Mens 3rds vs North Shields 2

Morpeth travelled away for a 1pm meet with some suspect time keeping from some players - mainly the skipper as his kit was in the boot of his newly engaged wife to be, whilst watching Paddington at the cinema! So Lando ‘Thirttle’ Norris drove the skipper there to collect his equipment! This would end up being the most exciting encounter that Liam would see all day.

We won the toss, changed ends which seemed to confuse and rattle the shields XI as to why? 

First Half: The game started Morpeth started very brightly with some neat passing and breaking through from defence and midfield. Some majestic dummy’s and leaving of the ball made great entertainment to the shields crowd, but the skipper had other ideas. Sorry Jack. Then the ball got its way to the forwards but there was no way through past the shields keeper. Then all of a sudden all the players from both teams thought a wind farm had been built in the shields D with Windmill Renwick! He got the ball all alone with no one around, STOPPED the ball! The windmill wound up and agonisingly went wide, but he hit it so well remember. 

Then the wind farm was gone and was back to business as normal. The skipper with his cheeky free hit ran the the ball along the base line with all players standing still, entered the D and passed straight to Oakton free in space and showed his scoring prowess into the bottom right hand corner. 1-0 and half time came along.

We set the scene with a plan and outlined our outcomes of what we wanted to achieve.

Second Half: Morpeth started with the ball and took it straight to the shields D. The midfield of Yuri and Cam had everything in their pocket! The wingers of Green, Hamilton and Oakton causing the defence issues. 

Then Yuri collects the ball from Stokeld, he drove in the shields half and swept a crisp slap pass into the D for Cam to get the most deft of touches to go into the bottom right hand corner! Champagne 🍾 moment on its way! 

Then with series of attacks that lead to short corners, the skipper steps up drag flicks it into the top left - another worldly 🌍 3-0 and cruising.

The back 4 of Rob, Jack, David and Gareth played the ball around the back with such ease and grace with some great passes coming from the back 4 that really set the team on to its next attack. Then a long ball down the line from shields saw the Running Man Gareth Anderson make Forrest Gump look like an amateur. The power and body pumping defender made catching up with the shields forward an easy task. Now image the running man doing it again to out smart the shields player for a second time! Surely another champagne moment 🍾

Another series of penalty corners saw the skipper say this one is going low, which ended up going high and wide! A tactical change was imminent on the next corner, with ace in the hat Stokeld being called for another short corner routine. Balls comes to the skipper, back to Stokeld, all the shields defenders in disarray and Stokeld puts it straight through the keepers legs 4-0! 

Only 5 mins to go. Peth were on the rampage, the ball being passed around so elegantly, players running in to space onto balls it all clicked today, then the ball gets passed from Windmill to the skipper, a sweet little bounce over the defenders stick, one keepy up, and a massive swing on the volley from the side of the D straight into the opposing corner of the goal 🥅 another champagne moment today 🍾 

 The final whistle happens the shields team with a quiet 3 cheers for Morpeth, The Morpeth team showed them how 3 cheers with a roar so loud it defended the shields crowd! 

Mom - Cameron engine Lauder with a fantastic goals and all round great game 

🍆DOD - the skipper 

🍾Champagne moment - the skippers goal of the season contender!

🍾honourable mention to Gareth the  power beating running man with some awesome stick work and energy 

Next Fixtures:

Morpeth 3rd XI vs Gateshead 3rd XI - 16th November - 10:30am