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Gillford Park entered this game noticeably unwary. Having to compete with the absence of nine regular first-teamers; Jack Twentyman, Danny Palmer, Mark Butler, Ally Lang, Robbie Short, Craig Thompson, and long term absences Craig Foster, Marc Green and Chris Grainger; talk before the game was of such upsets as Hartlepool v Newcastle and Morecambe’s exploits in this seasons League Cup. A largely changed side was fielded, with Dean Lamonby – who made a number of appearances at the tail end of the last campaign – starting his first game of the season for the club, while Workington Reds’ Dave Renyard ran out in the Number 7 jersey. On the bench, manager Jimmy McMurdo was forced to list himself and sort-of step-son Liam Dawson, while Kevin Dowell and Carl Campbell filled the further two spots. Both sides were eager to attack, with Alnwick determined to add to the nine goals scored the previous weekend and Gillford undaunted by their top-of-the-table opposition, and after two minutes a long throw into the box by Ian Brooks was headed upfield and the catalyst to a team effort involving nine players through the midfield, but Rayson was kept from opening the scores by the linesman’s flag. Gavin Armstrong, reclaiming his place in the Gillford goal, was called upon after five minutes when a long-kick from Alnwicks custodian, Brian Brooks, set up the chance for Patterson to shoot from twenty-yards but the weak shot bobbled its way along the ground to Armstrong who dealt easily with the effort. On the ten minute mark the game saw it’s first card, as young Dan Rayson was shown yellow for dissent, and a minute later the visitors again tested Armstrong, as Radek Rakocinski squared the ball to dangerman Richard Brown after a strong run, but Browns shot was mishit from six yards out. Gillford levelled the stats on the quarter-hour mark when Andy McClelland’s cross was headed out for a corner just before Lee Otway could connect, before Dave Renyard headed over from close range. They were made to rue the missed chances just one minute later, as James Jeffery headed Polish defender Matti Halambliec’s inch-perfect cross past Gavin Armstrong, to open the scoring from eight-yards. As many feared it might, this seemed to will Alnwick on to a second and, sensing blood they pressed forward. True to form, they scored with their next attack two minutes later, as Matti Halambliec added to his assist with a shot from twenty-eight yards, which squirmed its way under Armstrong’s body to double the advantage. The dominance was only temporary, however, and just two minutes later only an excellent save by Alnwicks Brian Brooks kept Darren Addison from reducing the deficit after Stuart Moffats cross was headed out to the midfielder. And, after a period of sustained pressure, they made their first inroad on Alnwicks lead with twenty-six minutes played when a move down the left was laid in to Darren Addison, who looked up, saw Otway in space and played him in to score from six yards. The goal was just the catalyst for the home sides comeback, and the job was completed nine minutes later when a long ranging cross from Dean Lamonby was driven into the bottom right corner Dave Renyard, from the edge of the box. Despite having fought back from two-nil and a potentially damning situation, Gillford were now not contented with the stalemate and continued to attack their previously free-scoring opposition, realising that even at an under-strength they could still better the visitors. After forty-minutes, a succession of attacks led to a corner by Stuart Moffat, and in the ensuing scramble the ball was poked goalwards whereupon Renyard was able to jump and flick the ball inside his trailing leg and between the diving ‘keeper and the outstretched leg of a lunging defender to find the back of the net. In the final few minutes Alnwick were on top, but could find no way to the back of the Gillford goal despite Richard Brown forcing a good save from close range after a through ball by Rakocinski, and Gavin Keen heading over from Ian Brooks left-field cross, and the sides trotted off the field having just played out the opening act of a stunning comeback. However determined, Gillford, fielding a more defensive squad with couldn’t continue the resurgence into the second period and spent twenty-minutes pinned inside our own half, with the only chance in the opening stages a shot by Lee Otway after a well-flighted cross by Dave Renyard, but despite going close on plenteous occasions Alnwick were also unable to alter the scores. And just as in the first half, one side was made to rue their missed chances as the other doubled the advantage, but on this occasion it was Gillford, and Tom Brocklebank, celebrating. Lee Otway’s original shot was well saved by the Black and Whites custodian Brooks, but the rebounded ball was returned to the box by Dean Lamonby and Brocklebank headed past the ‘keeper from close range. With half-an-hour played Alnwick nearly got one back as a good passing movement released Town’s Number 7, Gavin Keen, and only a last ditch tackle kept him from scoring. Five minutes after the scare, Gillford all but wrapped up the game courtesy of Lee Otway, as a ball from the left found the top scorer on the edge of the box, and he moved toward the goal past one defender before shooting high and above the keeper as Neil Catlow moved in to dispossess him. With just seven minutes left Alnwick saw their penultimate effort from the left edge of the box sail wide under the watchful eye of Gavin Armstrong, while Dan Rayson went close a number of times. Stuart Moffats cross found the young striker running but his weak shot could not trouble Brooks in the away goal, while shortly after he stole possession on the right hand of the box, moved past two defenders and his high shot was excellently palmed from beneath the crossbar by the visiting custodian and cleared out for a corner. It was from this corner that The Park rubbed salt into an already sodium-filled wound as, having already equalled the stat, they exceeded the total amount Alnwick had conceded in the previous seven games. Stuart Moffats flag-kick was played on by the visitors first-man and popped up sweetly for Brocklebank on the left corner of the six-yard box, and he skilfully turned and rifled the ball high and into the top right corner. In the dying stages there were chances for Dan Rayson and Andy McClelland, and a shot for Alnwick that was too high to trouble Armstrong, and at the end of an entertaining, fruitful, well-referee’d and sun-bathed game there were smiles in abundance.
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