Amersham Town - Mini League (03/10/2004)
2004 - 2005 Season, Hithercroft Youth



The weather was cloudy and wet with rain falling throughout the game and this made the pitch rather slippery. Neither side had the luxury of substitutes for this mini-league game and, to avoid a colour clash, Hithercroft played in their second strip of yellow and blue. The referee was Mr Hurst and the linesmen were Kevin Ife and the Amersham Town manager, Tony Sharp.

This game began at 2pm and Amersham made a great start when, from a corner, James Edwards headed the ball into the Hithercroft net after just two minutes. Hithercroft had a number of chances but the majority of their shots on target were hit straight at the Amersham goalkeeper. Half an hour into the game Amersham broke away down the wing and crossed the ball into the centre from where Stuart Ellery put the visitors 2-0 ahead. However, Hithercroft burst into life and within the next two minutes had taken the lead by scoring three times. The first came from a throw-in on the left that went to Dewayne Dublin. He then struck the ball from about 20 yards out and from an almost impossible angle and the ball curved into the far right of the net. This was a brilliant goal and will probably end up as the best of the season. Immediately from the restart Hithercroft gained possession, took the ball down the right wing and Dewayne sent the ball across for Paul Morgan to score the equaliser. Again from the restart the home team gathered the ball, took it down the middle and pushed the ball out to the left. An Amersham defender mis-hit his clearance and Dan Birch came in to score Hithercroft’s third goal. In the 41st minute Hithercroft went further ahead when Gordon Preston squeezed the ball inside the Amersham post.

The second half kicked-off at 2.58pm and after 7 minutes Hithercroft had extended their lead when the ball was taken down the right, crossed for Dewayne to tap it into the net. In the 13th minute of the half Amersham were awarded a free-kick and sent the ball into a crowded goal area. Simon Mines went down on the ball but was unable to gather it, allowing James Ambridge to push the ball home. Three minutes later Simon slipped as he took a goal-kick and the wayward clearance went to Amersham’s Kevin Bulpett who volleyed the ball into the unguarded net, bringing the visitors back to 5-4 down. Both sides had further goal-scoring opportunities but failed to take them. Hithercroft’s best chance came when Dewayne took the ball past the keeper but sent the ball across the face of the open goal, failing to get the right angle to direct it into the net. The game finished with a 5-4 win to Hithercroft which placed them into the Second Division, along with Bedgrove Dynamos and Wingrave United.


Hithercroft team:-
Simon Mines, Richard Vere, Jamaine Warner, Ben Steele, Paul & Peter Morgan, Tyrone Francis, David Blackman, Gordon Preston, Dewayne Dublin and Dan Birch.


The short report that follows is that submitted to the Bucks Free Press Midweek Edition:-

Amersham got away to a great start, scoring the opening goal just 2 minutes into the game with a header by James Edwards. Then, from the 30th to the 33rd minutes came a flurry of four goals. Amersham first extended their lead with a goal by Stuart Ellery but then followed three from Hithercroft. The first was a superb shot from an almost impossible angle from Dewayne Dublin, then followed by goals from Paul Morgan and Dan Birch, respectively. In the 41st minute Hithercroft’s Gordon Preston squeezed the ball into the net for a 4-2 lead at the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Dublin added another for Hithercroft before Amersham hit back twice. Following a free kick Simon Mines, the Hithercroft keeper went down but failed to gather the ball and James Ambridge tapped the ball home. Three minutes later Mines slipped as he took a goal-kick and the misdirected ball was volleyed back into the unguarded net by Kevin Bulpett. When the final whistle blew Hithercroft emerged 5-4 winners.


Based on the above short report submitted to the Bucks Free Press the following appeared in the ‘Midweek’:-

In Group B, Hithercroft beat Amersham Town 5-4, despite trailing after just two minutes. James Edwards headed Amersham in front and they extended their lead on the half-hour mark with a goal by Stuart Ellery. But Hithercroft followed with three goals in quick succession. The first was a superb shot from an almost impossible angle from Dewayne Dublin, followed by goals from Paul Morgan and Dan Birch. In the 41st minute, Hithercroft’s Gordon Preston squeezed the ball into the net for a 4-2 lead at the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Dublin added another for Hithercroft before Amersham hit back twice. Hithercroft keeper, Simon Mines went down but failed to gather the ball and James Ambridge tapped the ball home. Three minutes later, Mines slipped as he took a goal-kick and the misdirected ball was volleyed back into the unguarded net by Kevin Bulpett.