Newmarket 2-3 Kirkley and Pakefield

Last Tuesday evening saw Kirkley & Pakefield FC in an away league match at Newmarket Town starting with an unchanged line-up as last Saturday. The match started at a very brisk pace on the very fast artificial 3G surface and the opening goal came with the homes team first real attempt at goal on 12 minutes when a low cross from Lewis Whitehead caught the defence in a mix up and the ball fell to Samuel Gomarsall to tap in. The ‘Royals’ were dealt a blow on 15minutes when an injury force Matty Brown to leave the field to be replaced by Kaiden Goldspink, it wasn’t until the 36th minute the ‘Royals’ came to life with Goldspink having their first shot on goal from 20yards, this was followed by a great shot from Cameron Russell that saw keeper Alex Archer pull off a fantastic one handed save, Hammond then headed over from the corner, another Lopez corner on 41minutes found Kaiden Goldspink who hammered the ball home from 12yards to bring the scores level, on 44minutes a good passing move saw Lopez under pressure fire just over.

On 50minutes Haverson made a good run from his our half into the opposition area only for the keeper to block his effort, then on 54minutes a well struck shot from 30yards by the ‘Jockeys’ Max Melanson was well saved by Adam Rix in the away goal. On 62minutes a powerful header by the ‘Jockeys’ Whitehead was well saved by Rix, then two minutes later Jack Herbert once again playing up front broke clear and ran towards goal calmly shooting passed the keeper to put the ‘Royals’ 2-1 in front. We then saw a superb shot from Russell hit the bar with Herbert heading the rebound over the bar. Herbert had a good chance to increase the lead on 75minutes when after a good build up by Soares and French saw him shot just over, in the 79th minute the home team had a free-kick some 30yards out this saw Michael Shinn fire the ball into the far post for Ben Robinson to header in and bring the scores level once again. On 85minutes Rix again saved well Melanson and also stopped the rebound, on 88minutes with the ‘Royals’ attacking Russell was brought down on the edge of the area, the Lopez taken free-kick was saved and put out for a corner from this Herbert headed in with Cameron Russell on hand to put the ball into the net for a last minute winner and three very welcome points.

KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD TEAM: A.Rix, C.Bell, G.Soares, L.Hammond, J.Herbert capt., O.French, H.Creamer, M.Lopez, C.Russell, M.Brown(K.Goldspink 15 Mins), J.Haverson. Subs Unused: G.Williams, M.Willis.

THE ROYALIST COLIN SMITH