Flackwell Heath - Friendly (05/09/2004)
2004 - 2005 Season, Hithercroft Youth



This game, our second friendly of the season, was against first division opposition and christened our new nets. The weather was very hot and sunny and it was therefore decided to play the game over 4 twenty-minute sessions to allow for 5-minute rest breaks. The grass was quite long and in need of a cut. Pam ran the line for Hithercroft, Des still having problems with his left arm and shoulder. She did very well, this being her first time with the flag. David Blackman was unable to attend this fixture as he is suffering from tonsillitis but Richard Vere and Dan Birch were available following their return from holidays.

The game started at 2.02pm and the first goal came after five minutes when Hithercroft’s Paul Morgan got onto the end of a cross from the wing and put the ball into the visitor’s net. A few minutes later the Hithercroft No. 4 crossed the ball into the area from the left but Tyrone Francis headed the ball wide of the post. Another opportunity was missed when Tyrone sent a corner across the face of the goal but none of the Hithercroft attackers connected with the ball.

Shortly after the start of the second quarter Dewayne Dublin crossed the ball from the right into the goal area and Paul Morgan chested the ball into the Flackwell Heath goal to score his second goal. Two minutes later Flackwell went onto the attack pushing the ball forward into the Hithercroft penalty area. Three or four defenders chased the ball back as Simon Mines came forward to collect it, and in the confusion a defender tapped the ball away from Simon and it fell to the visiting No.11 to send it into the empty net to close the gap to 2-1. Soon after, the Flackwell Heath No.10 burst through the defence, only to see his shot punched wide by the diving Hithercroft keeper. Eugene then suffered a leg injury and Gordon came on as his replacement.

The third quarter (or second half) started at 2.58pm but with a bad start for the home team as the referee requested that one of their players be substituted following an unfair tackle and he also warned another about use of bad language. After ten minutes Rhydian Grange was pushed in the back in the penalty area whilst attacking the Flackwell Heath goal and the referee awarded Hithercroft a penalty. Paul hit his shot to the right of the keeper, sending him the wrong way and so Hithercroft went 3-1 ahead. The visitors began to settle more into the game in this session but the score remained unchanged for the rest of the quarter.

The final quarter began at 3.23pm and Flackwell Heath went straight onto the attack. Simon dived to punch the ball out following a well-struck shot on goal but it fell to the visiting No.14 who was following in and his shot narrowed the scoreline to 3-2. At 3.30pm Baz scored a superb goal, flicking the ball over his head, turning and then hitting it into the goal to restore the 2-goal lead. Hithercroft were awarded a free kick on the left when Eugene, who had recovered from his leg injury, was brought down after the ball had gone. Tyrone crossed the ball in but it was headed wide of the post. Eugene then sent in a ball from the right to Tyrone who jinked it past three defenders but hit his shot just outside the left-hand post. Richard then sent a great through-ball down the middle to Dewayne but the keeper blocked Dewayne’s shot. Dewayne later had another shot on target but the Flackwell Heath goalkeeper again foiled his attempt to increase Hithercroft’s lead. The home team had really upped the pace in this final session but the score remained unaltered when the final whistle was blown.

This was an encouraging performance by Hithercroft and, as they continue to gel as a team, should do well in whichever division they are eventually placed for this season.

Hithercroft team:- Simon Mines, Dewayne Dublin, Tyrone Francis, Eugene, Richard Vere, Paul & Peter Morgan, Jamaine Warner, Dan Birch, 'Baz' David, Rhydian Grange and Gordon Preston.