Risborough Colts (03/02/2002)
2001 - 2002 Season, Hithercroft Under 15s



In spite of the recent very wet and windy weather the ground was in good condition for this game. Although it was cloudy and chilly the weather remained mainly dry with light wind for most of the game. Some of the Risborough team had been on a night hike and were therefore somewhat under par for this match. Hithercroft had 12 players present and made use of the roll-on/roll-off substitution rule.

The game kicked off at 10.35 am but was soon halted whilst a dog was removed from the pitch. The first goal came following a mix-up in the Hithercroft defence allowing Rupert Tallboys to collect the free ball and hammer it into the net, putting Risborough into the lead after 7 minutes. The next goal came three minutes later when Jason Guy gathered the ball just inside the Risborough half, accelerated down the centre of the pitch and hit it just wide of the keeper to level the score. Hithercroft then began to dominate the game but were constantly being caught off-side. After thirteen minutes Duane White, facing across the pitch, hooked the ball forward with the outside of his boot over the defence allowing Dewayne Dublin to take it on down the right wing and put it past the Risborough keeper to put Hithercroft into the lead. Duane White repeated this hooking move, this time for Jason to collect but Jason over-hit the ball as he went past the goalie and it went out of play for a goal kick. Jason’s next attack was thwarted when Eddie Farrer, the Risborough goalkeeper, got his hand to the ball as Jason attempted to lob it over Eddie’s head and pushed it out of play for a corner. Hithercroft’s third goal was scored by Duane White when he powered the ball over Eddie’s head after twenty three minutes of play. Immediately from the restart Jason intercepted the ball and raced down the wing, crossing it for Kevin Ife to run onto and score. Jason then repeated his run just after the restart, shaking off a tackle and lofting the ball over the advancing keeper to score Hithercroft’s fifth. Hithercroft were constantly attacking but Eddie was dealing superbly with most of these, quickly advancing from his goal-line and spreading his arms wide to reduce the area for the visitors to shoot at. However, after 33 minutes Jason played the ball across to Adeel Iqbal on the left wing and Adeel lifted the ball over Eddie’s head. Although Eddie managed to get his hand to the ball he was unable to stop it’s flight into the net. The final goal of the half came within a minute when Dewayne Dublin hit the ball wide of the advancing Risborough keeper and the score then stood at 1-7 to the visitors.

In the second half Risborough upped their pace and had a couple of attacks, one resulting in a shot which hit the post of the Hithercroft goal. After 8 minutes they were rewarded when Ben Moore hit an angled ball past Phil Lines to pull a goal back. Three minutes later Jason, taking the ball from within his own half (so ensuring that he was not off-side) surged down the centre of the pitch and scored his hattrick. Then, as he had done in the first half, Jason collected the ball immediately after the restart and took the ball downfield before passing to Dewayne Dublin, who fired the ball past the diving keeper to get his third goal. Eight minutes later, during a Hithercroft attack, Duane White’s shot was parried by the Risborough goalkeeper but a defender, attempting to clear the ball, hit it into his own net to bring the scoreline to 2-10. Two minutes later Ben Moore scored his second goal for the home team, getting away from the Hithercroft defence and powering the ball into the net. Ben had two more shots at goal, neither being on target before Hithercroft renewed their attacks. Seven minutes from full time, following a Hithercroft throw-in, Riccardo Falconi took the ball round a defender and slotted the ball into Risborough’s net. Drizzle then started and the wind began to pick up, pushing one of Jason’s shots wide of the top right-hand corner of the net. Eddie denied both Kevin and Adeel from further goals before conceding one from Duane White just three minutes from the end of the game. Duane White completed his hattrick just one minute later, hitting the ball wide of the keeper and seeing his shot go in off the inside of the post. Just before the final whistle Jason shot from a very tight angle and the ball went in through the keeper’s legs being deflected on its way. This made the final score 3-14.

The game was played in good spirit and I would like to pay tribute particularly to the Risborough goalkeeper, Eddie Farrer, who played brilliantly.


Risborough’s “Man of the Match” was Eddie Farrer.

Risborough’s scorers were Rupert Tallboys and Ben Moore (2).

Hithercroft’s “Men of the Match” were Duane White, Kevin Ife and Riccardo Falconi.

Hithercroft’s scorers were Jason Guy (4), Dewayne Dublin (3), Duane White (3), Kevin Ife, Riccardo Falconi and Adeel Iqbal plus an own goal by a Risborough player.