Our first half display in Tuesday's match was exceptional. We could have been 5-0 up in twenty minutes and the tempo, movement and quality of play that we showed from the first whistle would have tested any team at this level and maybe even higher.
Any regular readers of these reports would affirm that we don't believe in false praise and never exaggerate the level of performance, either individually or collectively. On Tuesday night, the players looked exactly as they should; like prospective professional footballers, and certainly in the first twenty minutes Newmarket will have felt like they were in the eye on a storm.
Jordan Patrick started the game on fire and, with the slope allowing us to leave the ball behind their right back, he terrorised the home team at will. One typically direct run into the box should have been finished at the far post by Liam Hughes and his next foray resulted in a corner.
Jack Eades clipped a perfectly flighted ball into the near post and Rory McAuley flicked it home as rehearsed the previous day on the training ground. My only criticism of this opening spell was that we should have put the game to bed, such was our dominance and superiority. However, too many touches in the box, poor movement from crosses and errant finishing kept our advantage at a slender margin.
The lead was eventually doubled by a wonder goal.The irrepressible Luke Berry ran 50 yards with the ball and unleashed a 25-yard strike with his "wrong" foot into the far corner.
Sam Ives almost emulated his partner in crime with a fantastic run, spotted by Rory McAuley's searching pass which he expertly brought down and carried in his stride, but was denied a picture goal by a fine save. Chances continued to be created before the icing on the cake in the final minute of a first half master class.
The ever improving Jack Eades beat his man and hit an absolutely fantastic cross with "score" written all over it, and JP duly obliged at the far post with a perfectly timed run inside his full back to connect from six yards, giving the keeper no chance.
We knew the home side would respond and I still have memories of a League Cup tie from two years ago when we led 4-1 at half time to eventually lose 6-4 AET! They changed their shape from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 and I was disappointed by the way we started the second half. Despite warning against complacency, we were sloppy in the first two or three things we did and as a result we were on the back foot. This gave the home side some encouragement and, whilst they didn't create any chances, we had to weather a spell of pressure that we brought on ourselves.
A break in play for an unfortunate injury to Liam Hughes allowed us to get together and regain our composure. Whilst we didn't quite reach the heights of the first half, there were still moments of real quality in our play which led to a succession of chances. Credit the home team for their brave defending though, as they got blocks on a number of goal-bound shots, including one sequence where their penalty box resembled a pin ball machine!
Luke Berry (above) should have doubled his tally with a close range header, and another Daz Coakley inswinging corner was flicked on by Maz and Jack Bailey's header was tipped over by the home keeper. Lee Hullyer saved his best for last with a fantastic stop from Jack Eades' strike following an excellent cross from substitute Chris Tonks.
A late goal by Richard Gammon from a corner gave the score a slightly unrealistic look and was a disappointing way to end an almost perfect display. Apart from the opening 10 minutes of the second half and profligate finishing, I would be hard pushed to find fault. Sam Ives was our outstanding player, even outshining the as-usually excellent Luke Berry, and I was really pleased with the contribution of both wide players, JP and Jack Eades.
Both were really effective in their own way, with JP giving us an outlet with his electric pace and dribbling ability whilst Jack can deliver crosses as well as anyone at the club. Now that he is simplifying his game, and adding consistency through work rate, clarity of thought and concentration, he is contributing both defensively and as an attacking threat.
His set plays also give him another string to his bow and it's now just his goals return, as well as maintaining recent standards, that needs to be addressed.
JP has scored two in two, is getting fitter and will soon be ready for Martin to unleash as he wishes on unsuspecting Blue Square Premier full backs.
Team:
Davies, McAuley, Coakley, Carr, Hudson, Ives, Eades, Berry, Hughes (Bailey 55), Marriott (Tonks 85), Patrick.
