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Sunday 5th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 13th December 2008
Miserable weather again knocks fixture list for six.
With the continuing wet weather putting a damper on the majority of the weekend’s football fixtures, there was some consolation in the knowledge that at least one game was not in question as AFC Hull were scheduled to face Pinefleet Wolfreton Tigers on the all weather pitch at Hull University, and though that playing surface may not be to everyone’s liking, it does ensure games do not get postponed through water logging. In the event, two other venues also managed to stage matches, so, on reflection, compared to recent weeks, it was quite a heavy fixture programme that was played!!!
AFC Hull have enjoyed an excellent season in Division 1 of the Amateur League, and lie in pole position, where they enjoy a healthy lead, but their playing record contains one blemish, as their lost the first opening fixture of the campaign to Pinefleet, when they conceded a goal late in the game, and so the return fixture provided the opportunity to set the record straight….
The playing conditions for the noon start were extremely unpleasant with strong winds and driving rain, but AFC Hull started brightly and, displaying their usual fluid passing style, pinned Pinefleet back into their own half and created a number of good opportunities.
After 22 minutes, the deadlock was broken when AFC Hull’s pacey top scorer, Sam Nicholson picked up the ball around halfway and broke forward and went clear of the defenders and beat keeper Paul Routledge with a low drive into the bottom corner of the net. The home side’s advantage was doubled 10 minutes later when the ball was squared across the edge of the penalty area and was met on the volley by left winger Mark Friston, whose precise low shot into the bottom corner left keeper Routledge no chance.
This goal opened the floodgates to a point, and five minutes later a Damon Brooks free kick lofted into the penalty area was met by the head of Jason Watson whose deft flick sent the ball into the net.
Another five minutes, and the margin widened again when Dale Carty found his way on to the ball at the corner of the penalty area and he sent a powerful right foot drive through the crowded box and into the back of the net.
The procession continued, with Pinefleet seemingly unable to stem the tide of incessant attacks, and right on the break, winger Rio Buckley made it 5-0 following neat one-two and close finish past the keeper.
The only downside from an excellent first half for AFC Hull was the loss of striker Tony Tummon through injury at the interval, when he was replaced by forward Nathan Nicol.
The second half began followed the same pattern as the first, and just two minutes into the second period, came the goal of the afternoon from Jason Watson who, on the corner of the six-yard box and in one movement, turned and scooped the ball up and lobbed the keeper who could only watch it sail high over his head and into the net.
On 62 minutes Pinefleet gave themselves the faintest of hope, pulling a goal back from an assured finish by Steve Miller, who capitalised on a weakly hit back pass.
Two minutes later a penalty kick was awarded to AFC Hull as they launched a counter attack, and right back Louis Clark, playing against his old club volunteered to take the kick – as youngsters do - and proceeded to send the keeper the wrong way to extend the lead to 7-1.
On 76 minutes another former Pinefleet player Nathan Nicol delighted in tormenting a goal against his old club, and concluded the scoring, with a lobbed shot over the keeper.
AFC Hull now sit even more securely on the top of the division, and will remain there for some time, as the chasing teams have to catch up with fixtures, and it will be interesting to see if Hull can maintain the same high standard when the majority of their games – their away fixtures – are staged on grass pitches.
The pitch at Paull Foreshore again proved how resilient it is when adverse conditions prevail, as Paull Wanderers game with Hessle Sporting got the go-ahead, albeit twenty minutes late, though the delay was nothing to do with the weather.
A difference of opinion with the referee over the legitimacy of Hessle keeper Karl Sheriff using sports spectacles was belatedly ironed out, and the game got underway and Paull knew that they needed to re-produce the form of recent weeks if they were going to gain any reward from the game.
Paull’s form was up to the mark, and they always looked the side more likely to score, not least because they allowed Hessle only minimal possession throughout the half, but conversely, Paull failed to create many clear openings for themselves.
Paull realised that they had to continue to dictate play, and finally achieved the all-important break through when new signing Mike Robson found the ball at his feet inside the area after a neat pass from Karl Smith, and he tucked the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Paull made the game relatively safe following a good all round team move which culminated in Danny Wilbor and strike partner Robson linking well, leaving Wilbor to hit the ball across Hessle keeper Sherriff and in off the post.
Paull were now in full flight and could have scored 3 or 4 more goal but were denied by a series of great saves by keeper Sherriff, but Paull did get a third goal to seal the win over a good Hessle side, when a Liam Frazer corner fell to defender Darren Dennison who, despite the muddy conditions, smashed the ball home.
The final game to escape the clutches of the weather was yet another Division 1 game, and saw Swiss Cottage’s topsy turvy results again take a dive as Spring Bank Tigers completed the double over them, the latest success at 4-1 being much more convincing than the first win which was scraped in the opening game of the season.
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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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