Snooker Leisure Res (04/09/2005)
2005 - 2006 Season, Hithercroft Youth

The first league game of the season for Hithercroft Youth was away against Snooker Leisure Reserves, played at the Bourne End Social Club ground in Hedsor Road. The weather was very warm and sunny with a very slight breeze. The referee was Mr D. Hook and Brian Lewis ran the line for Hithercroft whilst Pat Vaughey is on holiday.

The game began at 10.29am and neither goalkeeper were put under pressure until 10.38am when Snooker Leisure took a corner and sent the ball into the 6-yard box from where Simon Mines punched the ball clear. Eight minutes later Baz David sent a corner to the edge of the 18-yard box and Jermaine Young drove the ball toward the top left corner of the net only to be denied by the Snooker Leisure keeper leaping up and getting his hand to the ball. At 10.48am from a Snooker Leisure corner Simon pushed the ball out and both teams were heading the ball around the 18-yard area before the Snooker Leisure's No.11 tried a shot that Peter stopped with his hand and so a penalty kick was awarded. The home team's No.10 sent the kick to the left of Simon, who dived in the right direction and got his hand to the ball but was unable to prevent it's progress into the back of the net just inside the left-hand post and so our opponents were 1-0 ahead. For the remainder of the first half both teams had about an equal share of the ball but neither managed to change the scoreline.

The second half began at 11.20am and after 2 minutes of play Dewayne Dublin sent the ball into the middle from the right, where Jermaine collected it on the edge of the 18-yard box and drove it to the right of the keeper to bring Hithercroft level. In the 52nd minute Hithercroft sent on Eugene to replace Dewayne and six minutes later sent on Mike to replace Jermaine, who had suffered an ankle injury. Play continued from end to end but neither keeper were being troubled. In the 74th minute Hithercroft's Loz Dunn was replaced by Terry, being the final substitution for the visitors. Hithercroft had two opportunities to go ahead but shots from Terry and Eugene were both directed at the Snooker Leisure keeper who safely cleared the ball on both occasions. When Hithercroft were awarded a free kick from the middle of the field and about 30 yards out Alan McKie hit his shot over the crossbar. At 12.01pm the deadlock was broken when Eugene sent the ball into the middle, Baz ran onto it and chipped it over the keeper to put Hithercroft ahead 2-1. In the latter stages of the game the home team were tiring and allowed Hithercroft to step up the pressure. Following the referee's whistle that acknowledged an off-side flag Baz continued his run and took a shot at goal that earned him a yellow card and a place in the referee's book. There had been a number of stoppages during the second half and at 12.03pm the referee indicated that there were five minutes of play remaining. At 12.07pm Eugene chipped the ball into the middle from the left wing and the ball was headed out to Terry who let fly with a shot at goal. The ball hit Tyrone who then turned and drove the ball just inside the left-hand post, extending Hithercroft's lead to 3-1. Tyrone later had another shot on target but the keeper dived to gather it, released it as he hit the ground but managed to scramble back and retrieve it before it could roll across the goal-line. The final whistle was blown at 12.12pm giving Hithercroft maximum points from their first league game of the season.

Hithercroft scorers: Jermaine Young (47m), Baz David (86m) and Tyrone Francis (92m)

Hithercroft M.o.M: Mark Sadler.

Hithercroft team: Simon Mines (GK), Mark Sadler, David Blackman, Peter Morgan, Alan McKie, Tyrone Francis, Baz David, Paul Morgan, Loz Dunn, Dewayne Dublin and Jermaine Young.

Hithercroft subs: Eugene Hepburn, Terry Carter and Mike Pearce.

Hithercroft unused subs: Jamaine Warner and Richard Vere.