Queensgate Saturday, March 26th, 2011   Northern Counties East Premier Attendance: 259         Scarborough Athletic 0-1 Armthorpe Welfare
2010 /11

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In what is turning out to be a season to forget, Boro suffered yet another home defeat this time at the hands of Armthorpe Welfare at bitterly cold Queensgate. Manager Paul Olsson’s cause was not helped by an ever-mounting injury list, Mike Gibson, Denny Ingram and Brenton Leister were all missing, they were replaced by Gary Hepples, Richard Medcalf and Bill Law: Nick McNamara was still unavailable for selection due to a virus, and Ryan Blott only played with the help of painkillers for his foot injury. This meant a change of position for Josh Clayton, who moved to centre half, Armthorpe started the better and Craig Morley headed just wide, then Graham Botham made a tremendous goal saving tackle on Liam Gaughan after Boro’s offside appeals were waved away. Boro’s first chance fell to Chris Jenkinson but he headed wide a Richard Dunning free kick, then Law tried from distance but was well wide of the mark. Boro then nearly took the lead, Joel Hartley received the ball on the right, beat Danny Kirkland for pace before crossing, whether it was miss hit or not, the ball smacked against the post with visiting keeper Jamie Green well beaten. Six minutes later Boro should have scored, a lovely through ball by Graham Botham found Dunning, but with only Green to beat, he volleyed well past the post. Five minutes before the break, Armthorpe took the lead, once again hesitant Boro defending allowed Henry Sibenge a clear run on goal, and he despatched the ball into the back of the net, giving Tom Woodhead no chance. The second half started with Hartley prominent down the right, and he produced an excellent cross that was headed over by Jenkinson, then another cross by Hartley was deflected behind, from the corner Jenkinson’s powerful header was cleared off the line. Then Blott, who was clearly struggling with his injury, dispossessed Stuart Preston, but fired well wide, then Blott turned provider when he crossed for Medcalf but his shot was well over Green’s crossbar. Armthorpe were mainly playing on the break using the pace of their two forwards and it was one of these players who nearly extended the lead, Craig Wilkinson charged down Woodhead’s clearance, luckily for Boro he was able to grasp the rebound. Then Wilkinson again beat Boro’s attempts at playing offside, only a world-class tackle by Clayton kept Boro in the game. Boro made a substitution soon after with James Webb replacing Medcalf, and it was he who had Boro’s next chance, but he fired straight at Green As the game wore on the frustrations of Boro’s fans was more than evident, as they watched their team struggle to mount any serious pressure on the Armthorpe goal, only a header over by Blott from a Botham free kick. In the last minute Boro thought they had nicked an equaliser Blott followed up a blocked Frank Belt free kick, his powerful drive was turned in by Hepples, unfortunately he was flagged for offside. Not the result or the performance everyone was looking for, but the team need the support of the fans now more than ever, if we are to keep pulling in the right direction. Boro: Woodhead, Belt, Botham, Jenkinson (c), Clayton, Hepples, Hartley, Dunning, Blott, Medcalf (Webb 76) Law, Unused Subs: Ingram, Gravill, Barker, Booked: Clayton, Armthorpe Welfare: Green (c), Preston, Kirkland, Colbear, Dorgan, Buck, Muirhead, Morley, Wilkinson, Sibenge, Gaughan, Unused Subs: No Substitutes Goal: Sibenge 39, Booked: Dorgan, Kirkland, Attendance: 259 Referee: D. Storrie