GILLFORD PARK FC
Gillford Park Stadium, Carlisle and District Railway Club, off Petterill Bank Road, Carlisle, CA1 3AF
Tel: 07717 103666 (Secretary)

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9th September 2007
Alnwick defeated by ruthless Park

Mike Linden - you are not welcome at Gillford Park FC. The first game our devoted secretary missed this season saw a weakened Gillford Park destroy league leaders Alnwick Town, six-two. Before the game, Alnwick had conceded only six goals in the seven league games so far. Gillford matched that in one afternoon.

Jimmy McMurdo's free-scoring side had to contend with the absence of no less than ten first team players and in the second half the manager was forced to field himself, yet in fried-egg-on-the-pavement conditions Gillfords everywhere was too hot to handle for Alnwicks everywhere.

The visitors, themselves admittedly without four or five regulars, took the lead after sixteen minutes and doubled the advantage shortly after, but there were no further goals to add to Jeffery and Halambliec's early marks, with Gillford fighting back to level the scores ten minutes before half-time and grabbing a third in the final stages - the first from Lee Otway and the latter pair courtesy of midfielder Dave Renyard.

The Black and Whites manager, Malcolm Belisle, no doubt had some choice words to say at half-time and he saw his side race out of the blocks in the early second half, but there was no way for them through to the Gillford goal and after riding the early storm the all-whites came out the other side stronger.

With twenty-minutes of the second half played Tom Brocklebanks header from Dean Lamonbys cross put the home side in a more commanding position and, fifteen-minutes later, Lee Otway added a fifth with a shot that found the roof of the net. To everybody's amazement, there was still room for one final goal as, in the fortieth minute, Tom Brocklebank scored again with a shot from close range.
 
As impressive a win as it is, it gives Jimmy some tough questions when pondering the teamsheet for this Saturdays game at Heaton Stannington. Do you stick with the team that just one six-two, or do you go back to what is thought to be your strongest side? Do you field a player on form, or ability? And should a player who has been playing well lose his place in the side because he missed one game? I'm glad it's not me that's got to decide!