Bedgrove Dynamos (08/05/2005)
2004 - 2005 Season, Hithercroft Youth



The weather for this game was cloudy but with some gaps that allowed the sun to shine through occasionally. There was a chilly breeze that was blowing along the pitch and a few spots of rain fell during the game but it mainly held off until the game had been completed. The referee was Mr Paul Lomas and the linesmen were Kevin Ife and Harry Sunderland. This game was the first league meeting between these two teams, the pre-season Mini-League game having ended in a 1-1 draw.

The game kicked off at 2.06pm and the first two shots at goal went to the home team. The first came from a throw-in close to the corner flag when Baz David sent the ball long, it was headed on by captain Paul Morgan and Ben Steele’s subsequent header went wide of the post. Then Alan McKie, on the half-way line, tried a long high shot that had Rubani Street-Hamilton, the Bedgrove keeper, back-pedalling towards his goal but the ball descended just over the crossbar. In the 18th minute Baz brought down John Lloyd, catching his right foot from behind and, as a consequence, John had to leave the field and took no further part in the game, being replaced by Craig Beale. Two minutes later Dewayne Dublin took a return pass from Paul and hit a terrific shot from 20-yards that curved inside the left-hand post to put Hithercroft 1-0 ahead. Six minutes later the Bedgrove keeper sent a long clearance downfield, Frank Blacher collected it and hit a great shot across the goal and into the far top right-hand corner of the net to level the score. At 2.35pm Paul played the ball out to Rhydian Grange on the right and as he ran forward he struck a shot that passed just outside the right-hand post. Bedgrove’s Rhys Ashall came close when his on-target shot had Hithercroft keeper, Simon Mines, diving to keep the ball out of his net. Simon was again called upon a few minutes later when Aran Harthill sent in a high corner kick from the right and Simon tipped the ball over the crossbar to give Aran another corner on the left. Nothing came of this one when Simon safely gathered the incoming ball. On the 34-minute mark Simon’s long clearance kick went to Paul who pushed it out left to Dan Birch. As Dan turned inside he tried a shot that Rubani managed to get his feet to, sending the ball out for a corner. Two minutes later Hithercroft came very close to getting their second goal when Ben’s shot hit the left-hand upright. Then Bedgrove’s Mark Sunderland gathered the ball and played it back to Aran who’s long-distance shot went outside of the left-hand post. The first half came to a close at 2.53pm with the score standing level at 1-1.

The second half began at 2.58pm and the home team went straight into action with Dan sending the ball across the 18-yard box, the defence clearing the ball as far as Rhydian who played it forward to Paul. Paul turned on the edge of the box but struck the ball just outside the right-hand post. Eight minutes into this second half Aran took a corner and floated the ball across to the far post from where Joe Chapman came in but headed it over the Hithercroft crossbar. At 3.10pm David Blackman came on to replace Dan, who had been hit in the face by a powerfully hit ball at close range. In the 60th minute Baz struck a terrific 30-yard shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and continued into the back of the net to put Hithercroft back into the lead. The lead only lasted for four minutes when Rhys sent the ball forward to Mark, who then turned inside and struck the ball just inside the right-hand post to bring the visitors level again. At this point Hithercroft too the opportunity to make their second substitution, taking off Rhydian. At 3.19pm Bedgrove were awarded a free-kick about 20 yards out from the Hithercroft goal and Aran tapped the ball to Craig who sent his shot wide of the right-hand post. Four minutes later Ian Chiarello and Rhys set off down the wing, inter-passing the ball before crossing it into the middle to Mark Sunderland, at the edge of the 18-yard box, but he was off-balance as he sent a shot high over the crossbar. Hithercroft had a couple of corners awarded to the right of the goal but on both occasions Baz sent in low crosses that Rhys cleared each time. One minute before the final whistle Hithercroft had a number of shots blocked inside the 18-yard box when Richard Vere suddenly appeared from his defensive position, found an opening and sent the ball through the gap to give Hithercroft the winner.

This game had consisted of a lot of long balls down the middle but both sets of defensive players coped well with the dangers. The game had been played in a sporting manner, both teams giving the ball back to the opposing keepers following interruptions of play. It had been an exciting game to watch and the return match will hopefully turn out to be just as exciting.


Hithercroft's M.O.M: Baz David

Bedgrove's M.O.M: Toby Creswell

Hithercroft scorers:-
Dewayne Dublin (20 mins), Baz David (60 mins) and Richard Vere (89 mins)

Bedgrove Dynamos scorers:-
Frank Blacher (26 mins) and Mark Sunderland (64 mins)

Hithercroft team:-
Simon Mines, Dan Birch, Baz David, Dewayne Dublin, Paul Morgan, Peter Morgan, Ben Steele, Mark Sadler, Richard Vere, Alan McKie and Rhydian Grange.
The subs used were David Blackman and Jamaine Warner(E).

Bedgrove Dynamos team:-
From Rhys Ashall, Taran Ashall, Frank Blacher, Ian Chiarello, Toby Cresswell, John Lloyd, Steve Moore, Mark Sunderland, Rubani Street-Hamilton, Joe Chapman, Aran Harthill and Ashley Jenkins.
The sub used was Craig Beale.


The following short report was sent to the SBYL for submission to the Bucks Free Press 'Midweek' edition:-

A win was vital to both teams when Bedgrove Dynamos visited Hithercroft Youth on Sunday. Hithercroft need wins from all their remaining 4 games to take the runner-up spot in Division 2 and Bedgrove need wins from their last 2 games, both against Hithercroft, to end up third. It turned out to be end-to-end play with the outcome being in doubt until the final whistle. Hithercroft opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Dewayne Dublin took a return pass from captain Paul Morgan and hit a 20-yard curving shot inside the left-hand post. Six minutes later the Bedgrove keeper's long clearance was collected by Frank Blacher and he hit a great shot into the far top right-hand corner of the net to level the score. Fifteen minutes into the second half Hithercroft took the lead again when Baz David struck a terrific 30-yard shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and ended up in the back of the net. Four minutes later Rhys Ashall sent the ball forward to his Bedgrove team-mate Mark Sunderland who turned inside and struck the ball just inside the right-hand post to bring the visitors level again. One minute before the final whistle Hithercroft were having shots blocked in the goal-mouth before Richard Vere found an opening and scored the winner for Hithercroft.