Northern League Div 1
Norton & Stockton 0
Dunston UTS 5 (Morien 4, Thear)
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Dunston were on
their travels again, this time down to Teesside to face a Norton side who
currently sit third bottom in the League Table. Despite losing their management
team and most of the players who gained promotion last season, Norton have
pulled off a couple of outstanding results this time around and could not be
taken lightly. Dunston were still struggling to field a team with several
players missing and were forced to enlist the help of Kane Young who agreed to
come out of retirement. Manager Billy Irwin was without the services of Michael
Pearson, Kai Hewitson, Adam Wilkinson, Andy Clark, Luke Gilhespy and Craig
Hodgson but was boosted by the return of Liam Thear, Alex Francis, Dale Burrell,
Dale Pearson and Dan Smith.
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Dunston made a positive start and kept possession during the early exchanges on a greasy playing surface. On six minutes Dale Pearson burst through onto a good pass by Matty Fisher and his powerful shot beat keeper Michael Thackery only to crash back off the crossbar. After further Dunston pressure, Norton broke out on 12 minutes and only a timely intervention by Dan Smith prevented centre-forward Matt Wake from threatening Liam Connell’s goal. Two minutes later, Liam Thear made a great run on the right and cut into the box before setting up Malkie Morien who shot home for a well worked opener. 1 – 0 to Dunston.
Dunston made a positive start and kept possession during the early exchanges on a greasy playing surface. On six minutes Dale Pearson burst through onto a good pass by Matty Fisher and his powerful shot beat keeper Michael Thackery only to crash back off the crossbar. After further Dunston pressure, Norton broke out on 12 minutes and only a timely intervention by Dan Smith prevented centre-forward Matt Wake from threatening Liam Connell’s goal. Two minutes later, Liam Thear made a great run on the right and cut into the box before setting up Malkie Morien who shot home for a well worked opener. 1 – 0 to Dunston.
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With the boost of
the early lead Dunston were rampant and in the 16th minute Thear made
a penetrating diagonal run past three defenders and slotted a perfectly
weighted through-ball which Malkie Morien controlled before cleverly rounding
Thackery to pass into the unguarded goal, 2 – 0 to Dunston.
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Norton were shocked by these two quick goals and fell even further behind only three minutes later when Liam Thear exchanged passes with Alex Francis to glide past his marker and shoot left-footed into the corner of the net. 3 – 0 to Dunston.
Norton were shocked by these two quick goals and fell even further behind only three minutes later when Liam Thear exchanged passes with Alex Francis to glide past his marker and shoot left-footed into the corner of the net. 3 – 0 to Dunston.
The home side tried
to break out through Curtis Constantine but strong defending by Scott Martindale
and Gary Shaw ensured that Connell was not tested. On 29 minutes a Francis
free-kick saw a Thear header fly just wide with the keeper beaten. On 34 minutes
another flowing move from the visitors ended with a superb back-heel from Steven
Richardson to set Malkie Morien clear again and he made no mistake from close
range to complete his hat-trick. 4 – 0 to Dunston.
Though Norton were
trying hard to get back into the game, the Dunston midfield and defence were
putting in some determined challenges to maintain the upper hand. Despite
playing out of position, Dan Smith at right-back and Dale Burrell at sweeper,
were dominant. Matty Fisher was getting through some tireless work and Alex
Francis was pulling the strings in midfield and attack.
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Dale Pearson was
grafting hard up-front, even though he had not fully recovered from a bout of
flu and as usual Steven Richardson and Malkie Morien were causing problems for
the opposing defenders. When left-back Gary Shaw made a fine run on the left
after 41 minutes he was set-up by Dale Pearson and went past his marker to clip
over an excellent cross which was firmly headed past the helpless Thackery by
Malkie Morien. 5 – 0 to Dunston. In the closing
stages of the first-half Dunston continued to dominate a dispirited home side
but were unable to add to the score.
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Half-time Score: Norton & Stockton 0 Dunston UTS 5...
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In an attempt to
inject some fire into their play, Norton introduced substitute Jason Blackburn
at the start of the second-half and it almost brought an immediate reward when
he shot just over Liam Connell’s goal on 48 minutes. Two minutes later Morien
forced a right-wing corner at the other end and when Dale Pearson sent the
flag-kick to the far-post, Steven Richardson saw his header cleared off the
goal-line. In the 54th minute Norton’s Wake sent a powerful strike
towards goal but the effort flew straight at Connell who was able to gather
safely. On 70 minutes Richardson made a skillful run on the right but his
dangerous cross was scooped over by Morien.
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Five minutes later, Liam Thear hammered a low shot narrowly past the post after a fine run by substitute Michael Tucker. Norton almost grabbed a consolation goal on 77 minutes after a good run by Constantine saw Morrison Davies shoot over. In the next minute Dunston went close to extending their lead when Alex Francis was inches away from converting a low Richardson cross in the six-yard box. In the 79th minute Matty Fisher almost got on the score-sheet but his effort went just past the target. This proved to be his last contribution as he was replaced by Kane Young who came on to ensure that Dunston saw out the game without conceding in the last ten minutes.
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Five minutes later, Liam Thear hammered a low shot narrowly past the post after a fine run by substitute Michael Tucker. Norton almost grabbed a consolation goal on 77 minutes after a good run by Constantine saw Morrison Davies shoot over. In the next minute Dunston went close to extending their lead when Alex Francis was inches away from converting a low Richardson cross in the six-yard box. In the 79th minute Matty Fisher almost got on the score-sheet but his effort went just past the target. This proved to be his last contribution as he was replaced by Kane Young who came on to ensure that Dunston saw out the game without conceding in the last ten minutes.
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Dunston
Man-of-the-Match: Malkie Morien.
After scoring four goals, Malkie had to get the vote but in truth this was a
very strong team performance in which every player contributed. A true Dunston
style effort.
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Norton & Stockton Ancients: Thackery, Morley, Young, Laing, Mulligan, Poole, Martin, Cocks (Blackburn), Wake (Pennal), Constantine, Davies (Thwaite). Subs not used: Jackson, O’Brien.
Norton & Stockton Ancients: Thackery, Morley, Young, Laing, Mulligan, Poole, Martin, Cocks (Blackburn), Wake (Pennal), Constantine, Davies (Thwaite). Subs not used: Jackson, O’Brien.
Dunston UTS:
Connell, Smith, Shaw, Fisher (Young), Martindale, Burrell, Thear, Francis,
Richardson, Morien (Tucker), Pearson D. Subs not used:
Halliday.
.Referee, D. Woodward. Assistants, 0.Easson and J. Stephenson
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Match Pictures Can be viewed here
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Programme £1:00
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