Penn & Tylers Green (22/02/2004)
2003 - 2004 Season, Hithercroft Under 16s



After a run of six away games Hithercroft returned to the Pedestal for the first time in 2004. The weather was overcast and there were occasional showers during the first half and a cold wind blew throughout. Sam again began the match standing on the sidelines as Luke Tadgell, who was absent last week, returned. Kevin Ife took over the linesman’s duties shortly before the end of the first half as the regular linesman had to get away early.

The game got under way at noon and within a minute Penn had taken the ball down the field and deposited it in the Hithercroft net for a 1-0 lead. In the 9th minute Penn attacked once again and fired a powerful shot at goal, only to be foiled by Dan Reading, the Hithercroft keeper, leaping up to push the ball over the crossbar. Then Hithercroft were awarded a free-kick just outside the Penn 18-yard box and Dan Biggs sent the ball to Tyrone Francis, who unfortunately took too long over his shot and was dispossessed. At 12.20 Luke had a good chance to score but his shot went wide. Penn also missed an opportunity when, attempting to lob the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, they put the ball over the bar. Back came Hithercroft with three further shots at goal but the first went wide and the opposing keeper saved the next two. At 12.32 Hithercroft took a corner from their left and Frank Smith sent the ball into the goal area where Tyrone collected it and put it into the visitor’s net to level the score. Five minutes later Penn again took the lead with a header and so were 2-1 ahead at the half-time whistle.

During the second half both goalkeepers pulled off some superb saves and, like the first half, the play moved from end to end. After 3 minutes the Penn No 16 sent the ball into the middle, received a return pass and came inside to push the ball under the diving keeper’s body to extend their lead to 3-1. Then Hithercroft’s Paul Morgan sent the ball down the left for Tyrone to collect and take round two Penn players before passing it on to Dan Biggs. Dan mis-kicked the ball and sent it out of play. Shots followed from both sides but without success until the 14th minute when Penn slipped the ball just inside the goalpost to put themselves 4-1 up. Two minutes late, Hithercroft’s Dan Davy sent a long ball forward and Tyrone hit the ball past the Penn goalkeeper to score a second goal for the home team. Immediately after the restart Penn tried a shot that Dan, in goal, dived to reach but he was unable to gather it cleanly and a Penn player followed in to tap the ball into the net to put Penn 5-2 ahead. Unfortunately, after 30 minutes of the half, Tyrone received an injury when fouled in the Penn 18-yard box and had to leave the field and so Sam came on to replace him for the remainder of the game. Dan Davy took the penalty but it was not a strong or well-placed shot and the Penn keeper dived to save it. The final goal came Penn’s way 10 minutes later just before the final whistle giving them a 6-2 victory.

This game had seen both sides sharing possession and territorial advantage but Penn were superior in their passing ability, fitness and determination to battle for every ball.


Hithercroft scorers: Tyrone Francis (2).

Referee: Clive Chard