Naphill Boys (09/03/2003)
2002 - 2003 Season, Hithercroft Under 16s



With the absence of Phil Taberer, Jack Fuller (skiing) and Adeel Iqbal (bruised ankle) we could only muster 10 players for this game. Additionally, Shane Globe was suffering from a leg muscle problem and a sore arm following his BCG injection but he decided to ‘give it a go’ provided that he would be allowed to switch position with our goalie if he should get worse during the game. (Fortunately this was not necessary). Following recent heavy rain there had been worries about the condition of the Naphill pitch but, following strong winds over the weekend, the pitch had dried out and was quite good. The weather started off cloudy but there were glimpses of the sun and there was quite a chilly and strong crosswind.

The game kicked off at 12.34pm and it wasn’t long before Naphill opened their account. Ben Peek took a corner from the left and his high ball curved in flight and went directly into the visitor’s net, over Phil’s head. Hithercroft then went on the attack and Shane ran through to have a shot at goal that was blocked by the Naphill keeper. In the 10th minute Naphill’s No.11 took the ball down the right wing and crossed it into the goal area for Johnny Eteson to run onto and he deposited it into the net for a 2-0 lead. Dewayne Dublin then took the ball downfield, looking like a sandwich with Naphill defenders on each side of him, and he managed to get in a shot on goal that was blocked by the goalkeeper. Dewayne continued his run and collected the loose ball but sent his second attempt over the crossbar. His next opportunity came following a through-ball from Shane but this time he hit his shot wide of the post. Naphill’s No.11 went down the right wing and crossed the ball inside for Jamie Osbourne to head the ball just wide of the post. The home team then tried down the left wing and the final shot came down onto the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal-kick. At the break Naphill were 2-0 up and we had seen plenty of end-to-end play and a good game was unfolding.

At 1.18pm the game restarted and within two minutes Naphill had extended their lead. It came about when a Hithercroft defender blocked a Naphill shot and kicked the ball back out but straight to Johnny Eteson who hammered the ball back, this time the ball ending up in the back of the visitor’s net. Three minutes later Hithercroft were finally rewarded for their efforts when Dewayne took the ball down the centre and hit the ball to the right of the advancing keeper. However, a defender raced back and reached the ball as it was about to cross the line but his clearance went back across the goal and Luke Patton ran in from the left to tap the ball home, giving him his first ever goal for Hithercroft. A couple of minutes later Naphill were again on the offensive and the Hithercroft keeper pushed the player off the ball, so conceding a penalty. Jamie Osbourne converted from the spot, giving Naphill a 4-1 lead. Although the end-to-end play was still continuing Hithercroft were beginning to tire. In the 33rd minute of the half Phil found himself under attack by two of the Naphill forwards and stood little chance as Josh Lay hit the ball past him to score Naphill’s fifth goal. Two minutes later Naphill again brought the ball down the right wing, crossed it into the middle where various Hithercroft defenders attempted to clear the ball but Johnny Piercey came in from the left and his shot increased the Naphill collection. Two minutes from the end of the game Naphill went down the left and Josh Lay finished the move off as he slipped the ball into the net. In the final minutes Shane had two shots at goal but both went just wide of the post and the final outcome was a 7-1 win for Naphill.

This had been a really enjoyable game to watch and, even though the pace had begun to tell on the short-handed Hithercroft lads in the latter stages of the game, they had kept trying right up to the end. Tony Barlow, as is Naphill’s custom, nominated Dewayne Dublin as his Hithercroft Man-of-the-Match and he, and other Naphill officials were also impressed by Chris Terry who had never stopped running and hustling. Hithercroft decided, after much thought, that their nomination for the Hithercroft Man-of-the-Match should go to Robin Graham. We would like to thank the referee, Mr Chris Lancaster, for the way in which he handled this match. We would also like to thank Tony Barlow (Naphill’s manager), his helpers and the Naphill team for making our visit such a pleasure (in spite of the result).


Hithercroft’s scorer: Luke Patton

Hithercroft’s M.o.M: Robin Graham

Naphill’s scorers:Ben Peek, Johnny Eteson (2), Jamie Osbourne, Josh Lay (2) and Johnny Piercey.