Classic Matches
Some of the matches from our not-so-glorious past
K.P. Rangers v Jarrow Visage
12/9/1996, Quarry Lane
Business Houses League
It wasn`t always like it is now. We didn`t always have your superstar players, or your squad rotation systems to rely on. Once-upon-a-time we had John Egan, and that was as far as it went. Nine league matches had went by, and Jarrow Visage were still searching for that elusive first victory. Fortunately, we faced KP Rangers, who were also a new club for this season, 1996-7, and were looking for their first points.
Not many of the 11 starting that day still remain with the club. Malcolm Hobbs was team manager, and the team had Paul Horne, one time Longship secretary, and now Dougies XI goalkeeper at centre-half and Gary O'Doherty in midfield. Lee Sutton started the game, but the team could still afford the luxury of having the likes of Dodge and David Whitehead on the bench.
The game started frantically with both sides realising this was a golden opportunity to break their ducks. Within ten minutes a scrappy goal from a corner put KP in front, only for Lee Allan to pounce on an error at the back to equalise for Visage mid-way through the first half. The half continued cautiously, with neither side wanting to give an inch. At half-time, the score remained 1-1.
The side were forced into changes when goalkeeper John Selkirk announced he was unable to continue after picking up a knock in the first half. Gavin McDonald was forced to take the gloves, and John Gibson was brought on in Selkirk's place. The second half exploded into life when Lee Sutton struck to give Visage the lead after 60 minutes. The Jarrow boys started to sense a first win may be on the way, and this may explain the attrocious defending that gave away two goals within three minutes with only ten minutes to go.
A sickly feeling was beginning to sink into the Visage players, perhaps thinking they had blown it. K.P. battled to hold on to their lead as if they were fighting for their lives, and they held firm until the 88th minute, when Lee Newman notched to send the Visage sideline delirious. Just when it began to look as if a draw was on the cards, a through ball by debutant Andrew Purvis sent Newman clean through in injury time. He calmly lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper's head to give Visage the lead, and to send the management team wild. K.P. barely had time to kick off before the referee blew for full-time.
It could easily have been thought that Visage had just won the League by the celebrations at the end. Hobbs arranged a celebratory booze-up in his flat that night, where the entire squad took turns playing on FIFA96 on the Mega-Drive, recreating the day's events.
VISAGE: Selkirk (Gibson J. 45), Purvis, Burnham, Hewitt, Horne (Gibson M. 76), O'Doherty, Allan, Sutton, King, McDonald, Newman. Subs not used : Kerr, Whitehead, Egan, Winter.
Carpet Warehouse v Jarrow Visage 28/2/1999, Quarry Lane Dave Foster Cup Semi-Final After early fears that the atrocious weather conditions that caused many Sunday morning matches to be postponed or abandoned would cause this Semi-Final to be postponed, match referee Phil Law reassured the two teams, who of course were keen to play. Carpets won what everyone thought would be a vital toss and decided to kick with the wind for the first half, hoping the wind would drop for the second 45. After an even first ten minutes, Carpets began to make better use of the wind and forced some early corners, one of which was headed in for the opening goal by Brian Tully. Visage, not panicking, continued to plug away, and Gary Scott spurned a good chance by shooting straight at the keeper when he beat the Carpets offside trap. Carpets continued to press for a greater lead to take into the break, and a slip by Andrew Purvis almost let in Carpets forward Gary Blythe, but his shot was well saved by keeper Gary Deans. Visage began to come back into the game, and chances were missed by Lee Allan and Gary Scott. Carpets looked to be taking a one goal lead into the break, but Gary Scott nipped in between a Warehouse defender and keeper to poke in the equaliser five minutes before the interval. The Carpets players began to feel the pressure of the tie, and referee Law had to calm down the players for use of foul language. Carpets looked to be through for another goal on the stroke of half time, but a well-marshalled Visage offside trap kept them out. The sides went in at half-time all square, but Visage were the happier of the two with the prospect of a strong wind behind them. Early in the second half, a Visage corner appeared to blow straight into the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for a push on the keeper by Scott. Visage continued to press for a goal, and with plenty of possession being won by midfield duo Smith and Dematas, a goal looked likely. The goal finally came from Lee Allan, who cut inside the full-back to put in a ball which looked suspiciously like a cross, but which flew in over the stranded keeper. Visage continued to look for further goals to secure the tie, but Carpets began to look very dangerous on the counter-attack. Much of the Warehouse play involved their wingers, but Steve Elliott gave a very solid display at right-back to keep out the the threat. Tackles began to fly in to keep out a Carpets equaliser, and Gary Scott picked up a booking for a mis-timed challenge. A last minute challenge by Purvis made up for his earlier slip when he blocked a goal-bound shot, and the final whistle blew to put Visage into their first cup final. VISAGE: G Deans, S Elliott, K Elliott, Purvis, K Deans, G Smith, Allan, Dematas, Scott, D Smith, McDonald. Sub not used: Sutton
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