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Wilf Moralee

Played (Sub)	0 (0)
Goals	0
MOM	0

Match Report

Steelers 0 v 1 Newton Aycliffe

Referee Chris Bramley inspected the pitch and although there was a crispy top to the field he declared that the game could go ahead as there was plenty of give below the playing surface.

With 8 players missing, the 13 remaining squad members were shuffled around until I had a starting eleven which consisted of two centre forwards playing in the defence. Liam Burn slotted in alongside the captain at centre half and James Cutler dropped in to right back. Both lads looked equally at ease with their new found positions with James Cutler excelling to receive my MOM award.

In fact it was a match where all of the defence shone on the day. Peter Lawler put a shift in as he had switched from the right back slot to the left leaving only Kieron Moralee in his customary position.

Gary Walker un expectantly came into the dressing room as I thought he was injured and his first words were “have you got enough Wilf”. My reply was written on my face and within no time at all the 40 year old was celebrating his recent birthday with another Steelers start and he sealed this with another polished performance.

The first half was pretty much an even affair with both sides cancelling each other out before it could get through to either keeper. However, it was a nothing of a chance that opened up the scoring in favour of the visitors. Cruelly, it was the one slight error that Hightower made all morning yet so critical. From a throw in on the left the ball fell to one of the Aycliffe players in the centre of midfield and his goal bound strike from 25 yards seemed to be well covered by our keeper until it dipped under his body and into the net.

The skipper took a hefty knock from their centre forward early in the game and he carried on as leaders do but it was the defending from James Cutler that was catching everyone’s eye on the day. He was like a dog at broth when anyone ventured into his zone and I lost count of the number of old fashioned tackles the lad put in. He typified what the game means to him and along with the other defenders, they all showed their team commitment and enthusiasm to the full.

Aycliffe did turn up the gas for the second half but our team never relented in their quest to hang on to what little deficit there was. Liam Bowes was influential in the middle of the park and when the opposition ventured into the final third we dealt with all that they threw at us. This is when Kerry Moralee came into his own as he pulled of a string of good saves, blocks and punches to thwart the away team and this didn’t go unnoticed by them as he picked up Newton Aycliffes MOM award.

Liam Burn received an injury when he clattered into Hightower during one of the defensive blocks and Simon Bourne came on and immediately slotted in to bolster the defence.

Although we were pretty much on the back foot from time to time in the second half our forwards did try to hold the ball up whenever possible but I think the fact that we had gone so long without a game and so many lads playing out of position didn’t help our cause at all.

JC, another long term injury casualty came on for the last 13 minutes and it was good news to have him back. Hope there are no recuperations from his run out.

The visitors did have a very healthy squad and there was nearly as many committee men for them as we had players available and I was informed that they had 8 players missing themselves. The Aycliffe lads all came back for a drink which was top drawer although I did take a bit of stick from them about my training top. Beamish Museum and Vintage were words that were used quite frequently but I can weather that. I cannot wait for the return fixture and I might even stand behind our goal to put them off a bit ha,ha!!