Bird In Hand United - Combination Cup (19/10/2008)
2008 - 2009 Season, Afc Hithercroft



The day began very dull and cloudy but the sun broke through towards the end of the first half of this Combination Cup game at the Pedestal between Afc Hithercroft and Bird in Hand United. The opponents wore red shirts and black shorts whilst the home team wore their blue/white striped shirts and white shorts. Afc Hithercroft had an amazing 8 substitutes available and Shakib Latif ‘volunteered’ to run the line on the understanding that he would get a game next week. The referee, who had an excellent game, was Mr Karl Tribe.

The game kicked off at 10.38am with Hithercroft playing from right to left when viewed from the clubhouse. Within 2 minutes the home team took the lead when the ball was played down the left, Frank Smith brought it infield and struck an angled shot into the far right-hand side of the net. Jahmel Sutton, the Hithercroft captain, sent a couple of shots wide of the post and United sent in a corner that drifted out of play, landing on top of the Hithercroft net. United made the first substitution of the game in the 22nd minute, Olly Barrow coming on to take over the No.9 shirt from the previous wearer. Ryan Forbes went on a run down the left, was tripped but managed to stay on his feet but then lost control of the ball near the corner flag so the referee called play back for a free kick. Frank Smith took the kick and sent in a high cross that was put out of play on the far left for a corner kick to the home team. Frank sent in a high ball and Kris Clark jumped up and headed the ball down past the keeper to give Hithercroft a 2-0 lead in the 27th minute. Hithercroft had a number of opportunities to extend their lead but their shots were all off-target. The worst miss came in the 40th minute when the ball was sent across the face of the goal and, with the keeper sprawled on the ground, Luke Revell ran in towards the left-hand post and then lofted the ball over the crossbar.

The second half got under way at 11.32am and Hithercroft immediately went on the offensive, Frank crossing the ball from the left but the United keeper dived to push the ball away from Niko Catigoudis as he came running in. In the 53rd minute Hithercroft sent on Glenn Allman to replace Luke Revell and 5 minutes later United made their second replacement sending on their No.16. On 63 minutes Baz David took to the field to replace Frank who was limping from an ankle injury. Two minutes later Baz sent the ball into the middle, Jahmel’s shot was blocked but the ball fell to Niko who dispatched it into the United net to put Hithercroft 3-0 up. United made their final substitution in the 66th minute replacing their No.3 with No.2. On 71 minutes Hithercroft’s John Harry went in with a sliding tackle, giving away a penalty kick to United and Nick Fisher converted from the spot with a powerful shot. However, within sixty seconds of the restart Jahmel’s shot was blocked but the loose ball fell to Niko who struck it into the net to restore Hithercroft’s 3-goal cushion. One minute later Niko had an opportunity to get his hat trick but he was off-balance and sent his shot wide. On 75 minutes United sent a high ball in from the left, keeper Neil Stretton called for the ball to be left only to completely miss it allowing Rob Muir to tap the ball into the net. Hithercroft made their final substitution in the 79th minute when Harry Young went on to replace Jahmel and Baz then took over the captaincy. United came close to scoring again with a couple of near misses but were rewardede in the 84th minute when Hithercroft failed to clear a corner kick from the United No.8 and Olly Barrow ran in to strike the ball into the far right-hand side of the goal. One minute before the end of normal time Baz was deliberately tripped as he went past the No.15 and the referee booked the offender. Baz sent in a curling ball from the resulting free-kick but Niko was off-target with his header and the game finished as a 4-3 win to Afc Hithercroft.

After going 3-0 ahead Hithercroft seemed to think that the game was won and went ‘off-the-boil’ and United did well to come back at them to narrowly lose out by just one goal;. Hithercroft had squandered a number of opportunities which they cannot afford to do if the wish to do well in the League and the Combination Cup this season.

Hithercroft scorers: Frank Smith (2m), Kris Clark (27m), Niko Catigoudis (65m,72m)

Hithercroft M.o.m: Dan Allman

Hithercroft team: Neil Stretton (GK), Ross Drabble, Kris Clark, John Harry, Luke Revell, Frank Smith, Dan Allman, Ryan Forbes, Tyrone Francis, Niko Catigoudis, Jahmel Sutton (capt)
Hithercroft subs: Glenn Allman replaced Luke Revell (53m)
Baz David replaced Frank Smith (63m)
Harry Young replaced Jahmel Sutton (79m)
Unused subs: Shakib Latif, Mark Charman, Jamal Blake, Michael Louise, Michael Pearce

United’s scorers: Nick Fisher (71m penalty), Rob Muir (75m), Olly Barrow (84m)