Game 21
29/03/25 – League
AFC 1 – 3 Newark and Sherwood
After a season-long duel, Attenborough finally gave way in
the league title race on a frustrating morning at the Strand. Missing a couple
of regular players, including goalkeeper Fin Haywood and the influential Simon
Savage, the hosts had their hands full against a well-stocked Newark and
Sherwood squad. Graham Mee was, however, able to call upon Lewie Pearson for
the first time since January and Morgan Jones bolstered the substitutes bench.
Having come out marginally the worst over the two previous
clashes with a well-organised Newark and Sherwood side, Attenborough set out to
ensure this was a tight match with the intention to sit back, stop shots and
crosses on our goal and counterattack with our talented forwards.
Things started ideally for the hosts with Harry Morgan, making
his first start for the Boro, immediately in the thick of things, his chest
down providing George Pursglove with a chance he eventually converted on the
rebound. However, the flag quickly went up and the goal was ruled out for a highly
contentious offside. Attenborough did not let that dampen their enthusiasm and the
promising Morgan worked himself two more opportunities as the visitors rocked.
Pursglove has his goal ruled out for offside
Unfortunately Mee’s men couldn’t make the early breakthrough but remained in control of the game for the majority of the first half, picking up the second balls and launching a couple of good attacks down the left flank, Luke Smith at his rampaging best having to be brought down a couple of times by tough fouls in a game which developed a spiky edge with so much up for grabs, the winners guaranteed top spot going into the final two games.
With Newark rattled, two of their players having already been
yellow carded, the game took a devastating twist for Attenborough just before
half time. Ollie Mee, who had performed excellently in the first part of the
game, received a straight red card for foul and abusive language following an
altercation with an opposition player. At the end of the day this was a highly
competitive game with every player out there giving everything, passions
running high par for the course given what was at stake, so whether this match-and
title-defining decision was proportionate to the offence must be debatable.
The Blues were up for the challenge of playing with ten men,
Lewis Sanderson and Reece Caine in particular excelling with their defensive
work, chances in open play for Newark kept to an absolute minimum, though the
breakthrough finally came from a corner on the 70th minute. A
powerful header leaving Alex Lawrence with no chance in the Boro goal.
The game soon stretched as Attenborough had to try and go on
the offensive and once more things didn’t go the way of the hosts as Sanderson
unluckily deflected a shot past Lawrence to put the visitors two goals up.
It is to our player’s absolute credit that they didn’t go
under after that, George Cuesta-Sarris somehow squeezing in a shot with five
minutes remaining after some skillful footwork from Harry Morgan to jangle Newark nerves. However, the final nail in the blue coffin was
finally hammered in during injury time as Newark countered to make it 3-1 and all but
seal the league championship.
Having executed their game plan with such precision and
commitment for the majority of that first half it’s hard not to wonder what
might have been for Attenborough if it wasn’t for the sending off, but in such vital
one-off games this just serves as a reminder that staying on the right side of ‘the
edge’ and not putting yourself in a position where decisions like this can be
made against you is so important.
Over the season there was little to split Attenborough and
Newark, which made for an enthralling battle and congratulations to them on
what looks like being their title. As for the Boro, we’ve still got a big
chance of glory with a huge cup final to come at the start of next month and this
squad deserves to get their hands on some silverware.
lawrence; sanderson, humphriss, r caine, keegan o’kane; cuesta-sarris
(85’), o mee, l caine ©, luke smith; morgan, pursglove
subs; louis smith, pearson, jones
Lewis Sanderson and George Cuesta-Sarris fight for possession
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