Match Report- Bob Maddison Cup Quarter Final

Match report written by Ian Beck c/o the Northumberland FA Schools Update

English Marytr's V St Oswald's

"The early exchanges were quite even with no one making the initial break through. The first chance came when Ellis Gates of English Martyr’s fed the ball through to Sam Thorpe who brought out a great save from the visitor’s keeper in the St.Oswald’s goal. Shortly afterwards, Gates took things into his own hands by firing wide from long range. St.Oswald’s started to apply pressure towards the end of the half when St.Oswald’s nearly presented them with a goal when defender Evie Purvis passed back to her goalkeeper, Jack Gribbon and the ball bobbled just before him and it sliced off his foot to go agonisingly past the post for a corner. From the corner the ball was pulled back to Jake Gallon and he drove the ball towards goal only for Gribbon to make a fine save. The ball dropped in front of goal and Leon Burke was first to the ball to clear his lines. There was just one more chance before half time when Purvis played a long ball over the away defence and Burke was onto it but the keeper came out and cleared the danger and the first half finished 0-0.

It must have been a fantastic team talk from the English Martyr’s manager, Rory Cook, because within five minutes of the restart they were four up. Step forward Ellis Gates who was majestic from the off. He beat two players to set Burke through the middle and he coolly drew the keeper and then put it just wide of him for the opener. Gates once more fed Burke a few seconds later and he finished just the same as the first. The third was probably the best as Purvis fed Gates who played the ball across to Burke who in turn played the ball to the back post where Thorpe was lurking and he finished comfortably. For the fourth, Gates set up Burke once more for his hat trick. By this time St.Oswald’s were shell –shocked as the game had changed dramatically in the space of five minutes. Thorpe notched two more to complete his hat trick and then Charlie Glasgow drove into the top corner to make it seven. Credit to St.Oswald’s they didn’t give up and they put the home team under pressure but Purvis and Owen Hedley were repelling their attacks. Finally, they got through and Ethan Bell had a shot just wide just before Gallon went down in the box but the penalty appeals were waved away. Shortly afterwards, the final whistle sounded to end an amazing second half and put English Martyr’s through to the semi-finals."