Action man Tom fires up Northbank
Last updated 11:49, Wednesday, 17 September 2008
NORTHBANK defender Tom Nicholson had a magnificent game to inspire his side to a hard-fought win at the Sheepmount.
Hesket mounted the first attack but it was broken up by Northbank’s Sam Jackson who made a long and speedy run deep into his opponents’ half.
Jackson eventually threaded a neat pass to Ellis Monaghan but his close range effort rebounded off the legs of Robert Morley in the Hesket goal. Monaghan seized onto the loose ball and drove in a low goal bound shot which was cleared off his own goal line by Hesket’s Will Allison.
The Northbank attackers were very lively and they forced a corner on the right but Tom Nicholson’s kick was cleared by Allison.
Hesket staged an attack with Allison forcing a corner but the kick was headed clear by Jackson. The Northbank team had a good attacking spell where they put their opponents under a great deal of pressure.
They gained a corner on the left, which was taken by Nicholson and when the ball reached the foot of Adam Bulman his close range attempt was blocked by Morley with his shins. Nicholson was a key player in the Northbank side and he was desperately unlucky when his terrific long-range shot hit the top of the crossbar with Morley well beaten.
Hesket regained the initiative with Luke Brown finding Daniel Baugh who made progress on the left, until the eventual tackle from Jackson put the ball into touch. Jackson was again in action when he intercepted and carried the ball clear following an Allison corner.
Northbank then opened the scoring following a dangerous Nicholson corner kick which was headed into the net by an unlucky Hesket defender.
Northbank almost added another goal when Ritchie broke clear, but Morley managed to save the striker’s shot but the ball only ran to Bulman whose angled shot struck the outside of the post. There was no further scoring before half-time.
Northbank exerted some early pressure in the second half, when a telling run by Oliver Fyfe led to a corner. The threat continued as first Ritchie had a shot which struck Allison and then a shot from Nathan Johnstone was blocked by Jack Cleminson.
Johnstone was quick to retrieve the loose ball and he doubled his team’s single goal lead with a well-placed volley into the top corner of the net.
Johnstone, Ritchie and Monaghan were very lively for Northbank and some accurate passing provided Monaghan with a shooting chance but his effort was wide of the mark.
Hesket pulled a goal back following a surging run from Allison which ended with his long, low cross finding the feet of Sean Mitchell on the right touchline.
Mitchell regained possession to deliver a low cross which enabled the irrepressible Allison to drive his shot into the Northbank net.
Allison broke loose once more but he was tracked all the way by Nicholson who timed his tackle to perfection and the ball went into touch.
Northbank staged a late attack but Alex Verrall cleared into touch to thwart Johnstone. The home team continued to press forward and just before the final whistle Monaghan made it 3-1 following some determined play by Bulman.
MATCH FACTS
Northbank: Harry Smith, Oliver Fyfe, Liam Rayson, Tom Nicholson, Sam Jackson, Adam Bulman, Nathan Johnstone, Thomas Ritchie, Ellis Monaghan and Jordan Richardson
Hesket: Robert Morley, Damon Carr, Luke Brown, Sean Mitchell, Greg Judge, Jack Cleminson, Alex Verrall, Thomas Evans, Will Allison and Daniel Baugh
Referee: Mike Ritchie
Man of the Match: Tom Nicholson, defence, Northbank: Tom was heavily involved as he took all the corners and most of the throw-ins. He was hard to beat and very good on the ball. His corner led to the team’s first goal and he was unlucky with a long shot which struck the crossbar.
