Sam Newton and Ben Lenders. However, their appeals were in vein as the referee ignored the linesman’s flag, along with cries from players and spectators. With so much at stake in a tight and tense affair, this cruel blow proved to be the difference between the sides and ultimately was the goal that relegated the Royals.
Prior to this, Newcastle enjoyed the better of the contest, both in terms of possession and in the chances they created. After a nervy start, the home side began to play some flowing football which included some crisp-passing. This was combined with an ever increasing tempo, allowing the side to contain a confident York side within their own half.
Good work in midfield by Fred Brunt fed top scorer Dave Woolman into the left hand channel and his measured left foot cross was inches from being met by Brunt, who was narrowly beaten to the ball by a York defender. The visitors’ defence thwarted wave after wave of Newcastle’s first half attacks, with the home being frustrated into long range efforts, producing no real clear cut chances. The visitors resilience was rewarded just before the half hour mark. In one of the few York attacks of the first half, a corner was forced after Lenders blocked an effort from just inside the box. From the resulting set-piece, a York midfielder was allowed to rise unmarked inside the box to give the visitors a one nil advantage, a lead they maintained until the interval.
Inevitably, backed by vocal support from spectators and the club’s large squad, the Royals pushed for an equaliser straight after the break. Woolman had two opportunities to add to his season’s tally, first with a speculative effort from just inside the box, then with a header after a cross from winger Ed Crockett. Both attempts sailed narrowly over the cross-bar, as did a long range curling strike from winger Will Deledicq.
Newcastle continued to press a York side who were now camped inside their own half. The blues created their best chance when Crockett ghosted in at the far post, unmarked. The winger’s finish was angled back across the ‘keeper, but failed to penetrate the net, much to the disappointment of the watching crowd.
They were made to worry moments later as a York counter attack saw their centre forward in the clear. Only ‘keeper Paul McCauley stood between York’s striker and a crushing 2-0 lead for the away side. McCauley produced a magnificent reaction save to deny what would have surely been a victory sealing goal.
It was then the home side made an inspired attacking substitution. After a tireless display, Brunt was replaced by Martin Hill, who was making his return from a back injury. It wasn’t long before the change made an impact as the winger was immediately thrust into the action. The suffocating spell of Newcastle pressure was finally made to tell as Hill dispossessed York’s left back. He then delivered a pin-point cross to Woolman who finished on the half volley to send Cochrane park into ecstasy.
Defeat now seemed out of the question as the momentum was seemingly in Newcastle’s favour. However, having thrown so many men forward in search of the equaliser they failed to re-organise and were left exposed. Newcastle were still celebrating the goal as York mounted an immediate response which eventually led to their winner and the controversy that followed.
Although Newcastle rallied, time was in short supply and their players, deflated at the final whistle, fell to their knees in despair. It was a crushing blow to a rejuvenated club which now has the task of BUSA recovery next season. ‘We have to look to the future’ said captain Paddy Paisley at the end. This will be easier said than done, in a defeat that was immensely tough to take and will linger long in the memories of those involved.
