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Sunday 5th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 11th October 2008
Courts in seventh heaven; Hull Inter wait for their turn..…
It is often overlooked in these days of win at all costs, that football is played foremost for enjoyment, and for there to be winners, there must also be losers. Last season, The Courts AFC joined the Amateur League as a newly formed club, who were enthusiastic but it was quickly apparent that time was needed to shape the players into a team, and consequently the team were on the end of several heavy defeats, but improvement was their one focus, and by the season end, although wooden spoonists, their points duck had been broken, and better results were hoped for this time round, but before last weekend, were still awaited.
The new season brought another new club into the league, Hull International Sports, who as their name implies are a multi national team, and a similar scenario has emerged whereby, although including skilful players, time is needed to mould the team into an effective unit. Heavy defeats have been the norm up to now, so when the Courts faced Hull Inter last weekend in Division 2, something had to give.
The game started well for the Courts when Jamie Lamplough scored, and another goal quickly followed from Ryan Prescott. When Jamie Lamplough added his second goal Courts appeared to be capitalising on their ‘greater experience’, but then disaster struck when Courts keeper Dale Martin received his marching orders having been deemed to have deliberately handled the ball outside the area.
A quick reshuffle saw Paul Creasey take over in goal – and based on some fine performances last season in that position, this was not weakening the side – but, of course, continuing with 10 men should have been a handicap.
With their tails already up, there was no way that Courts were going to let the game slip and they pressed forward adding further goals before the break from Chris Wilson and Danny Bull, while three others were ruled out by referee Mike Bickerstaffe.
The second half saw no relaxing by the Courts and the same duo added a second goal each, while Jamie Lamplough missed out on his hat trick when his spot kick brought a good save out of Inter keeper Carlos Peixuto after a penalty was awarded for a foul in the box. The game was played in a good spirit and enjoyed by all involved.
AFC West Hull earned promotion to the Premier Division largely based on their ability to convert goal scoring chances, but this time round, that art seemed to have deserted them prior to their game against Quaddy Rangers at Springhead Avenue.
The opening did not seem too promising for West Hull, as they went a goal down within 10 minutes when a good header by Dave Bisland gave Quaddy the advantage, but West Hull hit back, again and again and again, to leave Quaddy frustrated and shell shocked, and 3-1 in arrears!
A half time shuffle restored some confidence to the Quaddy team, but goals chances were scarce, until two brave refereeing decisions – the award of two penalties, which to be fair were not overly contested by West Hull - provided a platform for Quaddy to get back on terms.
Mike Newdick confidently despatched the first kick to the right of the West Hull keeper, and such was his confidence, his ssecond hit exactly the same spot.
Almost immediately, Newdick turned from hero to villain, when he lost the ball on the edge of his own area, and West Hull demonstrated their finishing prowess again, and then held on to secure the win.
Blackburn Leisure have found the move up to the Premier Division difficult, but with most games close, not overwhelming, and against The Lair were involved in a game of good quality goals and entertaining football.
The Lair took an early lead through Rob Hunter with a well-taken lob from the edge of the area only for Blackburn to score an even better goal with an over-head kick to level the scores.
Good football continued and the Lair were awarded a penalty which was well converted by Paul French, after which Rob Hunter claimed his second goal following a neat turn and shot from a tight angle which beat the keeper despite his dive at full stretch.
Blackburn replied with another well-taken goal before John Longthorn got in on the act for Lair and scored from a corner to take the game into the break.
Blackburn pressed hard after the restart and were rewarded with a third goal and were fully back in contention, but shortly afterwards Longthorn scored his second goal to make the margin tantalisingly too wide at 5 – 3.
Blackburn pressed hard but good solid defending by the Lair back four kept them out, though the margin could have been widened had the Lair had taken some of the chances created as Blackburn left their defence overstretched.
Swiss Cottage arrived at AFC Hull's Inglemire Lane Ground with a fair amount of confidence after recent rewarding displays against form sides AFC Preston 2nd and Pinefleet Wofreton Tigers.
AFC Hull's team was much changed due to injury and players carrying knocks, and the resultant defensive uncertainty in their back line allowed Swiss to take the lead after five minutes with a low cross beating the defence and the Swiss striker finished from a couple of yards out.
This spurred AFC Hull to press forward and on eleven minutes Mark Friston headed the equaliser from close range. AFC Hull were left exposed by a simple flick on which left the Swiss attacker one on one with keeper Craig Lindley who put the visitors into the lead again in the 19th minute.
This advantage lasted just one minute, as winger Mark Friston popped up again to score his second. AFC Hull then harnessed their momentum to take the lead two minutes later with striker Tony Tummon netting.
Mark Friston almost completed a hat-trick within a half hour but his lobbed shot from the edge of the box hit the inside of the post and bounced out.
The Swiss Cottage defence looked fragile in the face of wave after wave of attacks and Sam Nicholson and Tony Tummon scored on 40 and 44 minutes respectively to send AFC Hull into the break with a seemingly invincible lead.
The second half started with Swiss Cottage soon pulling a goal back, but Sam Nicholson then broke through their defence to finish well and put AFC Hull 6-3 up.
The game was wide open and end to end as Swiss pushed on to reduce the arrears, which they did again on 56 minutes but within five minutes Nicholson won a penalty when he was upended in the area and he dusted himself down to net the spot kick, completing his hat-trick.
AFC Hull substitute Nathen Nicol powered down the right wing after 66 minutes, brushing off the defenders before sending a low drive passed the keeper to complete AFC Hull’s scoring.
Swiss Cottage grabbed another late consolation goal in the final minutes, concluding a remarkable thirteen goal scoring bonanza.
Anlaby Park have become specialists at single goal wins over the past few weeks but against Hull Athletic, they found the boot on the other foot as they suffered their first league defeat - by a single goal - but this time the one goal was the odd one from seven scored.
The game was played in an excellent spirit, and Hull Athletic had to work their socks off to earn their success which was down to the goal scoring form of Gareth Jones who netted all four of his side’s goals, the winner coming with only three minutes remaining when it looked as though both sides had settled for a draw. Mike Mews was again on the mark for Anlaby Park, this time supported by two from Gareth Brown.
It had to happen. South Holderness boasted a 100% record going into their Division 2 game with Staks AFC, whose record was also 100%, unfortunately straight league defeats.
Goals from Kyle Tuttle and Graham Babbage turned the formbook upside down as Staks recorded a welcome three points.
AFC Piper would have hoped to have capitalised on this slip by South Holderness, and extended their winning sequence, but their under strength side was made to pay for simple mistakes, and good finishing by Kingburn Athletic 3rds proved to costly for Piper.
Piper showed good spirit to come back from 3-1 down to 4-3, chipping away at the resilient Kingburn defence but it was to be one of those days when bad luck and good defending kept them out.
Goodwin FC started their game AFC West Hull C slowly and conceded a goal after just five minutes to Dany Matcham. This setback rattled the side, and they responded by going on a goalscoring rampage, which began with Mike Ketley replying with his first, moments later.
Ketley went on to complete his hat trick before half time and Leon Salter added another two.
The second half saw Ketley net another two goals to go nap, while Salter also bagged his hat-trick. Additional goals from Rob Stacey (2) and Ricky Hall (2) allowed Goodwin to run out an impressive 12-1 winners, but the strength of their opponents can vary greatly by the week.
A break to play in the ERCFA Intermediate Cup allowed Paull Wanderers to leave their poor start to the league campaign behind, and see if better fortunes were possible in a local derby against AFC Preston 2nd.
Paull took the game to Preston for the whole of the first half and they created three great chances to score, two of which fell to the normally reliable Terry Thompson, but all were snatched at, and missed.
Preston got a goal from their first chance of the game, and some Paull heads went down despite continuing to force Preston onto the back foot.
Paull knew that they needed to score first as the game resumed after the break, and it eventually came after wave after wave of attacks. In the 65 minute, Michael Ward, who had caused all sorts of problems for Preston, recorded his first goal for his new team with a good solo run and shot which the Preston keeper was never going to get to.
Paull kept Preston basically pegged back for the remainder of the game, Preston only managing two or three half chances in this time.
The injured Tommy Donnelly was replaced by Paull with Liam Frazer and he ran well to support Terry Thompson, who had held the ball up, and hammered the pass home with real venom to give Paull an 82nd minute lead, and match winner.
Paull are hoping to carry the same form into the league this week where the fixtures have paired the two sides to face each other again.
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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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