Bedgrove Dynamos - Mini League (26/09/2004)
2004 - 2005 Season, Hithercroft Youth



The weather was cloudy and overcast at the start of this game, the first in the mini-league series to determine into which Division teams will be placed. As the game progressed the chilly breeze died down and the sun made an appearance. Hithercroft had no subs available this week and Bedgrove Dynamos had just one sub, whom they used part way into the second half. Kevin Ife again ran the line and the referee was Andy Ottaway.

This game started off with a fairly even first half in which both teams had a few good goal-scoring chances but failed to take them. Hithercroft began to edge the possession in the last 10 minutes but conceded a goal in the 43rd minute when Bedgrove's No 6 sent in a free kick that was headed home by their No 8, Taran Ashall.

In the second half the home team continued to have the better of the game but were still being let down by poor finishing. Shortly into the half Dan Birch, having been pushed in the back by a Bedgrove player, made an overly-colourful appeal to the referee which earned him a yellow-card. Bedgrove then had an opportunity following a free-kick on the half-way line which sent the ball down the middle but was then headed wide by their No 4. Then, from a throw-in on the right Rhydian Grange crossed the ball to Tyrone Francis, who attempted a bicycle kick but put the ball wide. Again Hithercroft came close when Rhydian, on the right wing, sent the ball infield and Tyrone, the Hithercroft captain, headed the ball over the advancing keeper but the ball hit the crossbar and rebounded back into the turning keeper's arms. Eventually Hithercroft had the breakthrough that they deserved in the 87th minute. Defender Richard Vere hit a long ball out to Rhydian on the wing, who sent it across field to Tyrone. Tyrone then laid it back to Dan Birch who hammered the ball home for the equaliser. In spite of further pressure from the home team the game finished a 1-all draw.

Hithercroft team:-
Simon Mines, Richard Vere, Jamaine Warner, Ben Steele, Rhydian Grange, Paul & Peter Morgan, Tyrone Francis (captain), Gordon Preston, Dewayne Dublin and Dan Birch.


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

In Group B, Hithercroft and Bedgrove Dynamos shared the points after a 1-1 draw. Hithercroft were trailing to a 43rd minute goal but they came close when Rhydian Grange picked out captain Tyrone Francis, who headed the ball over the advancing keeper only to see it bounce back off the crossbar. Eventually Hithercroft got the breakthrough in the 87th minute. Defender Richard Vere hit a long ball out to Grange on the wing, who sent it across field to Francis. He laid it back to Dan Birch who hammered the ball home for the equaliser.