My Matchday - 173 Metcalfe Park

Wolviston 1v3 New Marske SC (aet)
Wearside League Cup Final
14th May 2008
att. 180apx.
The Wearside League Cup Final produced an all Teesside affair, with Wolviston giving home advantage against newly crowned league champions New Marske Sports Club.
Wolviston is a small village and civil parish just outside Billingham within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, the village originates from Saxon times, believed to take its name from the wolves that populated the area.
The ground is found on Wynyard Road, a short distance from Wynyard Hall, the village cricket club resides next to the ground and shares the entrance and car park, there’s one main stand, decked out with about 80 red flip seats, with the dugouts to each side. The rest of the ground is open grass standing with refreshments courtesy of a gazebo and table arrangement, the changing rooms are next to the cricket ground and gain pitch access via a gate in the fence, the ground is separated by large connivers, enclosing the ground from the main road and the cricket pitch.
Wolviston FC have played in the Wearside League since 1988, winning the old 2nd Division Championship the following season, they’ve twice finished league runners-up, achieving most success in the Sunderland Shipowners Cup, winning it three times since the turn of the century.
This season has been a thriving one for Wolvo, beaten only once since November, the club have assembled a good squad and have improved as the season’s progressed; their opponents New Marske Sports Club have had an unbelievable debut season in the Wearside League, winning the title and the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup, now looking to add the League Cup and clinch the treble, as a tribute to such an achievement the Wolviston players lead a guard of honour as the players entered the field prior to kick-off.
The first half was a tight affair, the best chance falling to New Marske no.10 Anderson who nipped in between the defender and keeper but saw his toe-poke effort rebound back off the post, but before the break the home club took the lead, a clear handball in the box resulted in a penalty kick, which was dispatched by left back McPhillips.
The second half saw the champions pile on the pressure, trying to break Wolviston resolute defending as the home side trying to catch them out on the break. Two great saves from keeper Lawrence retained the goal advantage, it looked as if they had held on until the dying moments, when an almighty scramble in the box ended with Mackin’s shot going through a crowded box before nestling into the corner of the net. Seconds before the goal was scored, I spotted an official from the league with the cup in his hand, ready for the presentation, when the goal was scored he turned on his heels and took the trophy back indoors for safe keeping.
Extra time was only going to produce one winner, the momentum was with New Marske, and so it proved, taking the lead immediately from the restart, a great cross from Woods was met with a bullet header from Peggs, a great goal to win any cup final. Wolviston pushed for an equaliser but the treble was assured when Mackin got his second late on, beating the offside trap before lobbing the keeper, sparking celebrations amongst the New Marske players and supporters.
I felt a bit sorry for Wolviston, they worked hard, but as usually the case, in any level of football, the team at the top always seems to get the rub of the green. According to the ‘Manager and Assistant Column’ in the match programme, they’re boasting they have the best squad in Wolviston’s history, this along with the new superpower of New Marske, Whitehaven Amateurs and runners-up Jarrow FC, it promises to be an exciting season in 08-09, and one I’ll be personally following, with the football grounds of the Wearside League featuring on the 100FGC blog.

Ground no.173 – Metcalfe Park – Matchday Web album (13 pictures)