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The
Doncaster Mustangs and Merseyside Nighthawks clashed at Birkenhead Park, with
the Nighthawks looking to turn their first home game of the season into their
first victory.
The match started cagily. As the
offenses looked to get in to gear, the defenses of both sides forced punts. In
such a tight match, turnovers are key and this game proved to be no exception
as rookie end Karl Smither recovered a fumble to give the Nighthawks excellent
field position at the Mustang 23 yard line. Running back Ben Kamara signalled
his intent by picking up 9 yards on a sweep and, two plays later, he swept in
from 9 yards out to give the Hawks a 6-0 lead. The two point conversion attempt
was unsuccessful and on the ensuing drive the Mustangs looked to get back into
the game through the powerful running of Joey Fabrizio. Despite a 13 yard gain
from Fabrizio, Merseyside held firm and forced a punt to end the first quarter.
The second quarter proved as close as
the first. Both defenses were proving tough nuts to crack, each team trading
punts, but it was Doncaster who were next to find the end zone. Stopping
Merseyside on fourth down gave them the ball on the Nighthawks 39. Two
scrambles from the appropriately named quarterback Graham Lightfoot drove them
down the field and Lightfoot found receiver Paul Oates for the touchdown. The
kick was no good and the teams were level at 6 all.
The Nighthawks needed to respond and,
though it seemed unlikely after quarterback Tim Parr was sacked for a 6 yard
loss on second and 8, he promptly found wideout Andy Dyson for 16 yards, before
finding Dyson on third down again, the wideout fending off three would-be
tacklers on his way to the end zone for a 40 yard score. Ben Kamara tacked on
the deuce and the Nighthawks were up 14-6.
The Mustangs returned the ensuing
kickoff to their own 30, but two unsportsmanlike conduct on the Nighthawks saw
them start their next drive from the Mersey 30. Lightfoot took full advantage,
finding Paul Weston for a 17 yard score, and Doncaster swept in to tie the game
at 14.
Once again, the Hawk offense went to
work, a combination of Kamara’s running and Joe Black’s receptions putting them
in the red zone before Parr found receiver Neil Jones in the end zone to put
the Nighthawks up 20-14 at the half.
After this scoring flurry, normal
service was resumed in the third quarter, each offense looking to build but
each defense standing firm. Running back Ben Kamara kept coming though and,
midway through the quarter, raced away for a 46 yard score. Now 26-14 up, the
Nighthawks scented blood when middle linebacker Craig Pennington and defensive
end Simon McHardy teamed up for a sack and, on the very next play, McHardy blew
through the line to block the punt.. However, free safety Chris Swinbourne
picked off Parr and returned the pick all the way. The successful conversion
reduced the arrears to 26-21 as the teams entered the fourth quarter.
The
Mustangs managed to maintain their momentum going into the final period,
forcing the turnover on downs before Fabrizio gave them the lead, bulling his
way in from 5 yards out. The extra point attempt hit the post, giving Doncaster
a slender advantage at 26-27.
On their
next drive, Doncaster stretched their lead further, running back Jeremiah
Jordan sweeping in for 6 points, Lightfoot adding a two point conversion on the
keeper to put Doncaster up 26-35. Needing two scores, the Nighthawks took to
the skies, Parr finding a double covered Joe Black for a 30 yard reception
before going back to TMFT game MVP Joe Black for 10 more. The Mustangs forced
another turnover on downs and, although the Nighthawks defense forced a quick punt
to give him the ball back, Swinbourne came up with another crucial pick for the
Mustangs to give them a 26-35 victory.
Joe Black - the TMFT MVP.
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The Nighthawks continue their quest
for their first win of the season against the West Coast Trojans next Sunday
(7th June). Kickoff 2:30pm at Birkenhead Park
Images courtesy of Merseyside Nighthawks