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Sunday 5th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 8th March 2008
Blackburn secure point, but is it enough?
When Blackburn Leisure met South Holderness for the first meeting of the season, Blackburn were riding high in Division 1 of the Amateur League, were bagging goals by the bucket load, and, apart form one setback, had looked nigh on invincible.
The trip to Holderness however, failed to go according to plan, and a heavy reversal knocked Blackburn off course, and they have not regained their early dominance, though still remain well in the promotion hunt.
With key players missing for the return fixture at Brough, Blackburn expected a difficult game, but were keen to exact revenge for the earlier defeat, against their in-form opponents who have lie just one slot behind them on the league ladder.
Blackburn did little to further their promotion aspirations when failing to defend a set piece early in the first half, as South Holderness capitalised on a long throw in which was met by a well-timed run and a simple tap-in.
The home side, however, were soon back on level terms when Mark Newton turned in the box and thumped the ball into the back of the net.
South Holderness continued to play good football in the middle third of the pitch but never really broke down the Blackburn defence, and Blackburn should have taken the lead when Liam Bristow broke through but screwed his shot wide.
The ability to flight long throw-ins into the Blackburn area was undoubtedly a secret weapon well utilised by South Holderness and reaped the reward of two more goals. It may well have been less of a threat to Blackburn, had veteran powerhouse defender Ken Bridges been on duty, but on this day, he was one of the missing key personnel.
It looked like Blackburn would go into the break trailing by two until Barry Loughlin was upended in the box and Phil Ainley calmly slotted away the resulting penalty.
Blackburn came out for the second half with all guns blazing and yet it was South Holderness who carved out the better chances and only some fine saves by keeper Danny Parkinson kept Blackburn in the game.
When prolific striker Barry Loughlin powered home a header from a well placed Mike Payne cross it looked like Blackburn were finally gaining the ascendancy but the game reached its conclusion with the scores level, and a point each did not really doing much for either teams promotion hopes, but nonetheless, a good game was played in a good spirit.
AFC West Hull did not miss the opportunity to consolidate their pole position in the division scoring a comfortable win over Hull Athletic.
West Hull created but spurned several chances before Mike Neylon opened the scoring with a clinical finish, and his strike partner Scott Wakelin added a second goal shortly afterwards after some good work in midfield.
The second half saw West Hull generally controlling the game, which was always allowed to flow by referee John Redfern, and Wakelin increased the margin further, to finish off a spirited Hull Athletic side.
Although games were played in generally pleasant conditions, strong winds had to be contended with, and in the case of Inter Charter and Truss 2 Frame, this was an awkward cross wind, which both side coped with in a disciplined manner.
League leaders Charter, on the whole, dominated the play and a little more sharpness up front would have led to more goals than the two scored by Graham McLoud.
Truss, however, were not over-awed by their unbeaten opponents and did have a couple of good chances which Charter keeper Mike Draper saved well.
The introduction of three substitutes in the last 15 minutes helped Charter push for a third goal but to no avail while, conversely, a second successive clean sheets was welcomed.
Life at present is difficult for Hessle Sporting ‘B’, and for the first 15 minutes of their clash with Pinefleet Wolfreton Reserves only nine players were fielded, but although Pinefleet enjoyed plenty of possession and territory they were unable to test the home keeper.
With Hessle eventually enjoying the comfort of a full compliment of players, they started to get a foothold in the game and aided by the strong breeze started to give the Pinefleet rearguard something to think about. However, the closest Hessle came to scoring was on the stroke of halftime when Tony Longden struck the foot of an upright.
Pinefleet, who had wanted too many touches in the first half, raised their game and with the elements at their back created more and more opportunities and started to work Karl Sherriff in the Hessle goal – to which he responded with a number of spectacular saves.
Pinefleet finally took the lead on the hour mark when Paul French fired in a corner and the ball somehow ended up in the net. Able to relax a little, Pinefleet looked to add to their advantage and did so, with 15 minutes to go, with a spectacular goal from Dean Kinch who crashed in an unstoppable drive from 25 yards to clinch victory.
Credit should be given to a game Hessle outfit who never stopped trying throughout the game, but who desperately need a 20–goal a season forward who is able to secure some reward for the effort contributed by the team.
Kingburn Athletic and Eddie Beedle were at last able to play the first leg of their League Senior Cup quarter final, and the action saw Kingburn gain a two goal advantage, with the scoring concluded in a two minute spell in the first half.
The first goal came after 17 minutes from central defender Mat Lucid, after a move which took him forward to the edge of the opposition area, and as the ball came out to him, he chested it ball down and hit a volley the ball over the keeper Danny Hill’s head.
The second goal, after 19 minutes, also came from the lanky Mat Lucid, a header from a corner, which he met at the back post. The game was spoiled by the windy conditions, though both sides tried to play some decent football.
AFC Preston 2nd in Division 2 are going through a difficult spell at the moment as their previous flowing football seems to have deserted them, but results are still being ground out, no more so than the latest effort against AFC West Hull 2nd at a blustery Pickering Park, where the wind was blowing down the length of the pitch.
Preston doubtless hoped for a better first half return, aided by the wind, than the single success of Ricky McNee, but they were restricted by a battling first half display from West Hull.
The game suffered a lengthy interruption soon after the second half restart when West Hull’s Jack Cooper suffered a nasty dislocated knee, which thankfully popped back into place, but has resulted in ligament and tendon damage. The interruption would have been longer, but Jack, perhaps foolishly, shuffled off the pitch to await an ambulance, to allow the game to continue.
The action remained competitive, with Preston desperately unlucky at times to see last ditch clearances or brave saves denying them, and somehow, goals which were flying in the first half of the season, now seem to be hitting the buffers. An ugly win perhaps, but still a win!!
The absence of an official referee led to problems between Hessle Sporting ‘C’ and the Courts AFC, and a post match investigation will be held to determine whether the Courts, who were leading when the game was concluded early, have collected their first points of the season.
Although Cottingham Hotspur 2nd are not keen on blustery conditions, the team has coped well enough over the last two weeks to collect full points.
The latest game against Intrasource Mainbrace ‘B’ swung backwards and forwards with no great control before first blood was claimed by Joe Clutterbrook, and his goal was followed closely by a second from Leon Drury.
Intra made the contest interesting when Richard Blackburn scored two minutes before half time, and the second half continued to ebb and flow until a fine individual goal by Craig Collinson settled the game in Cottingham’s favour.
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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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