8 Goal Thriller at Alnwick!

Alnwick Town 4-4 Brandon United A game of two halves this one me thinks... First half was mostly Alnwick who were playing some slick football and we wern't able to compete with them. Not only did they score three goals, but they also forced Tom Orton into a few excellent saves as well. BUT SOMEHOW (and I don't think that is being harsh...) we kept ourselves in the game first through a brilliant free kick from Anthony Phillipson that was fantastically headed home by Andrew Clarkson and then right on the stroke of half time following a good run and drilled pass from Shane Todd for Clarkson again to 'tap in'. 3-2 to Alnwick at half time.

Second half was a different story and we definitely shaded this half... We started well and had their defence turning and chasing after us.... but we kept on getting caught off-side. But we were patient and slowly but surely we were getting on top. The breakthrough came from an Alnwick throw in in their own half which we managed to knick off them. Luke Thompson threaded the ball through for Clarkson running into the box. I intially thought he'd taken too long but as the 'keeper came out to meet him, he fired the ball past him into the net for his hat-trick and made the score 3-3.

But being Brandon we dont make it easy for ourselves and let Alnwick back in the game just three minutes later and it was 4-3 to them. We piled on the pressure - all three subs were on the pitch now. We had the ball, we had the territory but we just wern't testing the 'keeper. The clock went into the 90th minute. We had a free kick. In it went, back out it came, but as Clarkson was about to challenge for the ball he was crudely blocked. Penalty!!! Up stepped Andrew Clarkson and 'calmly' slotted the ball past the 'keeper for 4-4.

There was still injury time to get through and Brandon being Brandon this was never going to be easy... Alnwick peppered the area for the last few minutes sending in cross after cross. They had a VERY good shout for a last ditch penalty themselves that was thankfully ignored by the ref. The last few seconds seemed like an eternity but eventually the final whistle came and we had a fantastic away point in a thrillin 4-4 draw. Well done lads and of course well done to Andrew Clarkson who was captain on the day and scored all FOUR of Brandon's goals.