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Sunday 5th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 7th November 2009
AFC Preston hitting true form at last.
The impact of the second round of the ERCFA Intermediate Cup was the primary cause of reducing the fixtures in the Amateur League Premier Division to just two games, although the adverse results suffered in the competition will mean little further interruption to fixtures later in the season.
On the league front, AFC Preston, fresh from a good win the previous week over the then hitherto unbeaten league leaders Pinefleet Wolfreton, visited the Hull University 3G pitch to face an AFC Hull side who were able to boast a fully fit squad for the first time this season, and were also further bolstered by the return of Dale Carty, who had made a brief sojourn to Pinefleet Wolfreton.
The match was played on a chilly November afternoon, with a low sun across the pitch making visibility difficult, and AFC Hull started well and enjoyed much possession in the opening minutes as their opponents struggled to come to terms with the synthetic conditions under foot, and AFC Hull were showing the sort of form which made them so successful the previous season.
The domination did not last, however, as AFC Preston became more accustomed to the unique playing surface, and after 22 minutes, it was Preston who took the lead when neat build up play opened a space for Danny Shakesby to curl a measured 20 yard shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal beyond AFC Hull keeper’s Craig Lindley despairing dive.
AFC Hull almost responded immediately when a great through ball from Luke Martin found Nathan Nuttall in space, and Nuttall took the ball in his stride but fired in a shot which whistled wide of the Preston goal. More chances followed for both sides amid some over-enthusiastic challenges throughout the first half, but finishing accuracy was lacking.
The minutes approaching the half time break are often crucial, and this proved to be the case when Preston broke away after Hull’s Sam Nicholson mis-kicked, and the counter-attack ending with a second goal after Mike Wardell picked up the loose ball and glided past two defenders before slipping the ball into the bottom corner, establishing a comfortable half time lead.
The second half saw AFC Hull create several chances, but some good goalkeeping by Rob Wilkinson and ineffectual finishing, protected Preston's advantage.
Preston felt they had a good claim for a penalty, which would have settled matters, but the Preston attacker went to ground just a little too readily and their appeal was waved away.
Preston generally had control of the game but had to be wary of AFC Hull’s effective breakaways and Hull finally got some reward when a corner kick was sent across and although loud appeals for handball were made, they were ignored and Luke Martin, 12 yards from goal, drilled the ball into the Preston net.
With seven minutes remaining, and the game back in the melting pot, AFC Hull pushed forward, and chances appeared at both ends, but both goalkeepers ensured no-one was successful, until, in the final minute of the game, a pinpoint cross by Preston’s Lee Wilson found the head of substitute Matt Hartley – the smallest player on view – who nodded the ball past keeper Lindley to restore Preston's two-goal advantage and finally secure the match points.
Pinefleet Wolfreton looked to be in control in the other Premier Division fixture after establishing a two goal first half lead against a Kingburn Athletic Reserves side which was in some turmoil.
Sensible half time talking settled the Kingburn side and they clawed their way back into the match to such an extent that a most unexpected point was gained when the evergreen veteran Ian Thomson scored in the last minute to equally divide the six goals.
Paull Wanderers started their game against AFC Hull Reserves with only ten players as eight others were missing through injury or unavailable, and it was no surprise, therefore, that Hull had the better of the game for the first ten minutes after which Paull were brought up to strength numerically, and the resultant shuffle saw striker Terry Thompson released from goal and able to take up his normal striking role.
The re-aligned Paull side soon took control of the game, denying Hull Reserves possession for much of the half, and Paull opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Terry Thompson set up James Sexton and his sweet low shot found the bottom corner of the net, just clipping the post before going in.
Paull increased their lead in the 35th minute when a half cleared corner fell to defender Gary Couzens just outside the area, and his header found the same corner as Sexton minutes earlier, and he recorded his first goal for the club.
Paull was delighted to be enjoying a two goal advantage at the break, given their missing personnel, and the cushion it provided was crucial as AFC Hull enjoyed much greater possession early in the second period, but without carving out telling openings.
The balance of play again swung Paull’s way, who again started to enjoy long spells of possession and in-form James Sexton’s well taken second goal – and Paull’s third – duly arrived when he was picked out by Dave Brennan.
This goal effectively killed the game, and Paull were able to slow the play down as much as they wanted, but still were able to find space up front and Danny Wilbor added a fourth goal, cleverly waiting, after receiving a pass from player/manager Mark Sexton, for the goalkeeper to commit himself, before choosing his spot to score.
For all their dominance and possession, Paull felt that more shots should have reigned in on the target, and the feeling is that they will need to step up another gear when they play table toppers Goodwin this weekend.
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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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