Wingrave Juniors (15/12/2002)
2002 - 2003 Season, Hithercroft Under 16s



At training on Friday evening it was apparent that Hithercroft would not be able to turn out a full side with players unavailable, sick and injured. Pat Vaughey, the Under 15’s manager, then offered five of his players to make up the numbers as his team did not have a game this weekend. This was gratefully accepted and the approval of the League and the opposition manager was obtained. The ground was in very good condition on Saturday but from the afternoon and throughout the night there was fine rain that caused a few small puddles in the goal areas and made the pitch slightly muddy down the centre. We ‘forked away’ the puddles before the game started and Wingrave officials helped me clear the molehills and put up the nets (for which I am very grateful). Fine drizzle fell throughout the game but it didn’t denegrate from the match which was full of good football from both sides. Hithercroft played in larger red shirts to accomodate one of the larger Under 15s players.

The game kicked off at 11.30am and the Under 15s element of the team soon made their presence felt, especially after 10 minutes when Tyrone Francis took a corner from the left of the field, swinging it into the goal with the Wingrave keeper unable to stop it despite getting his hand to it. The Hithercroft lead lasted for just 7 minutes before the Wingrave No 9 took a shot from the right that Phil Lines, the Hithercroft keeper, managed to push back out but it fell again into the No 9’s path and he made no mistake with his second shot. Possession and territory were being shared between the two sides fairly evenly and it was the 25th minute before the next goal occured. It came from a good interpassing move amongst the Hithercroft players and culminated with Peter Morgan putting the ball into the visitor’s net. On the stroke of half-time, however, Wingrave’s No.10 received a crossed ball and struck it home to bring the score level at 2 all.

Once again the second half started fairly evenly until, in the 7th minute, Wingrave were awarded a free-kick about 25 yards out. The Hithercroft wall were rather reticent to retire the requisite 10 yards and as soon as the referee had moved them back the Wingrave No.9 struck a superb shot that came down just below the crossbar to put Ian Duncan’s lads into the lead for the first time in the match. This inspired the visitors who added another goal, courtesy of their No.12, just 4 minutes later when he ran onto a loose ball and hammered it home. Within 60 seconds of the restart Wingrave added another when their No.9 ran through the defence and pushed the ball past the advancing keeper to put them 5-2 ahead. They further increased their lead 2 minutes later when their No.11 played an angled shot over Phil’s head and the ball hit the inside of the left post and rebounded into the net. However, in the 25th minute of the half, Dewayne Dublin went on a diagonal run towards the right corner and, just when it appeared that he had taken the ball too far, played it across the Wingrave goalmouth for Tyrone Francis to send the ball into the back of the net and close the gap, making the scoreline 6-3. Hithercroft’s 3-goal deficit lasted for just 60 seconds when Wingrave took the ball down the wing and centred it for their No.2 to add to their tally. The final goal of the match came 9 minutes later when the Wingrave No.9 collected the ball on the left wing, turned back inside and with intricate footwork that wrong-footed two or three Hithercroft defenders, made the opening for his shot to find it’s way into the net.

The game had been fairly even in the first half but Wingrave demonstrated their superior skill and determination in the second, emerging as deserving victors by 8 goals to 3.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Pat Vaughey and his boys Tyrone Francis, Peter and Paul Morgan, Dwaine Gordon and Alex Placide for their help in this match.


Hithercroft’s scorers: Tyrone Francis (2) and Peter Morgan

Referee: Clive Chard