Risborough Colts (03/11/2002)
2002 - 2003 Season, Hithercroft Under 16s



In spite of the recent heavy rain the Risborough pitch was in good condition and the weather was cool but sunny with developing cloud. Fortunately the rain held off until after the game, which kicked off at 10am. Although James was unavailable through illness we had the luxury of turning out a full eleven with two substitutes.

Hithercroft immediately went onto the attack and gained a series of corners from each side of the goal but the resuilting shots were either cleared or wide of the mark. After four minutes of play a long ball was played from midfield to Dewayne Dublin on the right wing and he fired the ball into the Risborough net to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Then Risborough came on the attack, the ball being lifted over Phil’s head as he came out. As the ball rolled towards goal a Hithercroft defender dashed back and cleared the ball as it was about to roll over the goal-line. Hithercroft sent another long ball down the middle to Dewayne and his shot went past the keeper and was followed into the net by Duane White as he shielded the ball from a defender. The referee at first disallowed the goal, believing that Duane had touched the ball whilst in an off-side position but the Risborough manager, who ran the line, sportingly put him straight and the goal was allowed. This put Hithercroft two goals up by the seventh minute. Then, just 5 minutes later Dewayne took the ball down the right wing and hammered the ball diagonally over the keeper into the far side of the goal to further increase the Hithercroft lead. Risborough were having an equal amount of possession, often threatening the visitor’s goal, but their shots were not always on target until at 10.22 their No.11 came in from the left and scored their opening goal. Five minutes later the Hithercroft goalkeeper, Phil Lines, damaged his knee as he went down for the ball and had to leave the field for the remainder of the game. Hithercroft then brought on Luke Patton to take over the keeper’s duties in his first ever League game for the team. He had been taken on as an outfield player and yet performed extremely well in this role. The next goal occurred at 10.32 when a Risborough attack saw No.21 score from the left, being accompanied by two supporting players who had run past a lone Hithercroft defender. Hithercroft responded with a run from Christie White who collided with the Risborough keeper, the ball then reaching Duane White who slotted it into the net but was adjudged to have been off-side. Risborough’s defence held out well against Hithercroft’s attacks, most of which took the form of long kicks from Luke to his forwards. However, success came in the 38th minute when Luke’s long ball reached Dewayne Dublin and he passed it over to Duane White. Duane played a great curving shot that floated round the keeper into the left side of the goal to put Hithercroft 4-2 ahead at the break.

Just one minute into the second half Risborough reduced their deficit to one goal when their No.14 out on the wing put the ball past Luke as he came forward to intercept. However the 2-goal difference was restored a few minutes later when Duane White headed the ball home from a corner. Kevin Ife came off for a while and was replaced by Matthew Laughlin. From a throw-in to Risborough in the 19th minute of the half John Odro took the ball down the wing and sent it across for No.14 to score the fourth goal for the home team. Risborough then began to dominate the game and had some near misses before, two minutes later, No.14 scored to level the score at 5-all. After 26 minutes of second-half play No.21 put Risborough into the lead for the first time in the match. Kevin then returned to replace Matt. Hithercroft stepped up their game but, in spite of end-to-end play neither side managed to add to their tally and the game finished with Risborough’s second win of the season.

Hithercroft had started well but then went ‘off the boil’ when 4-2 up. Risborough never let their heads drop and kept up the pressure, being inspired as they steadily reduced the deficit and realised that they could pull off a victory.


Hithercroft scorers: Dewayne Dublin (3), Duane White (2)

Hithercroft MoM: Luke Patton, Robin Graham, Dewayne Dublin and Duane White.

Risborough scorers: No.11, No.21 (2) and No.14 (3)