Marske United 3 North Shields
0
Northern League – First Division
It had been termed ‘Mission Impossible’.
After suffering an agonising FA Vase semi-final defeat to neighbours
Stockton Town in March, the focus for Marske United was very much about the league, but
it wasn’t going to be straightforward.
As their away game at Consett kicked off on the 27th
March, the club had a massive 18 games to play in 44 days, so effectively a
game every other day. But, at that point, they had a significant number of
points to claw back on Morpeth Town, so it wasn’t just about playing the games,
it was about winning them as well. Surely an impossible task?
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| The GER Stadium |
The Consett game finished goalless, but a victory over
Morpeth in the next game was to be not only to be vital, but it also put down a
marker in terms of their quality and their ambitions. The next eleven games saw eight victories, two draws and only one
defeat. Second place was secured as was promotion to Step 4, but moving into
May, with two games on consecutive nights, both at home, they had the chance to
be within a whisker of leapfrogging Morpeth and clinching the coveted prize.
Near neighbours Guisborough Town were beaten 3-0 on the
Wednesday, and then with North Shields coming to town on the Thursday evening,
it was time for me to go and have a look. Four points were needed so Marske
knew a victory over the side that ran South Shields close last season, would
give them a great chance of taking the crown on their home turf the following
Saturday when Newcastle Benfield were the visitors.
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| Corner Cover |
Marske-by-the-Sea is, as you would expect by the name, a
coastal village sat just South of Redcar. It’s an easy journey, picking up the
A174 South of Middlesbrough and following the Whitby bound road past the huge
Wilton Chemical Works, the previously mentioned Redcar, before taking a left at
the roundabout. The ground is just past the railway station on the right hand
side, and can be accessed from the housing estate upon which it is situated.
Arriving a good hour before the kick off, I opted to sample
the Social Club at the ground which serves the wider Marske Sports Club. With a
crowd of 300 turning up for the local derby the night previously, the hosts
were hopeful of another good turnout, and the early signs from the numbers
entering the bar were positive.
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| Out Of Bounds |
Once through the turnstiles at the GER Stadium, you walk up
some steps to the pitch level, and immediately to your left is a seated stand.
The players enter the pitch at the end of the stand, having also climbed up
from the dressing rooms below, while at the other side of the players entrance
is a an area of cover that spans around twenty yards from the half way line. The only other cover on
the ground is a very small shelter by one of the corner flags, while an area of
open terracing sits to the right of the turnstile entrance.
The dugout side of the ground was out of bounds for safety
reasons, while behind both goals it was flat hard standing. The pitch has suffered
with the awful weather this season, but to be fair, it looked in decent shape
considering that and the number of games that have been played on it in a short
space of time.
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| Stands |
A crowd of 218 was declared and after a cagey opening, it
was Marske who took the lead in the 15th minute when Shields gave
the ball away in a crucial area of the pitch, which allowed Peter Bulmer to
race clear and slot the ball home.
It was 2-0 in the 24th minute when another error
saw Mikey Roberts pick up the ball, neatly sidestep the goalkeeper and roll the
ball into the empty net.
By half time you felt Marske had done enough for the three
points, but at the back of your mind you did feel that if Shields were to get a
goal, then playing against the tired legs of the hosts it could be a backs to the walls
situation. To be fair to Shields they did start the second period purposefully,
but some resolute defending and solid goalkeeping kept them out when they had
chances.
It was game over in the 76th minute though when
James Fairley scored the best goal of the game. Despite being fouled, he kept
his feet and curled the ball home from 25 yards. There was no way back now for
Shields, and the strike was the 100th league goal of the season for
Marske.
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| Executive Boxes |
You sensed at the final whistle that the players knew they
had one hand on the crown that they had won previously in 2015. One point from
four games was all it was now going to take, all bets, as they say, are off.
So, the Northern League provides two clubs to the Northern
Premier League this season, and it was interesting reading in the programme some
of the journeys they’ll be making next season. Yaxley and Wisbech stand out, but
that is the price of progress I guess.
So Mission Impossible, has ended up being Mission Possible,
and indeed by the time I’ve posted this it may well be a case of Mission
Accomplished.
But however it’s termed, the 2017-18 season for Marske
United Football Club will live very long in the memory.
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| Looking Seawards |
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