Fleece Res - Subsidiary Cup (23/04/2006)
2005 - 2006 Season, Hithercroft Youth



The outcome of this game would have no effect on the Cup competition as AFC Golden Cross were the Semi-Final qualifiers from this group. The weather was overcast but dry and the playing surface was moist but firm. The referee was Mr Eric Faulkner and Pam Ife ran the line for Hithercroft. Unfortunately, Hithercroft were only able to field ten players for this home game with Leon Read playing whilst suffering from flu. Fleece Res were able to use all three of their substitutes in the second half.

At 10.32am the game kicked off with Hithercroft playing in a 4-4-1 formation, that they maintained for the complete match. The first goal went to the home side when, in the 9th minute, Tyrone Francis crossed the ball into the middle and Paul Morgan ran forward to strike the ball into the Fleece goal. Tyrone came close himself when he later hit a shot that was tipped over the crossbar by the Fleece keeper. In the 19th minute the Fleece No.8 sent in a curving shot that went just outside the left-hand upright. Three minutes later Loz Dunn sent the ball forward, Leon pushed it forward and Baz David took the ball to the right of the keeper and slipped it into the net for Hithercroft’s second. In the 27th minute Baz made the score 3-0 when he came into the 18-yard box and hit an angled shot past the advancing goalkeeper. However, 9 minutes later Fleece got on the score sheet when their No.9 hit a high and angled shot that went over the keeper’s head and ended up in the far side of the net. This 3-1 score-line remained until the interval.

At 11.27am the second half began and, during this half the visitors made good use of their subs whilst Hithercroft were unable to maintain their commitment and the pressure that they had shown in the first half. Matt Hedges pulled off a good save in the 54th minute when he dived to push a powerful shot from the Fleece No.10 round the post. In the 64th minute the Fleece No.8 brought the ball to the edge of the 18-yard box and hit it into the top right corner of the net to bring his side back to just one goal in arrears. A quarter of an hour later the Fleece No.6 put his side on level terms with a shot from about twenty yards. On the 84th minute Baz and Tyrone were combining to bring the ball into fleece‘s 18-yard area when Baz was tripped from behind, the referee awarding Hithercroft a penalty kick. Loz‘s shot was sent in low and without sufficient pace, allowing the keeper to dive and get his hand to the ball to prevent the goal. The score-line remained at 3-3 until the final whistle was blown, leaving Hithercroft wondering how the game would have turned out if they had been able to field a full team.

Hithercroft Scorers: Paul Morgan (9m), Baz David (22m, 27m)

Hithercroft team: Matt Hedges (GK), Jamaine Warner, Alan McKie, Peter Morgan, Dan Birch, Loz Dunn, Leon Read, Tyrone Francis, Baz David and Paul Morgan.