Post by Grassroots on Apr 26, 2009 10:08:28 GMT
UCL Premier Division
Stewarts & Lloyds Corby 3 - 3 Newport Pagnell Town
Saturday, 25 April 2009
S&L will have to wait a little longer to celebrate their first Premier Division title after Newport Pagnell's late comeback took the title race into the season's final week.
One point from their two remaining matches will still complete the job for S&L who could still take the title without adding to their points tally if the three remaining games yield less than a ten goal movement in the goal difference in the Swans favour.
The Swans found the first half difficult with S & L long ball style of play due to them shooting down hill. It was very difficult for the defence to predict the bounce!
But it was Newport Pagnell that set the standard for a thrilling afternoon just two minutes in when the home defence failed to clear Scott Mulkern's right wing cross and Rob MacDonald drilled home a low shot from the edge of the box.
When S&L replied Paul Malone headed narrowly wide from a Mark Forbes corner.
After nine minutes there was further drama as referee Mark Wardell suffered a hamstring injury, and a nine minute delay ensued before Ian Burridge took over the whistle with an assistant recruited from the crowd.
The delay appeared to affect the Swans' concentration as S&L snatched the initiative in spectacular style.
The home side equalised after thirteen minutes. Malone won a challenge on the halfway line, Michael Byrne flicked on and Paul Caswell ran clear to shoot past Newport keeper James Howarth.
Five minutes later a foul on Caswell saw S&L awarded a spot kick which Byrne converted confidently.
With twenty minutes played the home side were two goals to the good. A right wing move saw Dom Johnson and Caswell combine to play Byrne clear to slot home his 29th goal of the season.
S&L were rampant down the slope with Caswell twice missing openings, Byrne clipping the top of the bar with a volley and Malone narrowly wide with a set piece header.
First half stoppage time saw Bruce save well from an Ed Matthews strike and a Forbes free kick find S&L skipper Chris Logan but his effort was narrowly wide.
Half Time 3-1
Newport almost reduced the arrears two minutes into the second period when Mulkern's cross to the near post find John Wrigglesworth whose effort was deflected wide, but Byrne could have finished the contest as he burst onto Logan's clearance only to lob over.
Newport had a goal disallowed when Darren Lynch was judged to be off side before Byrne again broke clear only for Bruce to pull off a fine save.
The Swans made substitutions and shuffled the pack as they sought a way back into the game and gained control of the second half. Unlike the long ball game S&L was playing in the first half the Swans knocked the ball about and played some nice football. At times we thought maybe they should just play the long ball down the slope but the passing game paid off for them.
After 76 minutes Newport were back in the hunt as a Danny Nicholls lay off found Darren Lynch who fired a fierce unstoppable shot beyond Richard Lavin into the top corner.
James prevented S&L from quickly regaining their two goal lead, saving well from Byrne after Tom Mills and Caswell combined.
With five minutes remaining Rob Tapp was well placed on the goal line to keep out Malone's far post header from a Forbes corner.
Then Rob McDonald beat the keeper to the ball for Rob to be floored by the keeper but the ref said no foul. Soon after the keeper was yellow carded for time wasting when taking a goal kick.
Deep into added time Nicholls had a chance, but Lavin tipped his effort round the post. With the contest in the fifth minute of added time Mulkern swung in the corner from the left and Lynch rose to head his 29th goal of the season and keep Newport alive in the title race, delaying S&L celebrations.
S&L: Richard Lavin, Aaron Davies, Chris Logan, Paul Malone, Mark Forbes, Paul Caswell, Dominic Johnson, Tom Mills, Michael Byrne, Steve Julian, Ed Matthews.
Newport: James Howarth, Alex Phillips, Drew Mitten (Jordan Spruce), John Thorpe, James Fletcher, Rob Tapp, Scott Mulkern, Richard Armstrong (Aidy Mann), John Wrigglesworth (Danny Nicholls), Darren Lynch, Rob Macdonald.
Stewarts & Lloyds Corby 3 - 3 Newport Pagnell Town
Saturday, 25 April 2009
S&L will have to wait a little longer to celebrate their first Premier Division title after Newport Pagnell's late comeback took the title race into the season's final week.
One point from their two remaining matches will still complete the job for S&L who could still take the title without adding to their points tally if the three remaining games yield less than a ten goal movement in the goal difference in the Swans favour.
The Swans found the first half difficult with S & L long ball style of play due to them shooting down hill. It was very difficult for the defence to predict the bounce!
But it was Newport Pagnell that set the standard for a thrilling afternoon just two minutes in when the home defence failed to clear Scott Mulkern's right wing cross and Rob MacDonald drilled home a low shot from the edge of the box.
When S&L replied Paul Malone headed narrowly wide from a Mark Forbes corner.
After nine minutes there was further drama as referee Mark Wardell suffered a hamstring injury, and a nine minute delay ensued before Ian Burridge took over the whistle with an assistant recruited from the crowd.
The delay appeared to affect the Swans' concentration as S&L snatched the initiative in spectacular style.
The home side equalised after thirteen minutes. Malone won a challenge on the halfway line, Michael Byrne flicked on and Paul Caswell ran clear to shoot past Newport keeper James Howarth.
Five minutes later a foul on Caswell saw S&L awarded a spot kick which Byrne converted confidently.
With twenty minutes played the home side were two goals to the good. A right wing move saw Dom Johnson and Caswell combine to play Byrne clear to slot home his 29th goal of the season.
S&L were rampant down the slope with Caswell twice missing openings, Byrne clipping the top of the bar with a volley and Malone narrowly wide with a set piece header.
First half stoppage time saw Bruce save well from an Ed Matthews strike and a Forbes free kick find S&L skipper Chris Logan but his effort was narrowly wide.
Half Time 3-1
Newport almost reduced the arrears two minutes into the second period when Mulkern's cross to the near post find John Wrigglesworth whose effort was deflected wide, but Byrne could have finished the contest as he burst onto Logan's clearance only to lob over.
Newport had a goal disallowed when Darren Lynch was judged to be off side before Byrne again broke clear only for Bruce to pull off a fine save.
The Swans made substitutions and shuffled the pack as they sought a way back into the game and gained control of the second half. Unlike the long ball game S&L was playing in the first half the Swans knocked the ball about and played some nice football. At times we thought maybe they should just play the long ball down the slope but the passing game paid off for them.
After 76 minutes Newport were back in the hunt as a Danny Nicholls lay off found Darren Lynch who fired a fierce unstoppable shot beyond Richard Lavin into the top corner.
James prevented S&L from quickly regaining their two goal lead, saving well from Byrne after Tom Mills and Caswell combined.
With five minutes remaining Rob Tapp was well placed on the goal line to keep out Malone's far post header from a Forbes corner.
Then Rob McDonald beat the keeper to the ball for Rob to be floored by the keeper but the ref said no foul. Soon after the keeper was yellow carded for time wasting when taking a goal kick.
Deep into added time Nicholls had a chance, but Lavin tipped his effort round the post. With the contest in the fifth minute of added time Mulkern swung in the corner from the left and Lynch rose to head his 29th goal of the season and keep Newport alive in the title race, delaying S&L celebrations.
S&L: Richard Lavin, Aaron Davies, Chris Logan, Paul Malone, Mark Forbes, Paul Caswell, Dominic Johnson, Tom Mills, Michael Byrne, Steve Julian, Ed Matthews.
Newport: James Howarth, Alex Phillips, Drew Mitten (Jordan Spruce), John Thorpe, James Fletcher, Rob Tapp, Scott Mulkern, Richard Armstrong (Aidy Mann), John Wrigglesworth (Danny Nicholls), Darren Lynch, Rob Macdonald.