Nighthawks v Senators Sunday August 16th 2009
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The Nighthawks faced off against the Senators looking to improve on the tie they had achieved in the North East and make it three wins on the run.
The away fixture had seen Merseyside claw back a 12 point deficit to tie but, back on home turf, they were looking to set the pace. Ben Kamara and Nate Hazell moved the ball on the floor and, with QB Andy Dyson finding WR Joe Black and TE Jason Elliott through the air, the Nighthawks exhibited their multifaceted offence to great effect. Dyson found Elliott for the score and, although the PAT was no good, Merseyside led 6-0.
The Nighthawks then forced a quick three and out but the well drilled Senators defence struck back, Andrew Sinclair picking off Dyson and returning the ball to the Mersey 8 yard line. QB Lee Fraser wasted no time finding Ross Elliott in the end zone and, the kick being good, Gateshead nosed ahead 7-6.
It was déjà vu all over again as a team went three and out before their D came up with the turnover but this time it was Merseyside who made the play, CB Neil Mingaud picking off Fraser and, though he had the end zone in his sights, the Senators managed to force him out at the 2. Cue yet another member of the Mersey backfield, RB Phil Brown, who made the most of good blocking from the O line as he went in for the score. The kick was good and an action packed first quarter came to a close.
There was no let up in the second quarter however as Senator RB Gavin Barr went to work, initially gaining 12 yards and, after QB Fraser had found WR Matt Long to move the chains on third down, Barr picked up 29 yards on the sweep. First and goal from the Mersey 2 and B made no mistake. The kick was good and the lead changed yet again as the score read 14-13 Gateshead.
The experienced Senators looked to stretch their lead and did so through Barr, who went in from five yards out, but the Nighthawks knew they had the larger squad, could rotate runners and, if the deficit could be kept to a score, were confident of coming back in the second half.
Gateshead had other ideas however, Ross Elliott picking Dyson to allow Fraser to find Robert Campbell for 15 yards before hitting him again for an 18 yard score. The successful PAT meant the Senators led 27-13 at the half.
Merseyside had come back from two scores before and showed they had lost none of their resilience, RB Nate Hazell blasting his way down the field and, although Dyson had to find TE Elliott to convert on fourth down he then hit Black for an 18 yard touchdown. The kick was good and the Nighthawks trailed by 7. Buoyed by the offence?s efforts, the D stepped up too; despite QB Graham Kelly finding deep threat Matt Long for 18 yards, the Mersey D were able to hold Gateshead to a field goal attempt. The kick was no good so it was Hawk ball once more, WR Tim Parr keeping the ensuing drive alive with a 10 yard reception on 3rd down as the quarter came to a close.
Being down by a single score meant that the Nighthawks could still run the ball and the balanced attack moved the ball down the field, Hazell playing like a man possessed and Parr moving the chains on third down once more, this time for twenty yards, no mean feat when facing impressive CB Ben Forster.
This set up first and goal from the 7 yard line and, though Dyson danced for four yards, a flag pushed the Nighthawks back. Senator lineman John Lockhart was injured on the play and the game was suspended until the ambulance returned. Fortunately (for both John and the other players) the hospital is only a short drive away so the game resumed fairly shortly afterwards. The Nighthawks found it difficult to regain their momentum though Hazell picked up 8 more on the ground, Forster picked Dyson on the 2 yard line, ending what proved to be Mersey's best chance to even the score.
The Mersey D forced a quick three and out, but CB/WR Darren Mould came up with two interceptions to thwart the Nighthawks hopes of making a comeback. Mould looked to be taking the second to the house before falling over 5 yards shy of the goalline. Unselfish Brian Westbrookesque gesture to enable Gateshead to run down the clock? Only Darren knows...
The Nightahawks mounted one final drive but time was against them and a highly entertaining game ended with the final score 27-20 to the Gateshead.
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