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| Italia
Unita - Combination Challenge Cup (15/10/2006) 2006 - 2007 Season, Afc Hithercroft  This first round of the Combination Challenge Cup took place at Holmer Green F.C’s Sports Ground in Watchett the weather being dry but chilly and cloudy with a wind blowing across the pitch. Italia Unita were currently at the top of the Premier Division with Afc Hithercroft lying 2nd in Division 3. Pam Ife ran the line for Hithercroft and the referee was Mr Graeme Featherstone. The game began at 10.29am and in the 9th minute Italia opened the scoring when they crossed the ball in from the right and their No.4 (Ben Filmore) found the left-hand corner of the net. Six minutes later Italia took the ball down the middle into the Hithercroft 18-yard box and their No.11 (Callum Coull) put the home side 2-0 ahead with a well-struck shot. In the 17th minute the Italia goalkeeper picked up the ball following a back-pass and a free-kick was awarded to Hithercroft. Frank Smith took the kick, playing it short to Tyrone Francis who mis-kicked the ball high over the Italia crossbar. On 25 minutes the Italia No.10 (Jason Bowler) collected a long ball on the right and crossed it inside for their No.11 (Callum Coull) to put the ball past keeper, Neil Stretton, for Italia’s third goal. Three minutes later Neil had to tip the ball over the bar from a goal-bound shot but on 37 minutes, although he went down to block a shot from the Italia No.9 (Marcello Macedo), the ball rolled free and an opposing player (Callum Coull) tapped the ball over the goal-line for a 4-0 lead. Three minutes later Ashley Anderson won the ball and crossed it towards Kevin Howell, who was then brought down inside the penalty area and Mr Featherstone awarded a penalty-kick. Baz David hit his shot to the right but the keeper dived to push the ball out and Ashley came in from the right to hit the rebounding ball towards goal. However, the Italia keeper very quickly regained his feet and pushed Ashley’s shot out of play. The second half kicked off at 11.20am and within a couple of minutes Baz received an injury to his left knee just outside the Italia 18-yard box and had to leave the field for treatment. Ten minutes into the half Neil sent the ball down to Ashley, he crossed the ball to Frank but Frank’s shot from the left-hand edge of the 18-yard box was deflected across field by the keeper. Three minutes later Italia made their first of three substitutions bringing on No.17 to replace their No.7. From a corner kick on the right of the Hithercroft goal a high ball came across and was headed (by Jason Bowler) into the far corner of the net to put Italia 5-0 up on 59 minutes. Five minutes later Italia replaced their No.4 with their No.12 and in the 69th minute Baz, who was still having problems with his knee injury, was replaced by Jamaine Humphrey. On 72 minutes Italia replaced their No.9 (Marcello) with their No.8 (Matty Pollard). One minute later Ashley battled for the ball and pushed it forward down the middle to Paul Morgan. Paul took it on and stuck it into the right-hand side of the net to score for Hithercroft. In the 78th minute an Italia shot, from an acute angle on the right by Tony Bonaventura, found the far side of the Hithercroft net to put Italia 6-1 ahead. Ashley came close to increasing Hithercroft’s score in the 87th minute when his shot, from a Dan Birch pass, went just wide of the post. One minute into added time the Italia No.8 (Matty Pollard) got his head to the ball, crossed in from the right, and gave his side a 7-1 win. Italia Unita exhibited quick and accurate passing with plenty of running off the ball and thoroughly deserved their win but Hithercroft had shown great spirit and had put up a good performance against excellent opponents. Hithercroft scorer: Paul Morgan (73 mins ) Hithercroft team: Neil Stretton (GK), Kris Clark, Leon Browne, Paul Morgan, Frank Smith, Dan Birch, Tyrone Francis, Baz David, Alan McKie, Ashley Anderson and Kevin Howell. Hithercroft subs: Jamaine Humphrey replaced Baz David (69 mins) and Jamaine Warner replaced Leon Browne (79 mins) Hithercroft M.o.M: Tyrone Francis |
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