Ebac NORTHERN LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION SEASON 2013/14
ON THE BALL
Ebac NORTHERN LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION SEASON 2013/14
NEWS REVIEW The Northern Echo
The thoughts of Citizen Ken
NORTHERN LEAGUE NEWS from
Signs of guilt
West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said; “The game was a lottery, and the team that adapted best to the wind was always going to win.”
Footballers who use their hands are not the subtlest of communicators. By this, I don’t mean the obvious use to save a penalty, tug an opponent’s shirt, halt the progress of the ball or slap a face in execution of self-justice. These signs are obvious and are, if officially observed, punished accordingly. The signs that amuse me are those that guilty players use as a form of attempting to shift blame from themselves when they are so clearly at fault. The gestures follow the alleged foul with such speed that they can only be premeditated rather than reactionary. Take for instance the lunging tackle in the box which is invariably accompanied by a sideways movement of both hands or a single finger, hoping to influence the officials in their verdict. The movement is to be interpreted as an admission of guilt – qui s’excuse s’accuse, as the French say – or why else make such a gesture? We are all familiar with the hand movements that suggest that a felled player dived in simulation – again, why bother to indicate your version of the incident if not in a bid to escape punishment? Sadly, there is an increase of incidents where players are seen clutching their head when they later receive treatment elsewhere on their anatomy; an alleged head injury will usually oblige the officials to stop play and maybe put paid to a promising counter attack. Head clashes and jutting elbows are usually obvious enough at the time. The most unnatural response to a foul, however minimal, is to roll over countless times clutching the injured part. Since when have multiple roll overs helped to alleviate pain? They certainly catch the eye in a devious bid to exaggerate the nature of a foul. Fortunately, some referees are now getting wise to the thespian attacks of some players whose reputation for such theatrical gestures precedes them. Whatever the significance, the gestures are all blatant forms of cheating and attempts to pervert the truth – or, as some coaches would protest, gamesmanship!
KEN MILGATE’S TEN MINUTES WITH
JORDAN GALLOWAY Jordan hails from Kempston in Bedfordshire, signing for Durham after being released by Sheffield Wednesday, but he began his football career in the colours of Ongar Juniors. In terms of football pedigree he is related to Danny Cadamarteri; in respect of his biggest influence and encouragement he proudly nominates his father and uncle, and last but by no means least, his mother. Despite being on the end of a three-nil defeat, he fondly recalls an FA Youth Cup game he played in for Sheffield Wednesday against Carlisle United at Brunton Park in 2011. When he left Middlesbrough, he had a choice of no fewer than eighteen clubs to sign for; his natural instinct at the time was to choose Stoke City as they were in the Premiership, but not a firmly established club in the top tier. Sadly, his dream of rising through the ranks was not to be fulfilled. Jordan works as a sports coach in a primary school in Darlington and wants nothing more than to be successful in his career, maybe running his own sports coaching business sometime in the future with an emphasis on primary PE. A self-confessed joker, Jordan is always up for a laugh and has a mature light-hearted approach to life.
Spennymoor kept their unbeaten home record by beating Bedlington 5-1 at the Brewery Field. Moors started slowly, and they went behind when Paul Watson scored for Bedlington with a 25 yarder, and they nearly went 2-0 down when Dylan Williamson hit the post. However, Moors equalised when Gavin Cogdon crossed for Liam Henderson to volley in, and on 42 minutes Chris Mason headed them in front from a corner. Just on half time it was 3-1 when Cogdon scored with a rare header from a Lewis Dodds cross. Henderson scored from the edge of the box early in the second half, and Cogdon and Wayne Phillips both hit the post, Andy Johnson scored the fifth from the edge of the box. Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said; “We started very slow, and it was only when Bedlington scored that we started to play. I’m pleased with the three points and five goals in a game we had to win.” Ashington beat Penrith 2-1 at Woodhorn Lane. Marc Walton put Ashington into the lead from a Glen Taylor pass just on half time, but Penrith levelled with a 25 yarder by Richard Faustino. However, Ashington got the winner when a shot by Walton was blocked and Taylor scored from the rebound. Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “Again it was a hard fought win without being at our best. There’s a good spirit here at the minute.” Guisborough are in eighth after they came back from a goal down to beat Newton Aycliffe 3-1. Aycliffe took the lead through Tom Atkinson who ran through and scored from a Jamie Owens pass, but Guisborough levelled when Mikey Roberts scored from a free kick. Roberts curled a free kick into the bottom corner to put Guisborough into the lead on 77 minutes – his 18th league goal of the season – and Danny Johnson made it 3-1 when he lobbed Aycliffe keeper Andrew Spence. Newton Aycliffe manager Alan Oliver said; “We held them until the last 15 minutes, but we never created much in the second half.” Dunston UTS are now unbeaten in five matches after they beat Durham City 2-0, with two second half goals by Jonny Wightman. He scored his first when he capitalised on a Durham mistake, ran through and beat the keeper, then he finished off a good move for the second. Durham keeper Lewis Brass pulled off several good saves in the second half. It was only the fourth time this season that Durham had failed to score. Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “It was a very good second half performance that won us the game.” Durham City manager Adam Furness said; “Having been full of praise for our second half performance last week, our display after half time this week was embarrassing, As soon as we conceded the first goal through a terrible mistake at the back , we suddenly went from being the better side to not even being in a contest. Only some excellent keeping from Lewis brass kept the score respectable. Simply didn’t have the heart or desire to compete when things got scruffy.” Team Northumbria won for the first time in seven league matches by beating Billingham Synthonia 2-1. Nathan Porritt gave Synners the lead from a Michael Sweet pass, and they held on to the advantage until the last ten minutes. Graeme Carrick equalised with a 40 yarder, then Mark Fenwick squeezed the ball home.
TN are now five points behind fourth bottom Bedlington with a game in hand. Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said; “We didn’t play well today, but still should have seen the game out. Too many mistakes from individuals are costing us at the minute.” Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said; “We have been having a tough time of it lately with all the injuries and suspensions, but we turned a corner on Saturday. There is more to come now with players coming back from injury and more signings ahead.” Morpeth moved further away from relegation danger by beating Whitley Bay 2-0. After a goalless first half, Sean Taylor scored from a David Hiftle cross, and then Michael Chilton headed in a right wing cross. Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “For the second weekend running we were extremely poor. We did have seven regulars missing, but the effort from the team wasn’t there today. We were muscled out of the game.”