|
|
Saturday 4th September 2010
|
|
Matches played Saturday 3rd January 2009
Matches resume - and unbeaten Sutton Fields crash!
With the festivities of Christmas and the New Year behind them, most players were eager to resume the playing season, and after the best part of a fortnight of dry weather, the flooded pitches which had created great disruption, were no longer a problem, though it was not all plain sailing because freezing nights had made some pitches dangerously solid and rutted. A pleasant wintery sun, however, removed any last minute doubts of games getting the go-ahead as the top surface had thawed sufficiently for all pitches to be declared playable.
The matches commenced in pleasant conditions, but winter soon reminded players that the game is for the hardy, as the temperatures plummeted as the sun went down and bitterly cold conditions returned.
One team who certainly did not relish the afternoon was hitherto unbeaten Premier Division leaders Sutton Fields Rangers who travelled to Thorngumbald to face the unpredictable Eddie Beedle, and the formbook was turned upside down – and arguably inside out! – as the leaders crashed to a heavy defeat as Beedle went goal crazy, with Craig Copley being destroyer-in-chief, bagging four, assisted by Gaz Morfitt (2) and Keiron Phipps.
A shell-shocked Sutton side were honest enough to not look for excuses, or apportion blame for their surprise setback, and sportingly acknowledged that the referee, Mark Hemsworth, was spot on with every decision.
Back in Hull, at Malet Lambert School, Crown FC faced Pinefleet Wolfreton looking to avenge their only defeat of the season, and maintain the pressure on Sutton Fields, though obviously unaware of the situation Sutton found themselves in.
Crown took an early lead, and everything looked rosy, but the situation changed when they lost their centre half who was shown a red card, and slowly Pinefleet edged back level, and then went in front before the break.
Crown had to adopt a positive approach, and in the second half dominated much of the game, and Pinefleet helped their cause by wayward passing when they eventually gained possession.
With ten minutes remaining, Crown grabbed a vital equaliser, and a draw looked odds on, but with two minutes remaining Carl Heath literally bundled his way through to score the winning goal, a move which brought protests, and a dismissal for a frustrated Pinefleet.
Runaway Division 1 leaders AFC Hull faced what was already a tough away trip to Spring Bank Tigers, and the task was made even more difficult with the loss of first choice keeper, Craig Lindley (suspension), and defenders Damon Brooks and Callum Harrison due to injury.
Reserve keeper Gareth Lindley stepped into his brother’s shoes to make his debut and winger Chris Buckley was drafted into the side for his first start of the season albeit as stand in left back, as replacement for Brooks.
Spring Bank were forced on the back foot from the start, as AFC Hull’s young side flew out of the blocks, creating a number of opportunities, and after just five minutes a swift break by Sam Nicholson who ran strongly down the left wing saw him swing in a cross that was met by winger Mark Friston who tapped in from two yards.
Provider of the first goal, Nicholson, turned scorer following another quick break, and his pace took him clear of the defence and facing the keeper one-on-one comfortably slotted the ball home.
Despite AFC Hull’s dominance, Spring Bank were a threat on the break with their pacey front pair, and pulled a goal back when AFC Hull failed to pick up a spare player in the box after 10 minutes.
Although Spring Bank were bouyed by the lifeline, it did not last long as Mark Friston got his second of the game with an unstoppable low volley from the edge of the penalty area on 13 minutes.
After this intense opening period, the game settled down in the pattern of the visitors dominating possession of the ball and Tigers threatening on the break. After 41 minutes, Friston, who was giving the home team's defence a torrid time, was chopped down in the penalty area, and Nicholson stepped up to covert, maintaining this season’s 100% penalty scoring record.
AFC Hull’s start to the second half was a direct contrast to the first, resuming in a sluggish manner, and their makeshift defence exposed numerous times. Spring Bank scored a quickfire double on 51 and 55 minutes, following defensive lapses by Hull’s right back Louis Clark and centre back Ashley Smith respectively.
With the score now at 4-3, and 60 minutes on the referee’s watch, a defensive reshuffle was in order, with Clark being subbed for winger Nathan Nicol and the pacey Rio Buckley switched into defence.
The change steadied the ship, and AFC Hull pulled themselves together and passed the ball well pinning Tigers back into their own half, where they defended well, restricting chances on goal.
In the 86 minute, AFC Hull got their fifth goal following a strong run down the wing by midfielder Jason Watson who cut in towards the near post only to see his 12 yard effort rebound from the inside of the post, but the ball fell to striker Tony Tummon who beat the defender to slot home from 8yds out.
Spring Bank Tigers then threw caution to the wind and grabbed another lifeline following a quick break and goal on 88 minutes, leaving AFC Hull to hold on for the remainder of the game to claim all three points.
Although AFC Preston 2nd generally had the measure of their opponents, The Duke of Wellington, their winless opponents played with great spirit, and stunned Preston when they took the lead with a great strike from 20 yards.
Preston had generally laid siege on the Duke’s goal, and when a corner was won, up came Preston’s big defenders and Mark Galtrey, who towered over his marker, headed the equalising goal.
Five minutes later, the situation was replicated, but with a different scorer, Kev Fenton scoring when the ball came over.
Preston maintained the pressure on their opponents and though the shots were flying in on goal, they were not hitting the target, and once again, The Duke broke away, and another stunning 25 yard strike brought the scores level.
Preston eased into the lead again when Lewis Peterson scored the first of his two goals just before the half time whistle, the second coming as Preston continued in charge during the second period. The Duke again reminded Preston that they are an emerging team, and no pushover, by responding with a third goal.
A further deserved goal late in the game, from Peter Morton finally ended the Duke’s resistance. It was pleasing to note that the teams acknowledged the outstanding contribution and attitude to the game, of referee Jim Nicholson.
Paull Wanderers have suddenly discovered the winning mentality they sought from day one, and despite facing Pinefleet Wolfreton Tigers with three players missing due to illness or work, their losses were slightly tempered by the return of Michael Ward after a lengthy spell missed due to his work.
From the first whistle both teams played some good football, keeping the ball on the ground but it was Paull who recorded the opening goal, created by playmaker Ward who ran from inside his own half and up to the Pinefleet area before slipping a pass to Mike Robson who took the ball around Pinefleet keeper Steven Hales before slipping it into the net.
Paull almost doubled their lead when Terry Thompson, playing out of position on the wing, came inside and hit a great shot only for the Pinefleet shot stopper to get his finger tips to the ball and send it over the bar.
This save afforded Pinefleet the chance to get back into the game, and they took full advantage after breaking up a Paull attack, countering with a ball crossed from left midfield which ended up being deflected into his own net by James Sexton.
Paull felt a little hard done by to go in level at the break, but came out wanting the game, and it showed as they pegged Pinefleet back most of the second half with Ward causing the home side all sorts of problems with his runs.
Ward combined with Robson in a 1-2 passing movement to put his side back into the lead, shooting into the bottom corner. Another chance was spurned when Robson failed on another one-on-one situation with the Pinefleet keeper, and Terry Thompson was equally off target in the same situation, shooting well over the bar.
Ward proved his worth to his side when he dribbled into the Pinefleet area, and his second success, hammering the ball into the top corner of the goal, sealed the win for Paull.
The first week back in action was marred by a shortage of referees, and though teams get around the situation, there is no substitute for a neutral official.
After an enjoyable Xmas period, West Hull C managed to fill their fixture with Kingburn 3rd despite players being full of mince pies, injuries and lingering hangovers from the celebrations. With no referee available, it took some debate over who would take charge of the game before it was agreed that both teams would share the responsibility and do the best they could.
It took 20 minutes for Kingburn to break down the resilient West Hull defence and take the early lead through Nicky Miller, as claims for offside were denied, and the situation manifested itself again 15 minutes later when Miller added a second goal.
West Hull, with veteran Louis Hoy showing the way, went close on several occasions but the scoreline remained unaltered at the break.
The second half saw West Hull manager substitute himself to enable him to take over the refereeing duties, and a more fluent game saw Ian Dowd, Tom Shaw and substitute Danny Matcham all going close, but Kingburn keeper John Quelsh was proving difficult to beat.
Kingburn thought they had scored a third goal, but were denied by the pace of Ian Dowd as he scrambled to clear off the line. Kingburn pressed on and some fine saves by West Hull’s Paul Cooper kept the score unchanged.
|
|
Match Reports
|
24th April 2010
17th April 2010
10th April 2010
3rd April 2010
|
Personalise
|
Personalise
this website to feature the division which you're most interested
in.
|
|
