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Saturday 4th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 23rd February 2008
Truss 2 Frame almost beat the odds.
A reshuffle of fixtures to accommodate ERCFA Cup games saw Truss 2 Frame facing a potentially difficult game against a Pinefleet Wolfreton Reserves side who were keen to bounce back to winning ways after losing the week previous to Inter Charter FC who look to be closing in on the Premier Division title.
If top spot is beyond Pinefleet as a result of that defeat, then the runner-up position is there to be consolidated, but points need to be collected to fend off the challenges of Crown and Kingburn Athletic.
The form produced by Pinefleet was far from convincing against a Truss side who were let down by several player’s non-appearance and fielded a below strength side.
Pinefleet got off to a good start when John Longthorne’s superb through ball was coolly finished by leading scorer Graham Waudby after 10 minutes, but this setback did not deter Truss who caused the home sides’ defence all sorts of problems, especially from set pieces.
It was from a free kick that Liam Watson was left completely unmarked in the area and he slotted the ball home from close range, to tie the scores at the break.
Facing a stiff breeze on the resumption, Pinefleet had to play on the counter as Truss took the initiative. Pinefleet, however, can be dangerous when breaking at speed and regained the lead when Waudby turned provider to set up Owen Taylor for his first goal from the club after 60 minutes.
Truss again became the more dominant side and Pinefleet had to rely on keeper Gary Davies being at his best to protect their lead, and he made one memorable save from a free kick before he was beaten by a magnificent strike from 25 yards by Dane Watson.
In the latter stages of the game, Truss looked the more likely to take the lead as they continued to push forward, but Pinefleet, realising that a draw was of no real use to them introduced three attacking players off the bench and fortunately the move paid off as one of the substitutes, Mally Brown, scored from eight yards after good work by another substitute, Liam Stafford.
Pinefleet grabbed extra points that they probably did not deserve and it was rough justice on a determined Truss team.
Intrasource Mainbrace and Eddie Beedle were locked in a tight game at Kenilworth Park and a goal-less first half was a fair reflection of the action. The second period remained equally dour, but Eddie Beedle managed to break the deadlock through Chris Tool, and though Mainbrace created chances, none were taken and a second Beedle success from John Duffill denied Mainbrace the chance to back up their good result from the previous week.
Unexpected results in Division 1 were the order of the day when Blackburn Leisure and Kingburn Athletic 2nd suffered defeats, while AFC West Hull consolidated their leading position with an important win over SC Electrical.
SC themselves have been well placed in the division, so the task facing West Hull was by no means easy, but the game was played in great heart and a good spirit by both sides.
West’s took the lead when SC old boy, and now West’s top scorer, Mike Neylon finished after good work by strike partner Dave Phipps, and Phipps added a second soon after when he chased down a loose ball and was able to slip the ball past SC keeper James Hart, providing a comfortable half time score difference.
The second half saw chances created by both sides but neither attack was unable to any finishes due to some fine saves from both keepers.
The young Hall Road Rangers side started the game against Kingburn Athletic 2nd brightly and then had to weather a sustained period of pressure from an experienced Kingburn team who forced a number of corners but could not make a break through.
As the first half progressed, the game opened up a little, and yet clear chances for both teams were few and far between and at half-time a blank scoreline prevailed.
Hall Road flew out of the blocks after the break and took the game to Kingburn, and gained the lead on 50 minutes from a quick break down the left wing by Chris Buckley, who advanced to the bye-line before whipping in a cross which was met with a flying header by top scorer Mark Friston who sent the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Kingburn then stepped up the pressure but it was Rangers who created the clearer chances on the break with pacy forward Liam Lewis twice hitting the upright.
Rangers’ efforts were made to count on 75 minutes when substitute Tony Tummon sent a spectacular dipping shot from around 30 yards into the top corner of the Kingburn net. The injury hit Kingburn side applied pressure to get back in the game and were rewarded with a goal with five minutes to go from Alan Campey but the Rangers defence resolutely hung on to claim all three points.
If that result was a surprise, then Hull Grass Roots pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the season by beating Blackburn Leisure!!
The game was a classic top versus bottom - and the (near) bottom team prevailed.
Blackburn enjoyed almost all the possession and all the shots on goal in the first half but were stopped in their tracks by a stubborn Roots defence, and by a man of the match display by keeper John Sanderson.
Grass Roots did created a few good openings in the first half, Chris Hathaway spurning their best chance - an open goal from 4 yards out.
In the second half, Roots finally got into the game having more shots and gaining more possession and in the 60th minute the game was decided when a long ball upfield from the magnificent Sanderson fell to the feet of Grass Roots top scorer Jamie Simmons who coolly rounded keeper Danny Parkinson and slotted home.
Blackburn then threw on two more strikers but the Grass Roots defence were up for the challenge before them and at the final whistle, Grass Roots had caused a massive and unexpected blip for Blackburn in their promotion hunt.
Cottingham Hotspur got off to a flying start against Hull Athletic with Richard Hook putting his side into the lead, scoring with his first touch, and then Cottingham, playing their best football of the season, added a second through skipper Paul Tamm with a bullet header from two yards out, and before halftime, a great run by Adam Grimmer was stopped only when he was upended in the box, and Mark Williams increased the margin to three goals courtesy of his penalty conversion.
Cottingham again started the better of the two teams in the 2nd half with Richard Hook slotting home his 12th goal of the season home after good pressure on the Athletic keeper by Adam Grimmer and finally Cottingham finished their scoring with a second Mark Williams penalty after a handball in the area. Hull Athletic pulled one goal back late in the game.
Paull Wanderers took advantage of the assistance afforded by the wind and pushed visitors Cavalier Wanderers onto the back foot for the duration of the first half, except in the 22nd minute when Cavalier did launch an attack that culminated in Tom Galloway finding the Paull net.
The second half provided an open game, with both sides creating half chances, and a draw may have been the fairer result, but Paull just cannot get a rub of the green at the moment, but the right attitude and effort is evident from the team.
Swiss Cottage and Hull Grass Roots 2nd produced an entertaining game in Division 2 which, amazingly, was littered with FOUR own goals.
Grass Roots fielded what was considered a make shift defence which included top marksman Shiro Watson, and a stand–in keeper in John Hardy but still made a cock-a-hoop Swiss side fight for a win in very windy conditions.
Grass Roots had a golden opportunity to take the lead conventionally, but Shiro Watson’s penalty shot was saved, following which, a corner was awarded. The corner kick found the head of a Swiss defender who, although not under pressure, headed the ball into his own net.
Pressure exerted by Grass Roots was rewarded when Liam Parker doubled their lead, but the margin was reduced when Shiro Watson brought Swiss back into contention when he conceded an own goal.
Grass Roots led into the break, but a rocket delivered to Swiss by the management saw the side return to the field intent on turning the game around, aided now by the wind advantage, and a quality shot soon levelled the scores.
Swiss maintained their greater effort and went into a 3-2 lead, which in turn prompted a Grass Roots response, and an equaliser was earned - albeit claimed by Liam Parker, but in effect an own goal, considering the deflection involved.
Another quality performance for Grass Roots by Andy Exelby counted for nought when Shiro Watson completely wrong-footed his keeper when he got his head to a late shot to concede his second own goal of the game, and leave his side wondering what might have been - as Swiss celebrated a 4-3 success!
Shiro’s scoring prowess is not in question, but when playing a defensive role, it appears he needs to be more selective!!
It is often said that debateable decisions – though they themselves are often only personal opinion - level themselves out over the course of a season, and earlier in the season AFC Preston 2nd felt they suffered on one such occasion.
Last Saturday, the boot was on the other foot as Cottingham Hotspur 2nd and Preston contested a very good game that remain deadlocked until the 70th minute, when Preston’s Ricky McNee returned to scoring form, but with a goal claimed by their opponents to be well offside. A second ‘gift’ goal was added by Peter Morton for Preston, who look to be relentlessly tightening their grip on the league trophy….but still cannot afford slip ups as Pinefleet Wolfreton Juniors chase them relentlessly!!
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Match Reports
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24th April 2010
17th April 2010
10th April 2010
3rd April 2010
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