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Thursday 9th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 30th January 2010
Preston in the driving seat - then nearly let it slip!!
Just when will the season fully resume?? More overnight snow flurries and a severe frost again put paid to many of the scheduled Amateur League fixtures, although a few teams delayed making a decision on the state of the pitches until later in the day, and where sun was able to reach the grassy areas, a considerable thaw had taken place and games went ahead. Conversely, shaded areas remained dangerously solid and the last word was left with match officials.
After a bit of snow clearing and a change of pitch at Sandhill Country Park, the game between AFC Preston and AFC West Hull was given the nod by Referee Steve Spruce and both teams were eager to get the game on after weeks of inactivity.
Preston were struggling after a hard training session in midweek had left several players very stiff and sore, however they rallied round and put in a very solid performance.
Adam Jackson was having most of the luck on the left wing, skipping past defenders with ease, and when he came inside, he curled a 20 yard right foot scorcher into the top corner of the goal.
This spurred on the remainder of the team who put in a great work rate and Richie Howard broke through the West Hull defence, he struck the ball hard and low into the net from 20 yards.
It seemed Jackson and Howard were competing for the goal of the game, and Howard topped the pick of the first half goals with another 20 yard screamer into the top corner.
West Hull did hit back with a goal before the break following a corner which Preston failed to deal with.
The second half started with Richie Howard maintaining his excellent form, and he picked up a bouncing ball and from around 35 yards saw the keeper of his line and lobbed a perfect goal, later adjudged to be the best of Preston’s four on the day.
As the pitch got heavier, the Preston legs started to tire and this allowed West Hull back in the game. Two quick goals for West Hull produced a very nervy finish and West Hull almost scraped a point, hitting the bar in the dying seconds.
Overall, that would not have been a fair result as Preston should have had the game wrapped up within the hour, but if chances aren’t taken, they can come back to haunt you!!
One goal proved the difference between SC Electrical and visitors Swiss Cottage RBL at Pickering Park, on a shaded pitch that was still frozen in part.
SC Electrical were the more adventurous of the two sides as Swiss Cottage seemed to still be suffering a hangover from last week’s heavy defeat by Pinefleet Wolfreton.
Most chances in the first half fell to the home side, but were dealt with, with his usual aplomb, by Swiss keeper John Scott.
The scores were level at half time with neither side managing to convert the chances which had come their way.
SC Electrical put some decent pressure on the Swiss defence, who had held out well in something of a rearguard action, and were finally rewarded with a well-placed shot from SC striker Andy Dook, who, for once, timed his run to perfection and beat the Swiss keeper.
Both sides pushed for a goal and Swiss goalkeeper Scott, was in his usual defiant mood to keep the score at 1-0, but with no Swiss success going forward, the hosts collected the match spoils.
On an opposite pitch at Pickering Park, AFC West Hull B and Cross Keys Cottingham played a very entertaining Division 1 match with both keepers being kept very busy.
Cross Keys struck first with Wayne Kirk scoring an individual goal and Keys looked comfortable defending their lead until West Hull equalised in bizarre fashion, Chris Murray sending over a corner which was too close to Key’s keeper John Hawkes, who called for, and grabbed at the ball, only to see it squirm out of his grasp and into the net. Doubtless he would have liked the ground to have opened up and swallowed him – it would have been less painful than taking out his frustration by kicking the foot of the post!!! This, however, proved to be his only mistake of the afternoon – but unfortunately goalkeeping errors are unforgiving.
The second half was just as fast and entertaining as the first, and Keys regained the lead through Liam Carter, but West Hull battled on and Iain Dowd score a deserved equaliser in the last minute.
A third game on Pickering Park – it seemed all roads led there – saw Division 2 leaders Hull Corinthians taking on fair play champions Duke of Wellington.
Hull Corinthians have had no problem finding the net this season, and spent long periods early in the game in the Duke’s half, but found themselves up against a resolute defence which did not want to give anything away.
As the game progressed, it became apparent that it was going to be one of those frustrating days for Corinthians, and try as the may, the Wellington rearguard continued to boot them out!
The game was not all one way, as the Duke’s confidence grew, and the goalless scoreline was fair reward for the differing efforts of both sides.
Though Hull Corinthians were bemoaning what they saw as the loss of two points, they would doubtless have been heartened with the news that nearest rivals, Queens County, had suffered a worse fate, having been beaten by the unpredictable AFC Malt Shovel.
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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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