Mens 3rds vs Newcastle Medics 4

An absolutely riveting game went down this fine Saturday, under glorious, sunny skies. Morpeth Men's 3's, sitting pretty in second place in the league, squaring off against Newcastle Medics 4's, who were hot on their heels in third. Both teams had their eyes on the prize, chasing down the league leaders, Newcastle, in a bid to topple them from the top spot.

The stage was set (at a civilised push back time of 11 AM) for what promised to be a showdown of epic proportions. And boy, it did not disappoint. Morpeth, with their eye on the ball and hearts in the game, managed to secure a handsome victory over the Medics, with a scoreline that read Morpeth 5, Medics 2.

The first half began with both teams showing strong promise, but it was Morpeth who drew first blood 12 minutes in, thanks to a short corner drag flick executed with precision into the bottom left corner by the one and only Andy Gal. However, the Medics weren't just going to lie down and let Morpeth run the show. At the 22-minute mark, they capitalised on a four on two break, catching Morpeth napping. A clever pass around the goalkeeper allowed their attacker to slot the ball into the goal, unmarked at the far post.

Not one to be easily shaken, Morpeth's Andy Gal, with a vision that could only be described as 20/20, delivered a defence-splitting pass from the far left to Harrison, who found himself unmarked in the D. Harrison made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball home under the keeper at the 26-minute mark.

The second half saw Morpeth turn up the heat. Andy Gal, who was clearly on fire, took a free hit awarded outside the D at the 39-minute mark, charging into the box to unleash what can only be described as a howitzer into the top left of the goal. The 50th and 64th minutes both saw Gal continue his drag flick masterclass, leaving the goalkeeper no chance as he found the net, left of the keeper not once, but twice.

The Medics, despite the mounting pressure, managed to sneak in a second goal at the 66-minute mark. A daring but unchallenged run through the congested 23 area into the D and a shot that took a lucky deflection off a defender's stick saw the ball find the back of the net.

Man of the match honours were jointly awarded to the unstoppable Andy Gal and the formidable Evan Laude, proving that teamwork makes the dream work. The Richard of the Day went to Dom Colbeck, a decision that, in my humble opinion, was a bit harsh. Surely Jack's "dereliction of duty" was a more fitting recipient?

The whole squad deserve praise today. Goalkeeper Stewart made key saves when it mattered most. Dean and Adam were solid at the back, alongside Chris, who excelled out of position. The midfield dynamism of Edwin and Dom, coupled with the tireless running of the juniors like Sam, Ethan, and Frank, really stood out. The "Craik Twins" dominated the right side of the pitch, Cory putting in a tireless shift up and down the left with "Renwick the Elder," always in the right place at the right time to win important short corners.

In summary, it was a game that had it all - drama, skill, and a whole lot of heart. Morpeth's victory keeps them hot on the heels of Newcastle in the league standings, making the race for the top spot all the more exciting.