DERBY DELIGHT FOR W.F.C.
Posted on Monday, 13 June | Comments
NEWS // 
A stunning come-from-behind performance has secured Wallsend FC derby-day honours with a 3-1 victory against Plattsburg-Maryland at Col Curran. In the first competitive clash recorded between the teams, a healthy number of supporters lined the field to get behind the teams and create an excellent atmosphere.
In the opening matches of the day, third grade competed well against their opponents to secure a very decent 2-2 draw. The second-half saw W.F.C. chasing the game at 2-1 down, but a long-range shot from James Devon chipped the goalkeeper to equalise the match. They could’ve gone on to win it, pushing hard for the winner and creating some half-chances, but in the end the team had to settle for the draw.
Reserves suffered a disappointing fate, falling to a 2-0 loss after some sloppy defending for the first goal, and a dubious penalty for the second, ended any hope of gaining a point out of the match. The team are still traveling well on the table, and need to boost up their consistency levels to stay there.
The main match of the day, the clash between local rivals in first grade, saw a heated and passionate affair with both teams intent on claiming local bragging rights. It was Plattsburg who secured the advantage going into half-time with a nice finish, but W.F.C. could count themselves a little unlucky to go in behind after an even first-half.
Coach Chris Gallagher offered a few words of encouragement to the boys, knowing they were close to an equaliser - and so it turned out. After receiving a through-ball, striker Anthony Koch brought the ball into the box where he was barged off it, a foul was given - a penalty you’d think - but the referee instead gave a free-kick right on the line of the eighteen-yard box. Justice was duly delivered when Trent Milton stepped up and buried the ensuing free-kick to make it 1-1 and anyone’s game.
Shortly thereafter, Mark Walker found himself on the end of headbutt from an opposition player after a minor altercation, seeing himself unluckily sent off for a second yellow card and the protagonist sent off with a straight red. Both teams found themselves with a bit of space and open field to use.
A huge turning point in the match occurred when Plattsburg were awarded a corner-kick from which a highly contentious, and quite honestly, a baffling decision was made to award a penalty to Plattsburg. All players and supporters clearly had little idea what had happened; the decision was very much against the spirit of the game with both teams contesting every loose ball honestly. However, a heroic save from Alex Balston, who has now saved his last four penalties, kept Wallsend locked at one apiece.
That miss took a visible toll on the Plattsburg players, and as W.F.C. took their break of luck with earnest, the game began to swing in their favour. Another corner-kick saw the next game-changer, when Luke Alexander crossed for Shayne Knight who buried a header unopposed into the back of the net to put Wallsend in the lead. It was his first ever senior goal, one that he celebrated with tangible passion and emotion.
With only minutes left, Wallsend were defending as a solid team to prevent any late equaliser, but as the ball broke to Alexander again, a counter-attack was launched. Alexander pushed hard down the left-wing and crossed superbly and unselfishly to Anthony Koch who put the game beyond doubt with a timely tap-in to make it 3-1. The excellent Wallsend faithful were rapturous, getting behind their team when they needed it most.
The match was a credit to the club, its players, supporters and everyone involved as it showed the type of passion and commitment the club has been built on for the last 124 years of existence. It was good to see the heart return.
RESULTS //
First Grade: Plattsburg 1 Wallsend F.C. 3
Reserve Grade: Plattsburg 2 Wallsend F.C. 0
Third Grade: Plattsburg 2 Wallsend F.C. 2
