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Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 8th November 2008
Only ERCFA Cup games escape the clutches of the weather.
Continuous rain throughout last week, which had added to already sodden surfaces left the local parks departments with little option but to rule pitches unfit for the second successive weekend, although the effects of the weather, it seemed, was not so devastating in the rural areas.
With the entire Amateur League programme wiped out, it was necessary to turn to the ERCFA Cup competitions to find any action, and one venue which had never been in doubt was at the University 3G all weather pitch where Division 1 rivals AFC Hull who are sitting in pole position, and Paull Wanderers, who languish in the bottom three, turned their attention to the Intermediate Cup.
AFC Hull, who are accustomed to playing on the perfect playing surface, began well, passing the ball around, and left Paull, who were experimenting with a new team formation, chasing shadows.
A cup game is possibly not the best environment to try out a new game plan, and a lack of understanding of the new system cost Paull the first goal as Hull’s Sam Nicholson capitalised on a swift break to beat keeper Liam Smith from a tight angle after twenty five minutes.
Paull went further behind after 40 minutes after conceding a free kick 35 yards from goal, which midfielder Sean McFaul chipped into the area and Tony Tummon, who was allowed too much space, hammered the ball home on the volley.
A change of formation to 4-4-2 after the interval, and the introduction of veteran Terry Thompson from the bench saw Paull begin to get more of a foothold in the game, but a further setback occurred when, after having a claim of their own dismissed, Hull counter attacked with a strong run from Rio Buckley who was brought down in the area and the subsequent penalty award was confidently converted by Sam Nicholson, AFC Hull’s leading scorer.
Just when it looked as though nothing would go Paull’s way, Terry Thompson chased a ball rolling into the Hull area, and when keeper Craig Lindley attempted to boot the ball downfield, the ball struck Thompson and looped into an empty net.
Paull were enjoying their best spell of the game and added two more goals, as AFC Hull seemed to lose their nerve, the first from a Michael Ward run and finish, and a second following good play after Thompson used his experience to hold the ball up for Mark Sexton, who then fed Karl Smith who slotted the ball home to level at 3-3.
Paul were suddenly back in the game, but not for long, as striker Tummon received a perfectly weighted through ball from Mark Friston and finished from eight yards out.
In the 74th minutes AFC Hull were awarded a highly debateable penalty when Sam Nicholson was brought down, though it has to be said, the ball should have long been cleared by the alleged subsequent offending defender. Nicholson’s penalty delivery replicated his previous success, as he completed his hat-trick and advanced his recent scoring record to twelve goals in seven games.
Paull had to attack to try to rescue the situation, and created several late chances for Thompson, James Sexton and Darren Dennison, but only the one which fell to Danny Wilbor, who was returning from injury, was converted, leaving AFC Hull grateful to keeper Lindley for some inspired late saves, and progressing to Round 3 to face either Westella & Willerby Juniors or Sculcoates Amateurs Reserves.
Swiss Cottage were knocked out of the cup by a Brandesburton side who gave them a lesson in converting chances when they arose!
Swiss found themselves two goals down after quarter of an hour following a mad five minutes when two attacks by Brandesburton were not stopped and the marauding attackers were able to stroll through the Swiss defence.
Just before half time a prolonged attack by Swiss earned them a reward when Craig Fitzpatrick fired in a corner from the right that evaded everyone including the Brandesburton keeper, and at the break, Swiss were back in the game.
With the wind at their backs Brandesburton put the Swiss defence under pressure, and in yet another mad defensive five minutes, Swiss conceded two more goals and on the hour trailed to a massive 4-1 margin.
Swiss responded by applying some pressure, and were afforded a lifeline with a penalty award, only to see the Brandesburton keeper pull off a great save to deny Darren Hunter.
Swiss continued to pressurise the Brandesburton defence, but could not convert some of the easy chances created in front of goal, and on the counter attack Brandesburton completed a miserable day for Swiss with a fifth goal, leaving Swiss to rue missed chances that would have made all the difference.
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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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