The game kicked off at 11.15am with Hithercroft playing from right to left as viewed from the clubhouse. After 9 minutes the visitors went into the lead when they took the ball down the right wing, crossed it inside to their No.8 who hit a fierce shot at goal. Keeper Alan managed to get his hands to it but unable to prevent it ending up in the back of the net. Just 2 minutes later Fleece went further ahead when their No.2 had a shot that was pushed out by Alan but their No.16 struck the ball back into the net for a 2-0 lead. In the 13th minute Fleece were awarded a free kick about 30 yards from the Hithercroft goal-line and the No.6 fired off a shot only to be denied a goal when Alan dived to his right to retrieve the ball. Five minutes later Alan sent a goal-kick down the middle to Baz, Baz pushed it out to Matt who then crossed it back inside for Simon to hit a diving header straight at the keeper. Dougie had to leave the field in the 25th minute with a groin strain and Richard Vere went on as his replacement. Seven minutes later Fleece struck again when Matt headed the ball clear but the Fleece No.11 struck the ball from about 20 yards out and it ended up just inside the left-hand post putting the visitors 3-0 ahead. However, Hithercroft were not about to give up without a fight and on 34 minutes Baz played the ball down the middle, Simon collected it and ran through the defence and struck a superb shot into the net to put his team on the score-sheet. Four minutes later the Fleece No.8 hit a shot from outside the 18-yard box but Alan dived to pull off another fine save. In the 39th minute Sam received the ball from a long clearance and hit a 25-yard shot that had the Fleece keeper diving to his left to keep the ball out. After a further 3 minutes Simon pushed the ball forward to Andre and, despite the linesman flagging for off-side, he pushed the ball into the net and the goal was allowed to stand bringing Hithercroft back to 2-3 down just before half-time.

At 12.10pm the second half got under way, Hithercroft sending on Jamaine Humphrey in place of Loz who was not feeling too well. Alan was once again put under pressure, pulling off some fine saves in the first five minutes. Further substitutions were made by Hithercroft in the 59th minute when Jermaine Young and Richard McKee (brother of Alan) went on to replace Paul and Matt. In the 62nd minute Golden Fleece scored their fourth goal when their No.5 hit a shot across the goal into the far side of the net. With 20 minutes remaining Baz went back onto the pitch replacing Andre who, like Simon and Richard McKie, was making his debut for the home team. Although Hithercroft had a number of opportunities to reduce their deficit they were unable to put the ball into their opponents’ net and when the final whistle went they had lost 2-4 to a very good Premier Division side.

Hithercroft scorers: Simon Woodbine (24 mins), Andre Neverson (42 mins)

Hithercroft team: Alan McKie (GK), Jamaine Warner, David Blackman, Dougie Carswell, Peter Morgan, Paul Morgan, Loz Dunn, Baz David, Simon Woodbine, Andre Neverson, Matt Seaton, Richard Vere, Jamaine Humphrey, Tyrone Francis, Jermaine Young, Richard McKie. (11 + 5 used subs)