Date: Saturday 30th November 2024, 12:15
MOM: Harry Bell
Goals: Heayns, Hawkins
YNE North East Men's Division 2
Stokesley Men’s 2s delivered a hard-fought performance on Saturday, securing a well-deserved draw against a spirited Morpeth 2s side. Despite moments of adversity, Stokesley showed resilience, skill, and determination in an entertaining encounter.
The match began with Stokesley asserting control, dominating possession, and moving the ball confidently across the pitch. Morpeth struggled to gain a foothold as Stokesley dictated the tempo, but despite their early dominance, clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
Against the run of play, Morpeth opened the scoring. A hopeful ball into the D slipped past the defence, leaving keeper Matt Hibbert with the sun in his eyes and facing a tricky save. Despite an acrobatic effort—described as his “best ballet impression”—the ball eluded him, and Morpeth took an unlikely lead.
Unfazed, Stokesley responded with composure and continued to control the game. Their persistence paid off when a ball into the D caused chaos in the Morpeth defence. Harry Bell's initial effort was blocked by a defender, and his follow-up shot was saved by the keeper, but captain Heayns was on hand to calmly slot home the rebound, levelling the score at 1-1.
Stokesley maintained their dominance as the first half progressed, with the midfield linking up superbly to keep Morpeth on the back foot. Just before half-time, Bell produced a moment of magic, embarking on a mazy run from the halfway line. Weaving through defenders, he cut across the goal and unleashed a reverse stick shot destined for the net—only for Hawkins to pop up at the last moment and finish from just six inches out, ensuring Stokesley went into the break with a 2-1 lead.
The second half saw Morpeth step up their intensity, applying a high press that put the Stokesley defence under sustained pressure. The backline, marshalled by Scott and ably supported by Coates, Adam, and Armitstead, stood firm, repeatedly thwarting Morpeth’s overloading attacks.
However, the game became increasingly physical, and two late green cards for Stokesley’s youngsters added an extra layer of tension to the closing stages. Reduced to 10 men for brief spells, Stokesley had to dig deep to hold their ground.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Morpeth earned a short corner that would prove decisive. Scott, who had bravely charged down three earlier attempts, was unlucky this time as the ball deflected off his stick straight to a Morpeth player positioned perfectly on the post. Without needing to move, the Morpeth forward tapped it in to level the score at 2-2.
Stokesley pushed forward in search of a late winner, but the final whistle blew with the scores locked. Both sides could take pride in their efforts, with the draw a fair reflection of a game that showcased competitive hockey at its best.
This was a game of two halves, with Stokesley dominating the first and Morpeth fighting back in the second. Despite the late equaliser, Stokesley can take many positives from this performance, including their ability to control the game against a high-pressure opponent.
With lessons learned and confidence intact, the team will look to convert these hard-fought draws into victories as they prepare for their next challenge.
Next game: Marton Furness M2 - Home (Saturday 7th December 2024, 10:15 push back)
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