No one seemed to know the referee! Was erratic but not too bad! Well, he gave the Breakers a penalty didn't he!
Under threatening sky, but with a slight but rising south-wester the game commenced very tentatively. AdCity seemed to settle earlier and were surprisingly pushing up quite early on. After 10 min. Newcastle found their feet and gained some composure, but there were momentary lapses in the defence. One of these allowed AdCity to slam home a goal. This was followed by a period when Liam Baker was called on to again prove he has the makings of a fine keeper when he took several balls well, and palmed away an absoloute screamer.
Newcastle Breakers (NB)realised that the ball should be down the other end, and Petkovic was forced to make 2 great saves at that end. AdCity thought likewise and one well struck shot skewed of Liam Baker's left upright. Both teams swung the ball around well, with AdCity making some nice interchanges. At the 40m AdCity slammed a ball off the NB wall, only to have some strong pressure at the other end only minutes later. The first half was mainly ordinary but end to end stuff. Both teams were trying to drive through the middle, and neglecting the flanks.
At half time El Tetley Tea was introduced to the crowd and there was a pitch invasion by some rough looking types in pukey green strips, claiming to be some team called The Rowdies, but that is another story!
The second stanza (god I sound like an ABSW journo!) started like the first but the Breakers seemed a bit more committed. At last NB found how to get behind the best defence in the EC. When Bennett pounced on a ball loose in the box, Petkovic tried to grab it from his feet, but Bennett stuck in there, and as a defender tried to assist his Goalie he impeded Bennett - the Ref. pointed to the spot and young McGuire slotted it well past Petkovic.
Well now it was on for 'young and all'. AdCity was getting out of their half fast but losing it on approach to goal. The Breakers were applying the can opener to the AdCity defence, with change of pace and direction, small lobs, and dummy runs. AdCity's top defence was backpedalling before an agressive and inventive NB. After the 65m though, despite lots of possession the Breakers couldn't get clear shots on target, and AdCity started to push back up the park. They failed to use width, and paid for it by being funnelled by the NB midfield and defence. Rowdies favourite Harry james came on for Bennett, but couldn'e make a breakthrough. At the end though it was all Newcastle, but another flaming DRAW!
Best: AdCity - Petkovic (in better form than Kalac), Tobin, Menillo.
Breakers: Ironside, Pryce, Baker, Halpin.
May I say that I was very impressed by the Breakers setup and especially the crowd. Thanks for your hospitality and welcome.