Bucks CC (16/09/2001)
2001 - 2002 Season, Hithercroft Under 15s



Both halves of this match started in overcast conditions with light rain but each ended dry and sunny. Because of a colour clash our opponents kindly played in white shirts.

The first half began with three corners to the visitors but they failed to capitalise on them. Then came a chance for Hithercroft when Duane White passed to Dewayne Dublin who went round a player near the touchline and shot the ball into the side netting. After 12 minutes of play Duane crossed the ball into the centre for Jason Guy to gather and he slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper, Craig Hamilton, to open the scoring. Just six minutes later Andy Eeles replied with a good hard shot from outside the penalty area, giving Lee Hudson in goal little chance. Lee was then put under more pressure from the Bucks C.C forwards and on one occasion Richard Sunderland cleared from the line. The Hithercroft forwards, when nearing the visitors’ net tended to pass the ball amongst themselves rather than try shots at goal. Thirty-two minutes into play Oliver Jones took a free kick that soared over the Hithercroft wall and go through Lee’s hands putting Bucks C.C into the lead. Just three minutes later Shane Globe passed to Dewayne and received the return ball, hitting it over the keeper’s head to even up the scoreline at 2-all. The score remained unchanged by half time. The first half had been fairly evenly balanced with lots of end-to-end play.

The away team, however, controlled the second half, with Hithercroft players often being out of position in midfield. Clearance kicks were being played straight down the middle of the field where the ball was collected by Bucks C.C players who came back on the offensive. Three minutes into the half the ball was played down the centre for Dewayne and Jason, running side-by-side, to pick up and Jason hit the ball past the diving goalkeeper to put Hithercroft 3-2 ahead. Shortly afterwards Bucks C.C evened the scores again with a goal by Oliver Jones before Dewayne was brought down inside the penalty area. After treatment he took the penalty with a hard shot over the keeper but, although the ball ended up in the net, the referee had the penalty re-taken because of encroachment by Hithercroft players. Dewayne hit his second attempt to the keeper’s right but he dived and pushed it wide. Bucks C.C then took over the game scoring three more times with goals by Dominic Whittaker, Oliver Jones and Shane Richards before the final whistle.

Regrettably, the control of the game was not handled well by the referee but it was a good game with lots of excitement.