Published at 09:43, Friday, 12 March 2010

Despite being three months into the New Year, Stocksfield played only their second league game of 2010 on Saturday.

Stocksfield 1,

Cramlington Town 1

Earlier in the season Stocksfield left it late to claim a draw against Cramlington but this time out, with Stocksfield in a superior league position, they fancied their chances of claiming three points with home advantage.

Cramlington were first to venture forward, forcing Stocksfield to defend several long throws and corners inside the opening minutes.

The Tangerines eventually settled and began to string some promising football together, with the back four enjoying a lot of time on the ball.

Despite a couple of good moves Stocksfield couldn’t register an effort on target and really didn’t create anything of note.

The first half wasn’t one for the neutral as both sides looked fairly cagey and reluctant to play any expansive football.

Stewart and Barrett were isolated in attack and Cramlington were happy to see Stocksfield playing in front of them.

As the half progressed Stocksfield dropped deep and frustratingly seemed content to let Cramlington make the running.

The visitors had rarely looked like threatening Pete Adnitt’s goal but a long free-kick ended with Kieran Parsons heading the ball into the net.

Luckily for Stocksfield the referee adjudged Parsons to have fouled Adnitt and much to the annoyance of Cramlington, the goal was disallowed.

Stocksfield started the second half brightly and showed signs that they were willing to get more bodies forward.

An early break down the right found Stewart, who set the ball back for Barrett and with Vause lurking unmarked in the area, Barrett pulled his cross-shot wide of the angle.

Despite playing with a few more ideas, Stocksfield were still unable to register a shot on target.

Vause was replaced by Murray who picked up the quickest booking of all-time by a referee who was starting to lose his grip on the game.

Scott Douglas was also introduced into the action as he made his debut in the place of Barrett.

Fifteen minutes from time the referee awarded a penalty after Johnson and Stuart Heppell came together inside the area.

Johnson seemed to be in front of the striker and as he stretched to clear the ball Heppell fell over Johnson’s legs.

Despite Stocksfield’s protests the spot-kick stood and Heppell blasted the ball into the net to give Cramlington the lead.

Michael Henderson was brought into the action as Stocksfield still believed they had a chance of getting a goal as the visitors were starting to looked fatigued.

Douglas swerved a speculative effort away from goal and Stewart hit another effort over the bar as Stocksfield tried their luck from range.

With five minutes to go Douglas slipped a pass inside to Murray who had drifted in from the wing.

He struck the ball with the outside of his left boot and his effort beat the keeper and nestled in the corner of the net.

Stocksfield now felt they could go on and take maximum points and suddenly began to look like a different side, playing with urgency and interest.

Davies whipped a corner in which the keeper did well to cling onto and Below showed great energy to storm down the right but his promising run eventually fizzled out.

The referee called time on the game and the points were deservedly shared.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk