Ashington 1(0) Wideopen 0

The trip to Ashington, a team who lost their first points of the season last weekend and drubbed Wideopen 5:0 earlier on in the season at Lockey Park would not normally be a Thursday night to be relished, but with 14 players in the squad for the game and improved performances in the last couple of games, the Wideopen lads approached the game with a fighting mindset. They also took very much to heart their manager's team talk at the start of the game pointing out that its all well scoring 4 goals but if you concede 8 (see Wideopen - Cramlington report) the goals scored don’t matter. So from the off, even though under a lot of pressure, the whole team (as opposed to the usual 4 defenders) defended doggedly and made Ashington scrap for every yard they pushed forward. Ashington did look dangerous and threatened on occasions but did not create any clear cut chances in the first 25 mins, a marked improvement from the Cramlington game. Before Andy Croney was called on to perform his usual heroics saving one-on-one when an Ashington striker raced through clear on goal, it was Wideopen who created a clear goal scoring opportunity first, from a long throw in. Andy Carling found himself unmarked at the far post, put did not manage, despite two attempts to squeeze the ball past the very alert Ashington keeper. Thus, what proved Wideopen's only real chance in the game had gone. However, pretty soon so was the half time whistle. A good feeling amongst the team, praise from the manager and the lads started the second half exactly where they left off in the first. From the strikers pressuring the ball high up the pitch, through the midfield and defence tackling, scrapping and covering each other - this was the performance of the season by a country mile from Wideopen. Ashington at times, restricted to long shots and long balls over the top, looked dangerous but couldn’t create that clear cut chance. Andy Croney was on hand to tip a couple of smashing long range efforts past the post. It was in the 68th minute that the ref decided to step in and help his local team, still battling for the league title, to break the deadlock. A dubious penalty for the ball bouncing of Pete Wright's hand and the result stood at 1:0 to the hosts. The game did not change much from then on in, the hosts pushed on to kill the game, but for all their endevour and increasing shot stats (I stopped counting past 20) the efforts on target were few and far between. Unfrotunately as nervousness creeped in to the home team with minutes to go and the game unsettled Wideopen still couldn’t find an opportunity to threaten Ashington's lead. Stephen Passey's run past a couple of defenders ended in a last ditch tackle blocking his shot just as he looked set to finally test the Ashington keeper in the second half. Overall have to say that the downside of the great defensive performance by the lads was that even in the last minutes our challenge for a goal never materialised. Still, if it wasn’t for the Ref… (heard that before havent we?).

Wideopen 4(1) Cramlington Jnrs 8 (4)

The league leaders brought only 10 players to Wideopen and started the game quite cagey because of that fact. Last meeting between the teams ended in a 9:2 drubbing for Wideopen but the hosts man advantage meant that Cramlington allowed Wideopen to play sitting off in midfield and looking for quick counters rather than their usual possession patinet passing game. What resulted was a game open beyond any expectations. Cramlington quickly struck on the counter and went 1:0 up. Wideopen looked dangerous going forward but always failed to capitalise on numbers in the final third. For this they were brutally punished as two more goals for a now much more settled Cramlington team and the game looked over. Wideopen continued to go forward and finally began to create chances and while Rob Burn and Rob Matthewson were denied by the Cramlington keeper, finally a nice flowing move was finished for a deserved goal by Rob Burn playing his first game this season as a striker. Unfortunately, Wideopen were again punished for giving the ball away too easily when going forward and the half time score was 1:4.
After half time the hosts took control of the game. For a period of 20 minutes the league leaders were reduced to knocking the ball out of their own half and while Andy Croney once again had to make a few great point-blank stops when Cramlington broke, it was Wideopen who pushed, created chanced and most importantly converted. Great work by Rob Burn in pressing the defence resulted in Rob Matthewson landing the ball in the net and a couple of minutes later a great crossfield ball spread the Cramlington defence thin and an unmarked Andy Carlin chipped the advancing Cramlington goalkeeper. At 3:4 and with Wideopen in the ascendancy the game suddenly looked there for the taking. However, all credit to the league leaders, at the crucial time they upped their game, and changed tactics putting a lot more pressure on the Wideopen defence and midfield than before. Unfortunately this resulted in mistakes from the home team who, when under pressure, were not so comfortable in possesion any more. When Andy Croney tipped a goalbound low-skidding shot past the far post to keep his team in it, the alarm bells were ringing. Iin a devastating 8 minute spell Cramlington scored 3 goals which put the game to bed and sapped the energy out of the Wideopen players. Andy Croney had to make a couple more great one-on-one saves to keep the conceded tally "reasonable" and Wideopen finally picked themselves up from the shock and once again went forward. David Burden fired over the bar, but 5 minutes later Bobby Fitzpatrick sent a beautiful 25-yard curler into the top corner and the result stood at 4:7!! There was still enough time for more.. David Burden went on a run through three opposition defenders that Leo Messi would not be ashamed off and then ... blazed over the bar when it looked certain either him or Ross Kirkwood at the far post have to score. In stoppage time the scoring was finally concluded with an eight goal for Cramlington ending the goalfest on 12 and settling the scoreline on 4:8. To be honest, if it had ended 10:20 nobody would have had cause for complaint.

Seghill 3 (1) Wideopen 2 (0)

The bottom of the table clash was Wideopen's last chance to climb of the foot of the table and have a chance of avoiding finishing last in the league. Having led 3:1 in the reverse fixture earlier on in the season and thrown it away for a 3:3 draw the lads were hoping to get their first win of the season after improved performances especially at the back.
However, the game started really badly, as within 2 minutes of kick off, a corner and a back post header and Seghill were one up. As usual, a lack of proper warm up, and relaxed attitude means we concede a goal before we get out of the blocks. The remainder of the first half was absolutely woeful by the visitors who were lucky to go in at the break only one behind with Seghill missing chances and Andy Croney in goal as always doing his bit to keep the conceded goals tally to a minimum.
The second half performance was finally a better one, the game evened out, a with one goal in it both teams were looking to get the next one, it went the way of Seghill through a cracking strike from 20 yards, when a clearance out the box fell to a Seghill player who wasn't closed down quick enough (another hindrance for us through the season). Finally though Wideopen made their improvement pay, as a free kick curled to the far post was met by a diving Rob Mattheson header and at 1:2 Wideopen looked in the ascendancy. Unfortunately didn't last long as a moment of madness meant that Wideopen lost a player and continued with 10 against 11. All credit to the team for continuing to put  pressure on Seghill and searching for the equaliser however this meant that the back four was reduced to three as players pushed forward and with the defensive midfielder off the pitch Seghill finally found a counter attack move that finished with the numerical advantage paying off, an unmarked player heading the ball into the net from 5 yards.
Wideopen continued to press and Seghill continued to counter for the remainder of the game and 4 mins from time Nathan McDermott was brought down in the box, got up and dispatched the penalty into the net.
The Seghill defence held firm for the remnder of the game and Wideopen look set for the wooden spoon at the end of the season.

Wideopen 1(0)  Whitley Bay FC 4 (1)

The home game against Whitley Bay provide plenty of goalscoring action at both ends. It had been a long time since Wideopen created so may clear cut chances, and unfortunately because of it probably forgot how to take them. Whitley Bay dominated from the off, and got a goal for their efforts, however once at 1:0 they lifted their foot of the gas and Wideopen came into the game a bit more. Towards the end of the first half there were goalscoring opportunities at either and, with Andy Croney frustrating Whitley Bay on a number of occasions.
Second half started as the first one finished, a very open game with Andy Croney once again saving one on one and tipping a couple of efforts round the post, while Wideopen begun to probe and open the Whitley defence up as well. Whitley got the goal first going up 2:0 and once again looked to settle but Wideopen looked for a goal that would get them back in the game. Andy Carling's far post header hit the post and from the rebound 5 yards out Nathan Mcdermott fired wide, Ross Kirkwood was brought down in the box but a dubious decison by the ref (Wideopen's manager M. Pempkowiak) denied his team a pen, and a few minutes later the Whitley Bay upright was left rattling but the goal came at the other end. Whitley Bay finally found a way past Andy Croney, who at this point was into double digits for outstanding saves, and at 3:0 the game was all but over. Credit to the hosts as the kept on searching for a way back, and the game became an end to end thriller. Wideopen finally got the goal they deserved, Ross Kirkwood slotted in after a goal mouth scramble but the Wideopen team then ran out of legs to continue to press. The last ten minutes Whitley Bay pressed and only thanks to some dogged defensive work and stops from Andy Croney which had the Whitley Bay striker holding head in hands not believing they hadn't scored. The result did not change until the last minute.

Wideopen 0 Seaton Burn 3 (1)

After their early season drubbing at Seaton Burn, where Wideopen were beaten 8:1 it looked like the visitors came with a confidence that this would be a similar result. The early pressure put on them by Wideopen seemed to push Seaton into a state of shock. Rob Matthewson fired a header over the bar and Wideopen looked dangerous until after 13 minutes. Seaton Burn broke through with their first real attack of the game and went one up. This in turn seemed to rattle Wideopen, as they lost their way. Not much happened for the rest of the half, a couple of chances created by both teams, most noticable for Wideopen Steven Bamford running down the right flank only for his cross to be blocked last second at the near post when it looked like a far post tap-in would level the scores to one each.
Second half Wideopen finally shook off the shock of being behind in the game and went about looking for the equaliser. However, for all the balls that were put in the Seaton Burn box from corners and Ross Kirkwood's long throws little effect in terms of clear chances was produced. Wideopen's inability to create was punished as Seaton got a second goal, and then controlled the game till the end managing to nick another goal minutes from time. A result slightly harsh on Wideopen as their defensive performance was actually good. However, cramps towards the end of the game once again showed the team is lacking fitness to batle the full ninety minutes resulting in last minute goals being conceded.