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Lion - Friendly (19/08/2007) 2007 - 2008 Season, Afc Hithercroft  Afc Hithercroft had their first friendly of the new season against Red Lion, which took place at the Pedestal. The weather was overcast but remained dry throughout the game. The pitch had fairly long grass and the pitch markings are not very clear. The referee was Mr Ashley Rattray from the Red Lion and Pat ran the line for Hithercroft during the first half with Pam taking over for the second. This was a good opportunity for AFC Hithercroft to see their prospective new players under game conditions and all players that attended were given an outing. The game kicked off at 11.27am with Hithercroft playing from right to left, as viewed from the clubhouse, and wearing their yellow/blue kit. After 13 minutes of fairly even possession the Red Lion No.11 sent the ball across from the right and it went through the Hithercroft keeper’s legs into the far side of the net to put the visitors 1-0 ahead. Then Hithercroft failed to make full use of their shooting opportunities, sending their shots wide or directly at the defenders. However, on the stroke of noon, Hithercroft scored an equaliser when Frank Smith passed the ball forward to Baz David, Baz took the ball round a defender and hit the ball just wide of the keeper into the net. Two minutes later the home team made some substitutions, sending on Mike Baldock, Kevin Howell and Paul Morgan to replace Ryan Forbes, Tyrone Francis and Lyle Edwards. More shots from both sides followed with Red Lion hitting the crossbar on one occasion but, by the half-time whistle the score remained at 1-1. As the second half got under way at 12.20pm Jason Guy had departed for work, Luke Revell and Dan Allman also having come off with Dan Birch, Josh Peters and Peter Morgan going on as replacements. After four minutes of play Mark Charman received an ankle injury following a wayward tackle from a Red Lion player and he had to leave the field for the remainder of the game, Dan Allman returning as his replacement. At 12.28pm Peter Morgan also sustained an ankle injury in a similar incident and took no further part in the game, Tyrone then returning to the field of play. In the 11th minute of the second half Frank played the ball out to Baz who then slipped the ball between a defender’s legs but hit a shot straight at the keeper. Three minutes later Paul Morgan from out on the right sent the ball into the 18-yard box and Kevin Howell flicked the ball into the Red Lion net to put Hithercroft 2-1 ahead. At 12.38pm Baz received the ball and hit a shot that rebounded from the upright. Baz collected it, moved to his right to a central position and then hit the ball into the net to increase the home team’s lead. Following an injury Baz was taken off for a rest and Lyle went on as his replacement. Mike Baldock was unfairly brought down about 25 yards out and Hithercroft were awarded a direct free kick. Frank stepped up to take the kick and sent the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net (a ‘Beckhamesque’ shot as he later described it) giving his side a 4-1 lead in the 69th minute. At this point Ryan went back on to replace Paul and seven minutes later Luke replaced Mike Baldock. Ten minutes before the end Paul returned as Frank came off and four minutes later Baz returned to replace Kevin. Lyle played the ball forward and Paul ran behind the defence to put the ball into the back of the net, only to be denied a place on the scoresheet by the linesman’s off-side flag. On the 90th minute a Red Lion forward broke through and hit the ball into the Hithercroft net to make the final score 4-2 to Hithercroft. This result was identical to that of the previous meeting between the two clubs in the final game of last season.
Hithercroft team (starters): Mike Dewing (GK), Kris
Clark, Luke Revell, Jason Guy, Baz David, Frank Smith (Capt), Tyrone
Francis, Dan Allman, Mark Charman, Ryan Forbes, Lyle Edwards Red Lion scorers: No.11 (13m), Unknown (90m) |
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