LEAGUE SEASON 1999 - 00

FAC = F.A. Cup, FAT = F.A.Trophy, MPC = Manchester Premier Cup, CSC = Cheshire Senior Cup, ULC = Unibond League Cup,  UPC = Unibond Presidents Cup, UNI =Unibond League, qr = Qualifying Round,  gs = Group Stage, qf =Quarter Final sf =Semi Final  

03-05-00 HYDE UNITED 3 BAMBER BRIDGE 1 UNIBOND 
The Tigers secured second place in the Unibond league for the 3rd time by beating Bamber Bridge at Ewen Fields. Simon Yeo had the first chance of the game, outpacing the 'Bridge defence before chipping Dootson but the ball cleared the crossbar. Bamber went close with a swerving free kick which Bennett had a good look at before it flashed wide of the post. John Foster then sent in a piledriver of a shot which went just over the top with Dootson struggling to reach it. Hyde took the lead on 35 minutes when Simon Yeo latched onto McHugh's poor header and coolly placed the ball over Dootson. Paul Taylor should have scored when he headed wide with no-one marking him at a corner kick. Ally Pickering's delightful cross on 39 minutes was met by Lloyd Richardson who headed past Dootson and into the corner. Lee Trundle had a go for Bamber but shot wide after some nifty play in the penalty area. Hyde finished the game as a contest before the hour was up, Dootson saved with his legs from Yeo after Richardson had put the striker through and then the keeper made a great diving save to deny Foster's shot going into the top corner. From the resulting corner though Lloyd Richardson headed home at the far post to put the Tigers three up in the 57th minute. Although the game was now all but over, the remaining thirty minutes were not without incident, firstly Graham Bennett leapt to his right to save a penalty and shortly after John Foster was sent off after reacting to a bad challenge by Whittaker. Bamber scored a consolation on 85 minutes when Bennett messed up a back pass and ANDY WHITTAKER rolled the ball into the empty net. 

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, P Taylor, Band, Richardson, N Hall, Yeo, Tobin, Pickering. Subs: Salmon for Richardson, M Taylor for Tobin, Marginson.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



29-04-00 RUNCORN 0 HYDE UNITED 3 UNIBOND Att. 229
Hyde now have the chance to secure second place if they beat Bamber Bridge on Wednesday. This is thanks to an excellent all round performance at Canal Street, the venue which holds bad memories from the F A Trophy tie earlier in the season. The Linnets had the better of the opening exchanges and Graham Bennett made a great reaction save to deny Moseley inside the first five minutes. An excellent link up down the left saw Richardson and Band combine before Simon Yeo shot just over the top. Graham Bennett then produced the save of the match to deny a McNally drive which was heading into the top corner, clawing the ball to safety in mid-air. Hyde went in front after 35 minutes, Robertson sent the ball down the left found Yeo whose crossfield ball found Neil Hall in acres of space, he took the ball to the edge of the area, went inside the defender and shot low past Acton into the bottom corner. Runcorn were on top for the first fifteen minutes of the second period, first Bennett saved well from McNally and then the strikers next effort looped off Paul Taylor but Bennett claimed at the second attempt. Going down the hill, Hyde now started to dominate and Yeo went close with a header from Hall's cross. It was no surprise in the 68th minute that the Tigers extended their lead, Richardson set Banim away on the left and his near post cross was well finished by Simon Yeo McNally again went close for the Linnets, heading over from a free kick but Hyde were now on top although the third goal owed more to good luck than anything else. In the 85th minute JohnFoster sent in a cross from the right, Runcorn goalkeeper Richard Acton didn't react as he expected Yeo to connect, but the striker missed the ball and Foster claimed his first goal for Hyde as the ball went in off the far post. Acton made up for his error in the dying moments when he saved with his legs from Steve Tobin after agreat piece of skill in the penalty area gave him his chance. 

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, P Taylor, Band, Richardson, N Hall, Yeo, Banim, Pickering. Subs: Tobin for Banim, M Taylor for Pickering, M Hall for Richardson.


REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



24-04-00 DROYLSDEN 1 HYDE UNITED 3 UNIBOND Att. 473
The Tigers came away from The Butchers Arms with a well deserved win at what is usually their "bogey" ground. Droylsden had the first real chance on 15 minutes, a shot from the left which Bennett did well to tip onto the post. Jody Banim then went close for Hyde when he latched onto Phillips' poor clearance but the 'keeper managed to scramble across his goal to save. It was The Bloods who took the lead in the 31st minute, a Carl Holmes freekick was deflected by the wall, Bennett made a good save in the following melee but Andy Green powered home the loose ball. It took Hyde just four minutes to level the score, Jody Banim broke clear and smashed the ball past Phillips from the edge of the area. Peter Band should have put Hyde ahead when he raced clear thanks to Pickering's through ball but his finish was poor. Hyde went ahead on 45 minutes when Simon Yeo pounced on a mistake at the back and rounded the keeper before shooting high into the goal. Droylsden had a chance to level before the break but Holmes header drifted just past the post. The second half saw Hyde waste chances galore, indeed it took only 30 seconds to register the first shot with Peter Band powering wide at the near post. Lloyd Richardson then went close with a scissors kick after Banim had crossed from the right. Paul Robertson went on a magical run into the Droylsden box but pulled his shot wide of the post with Phillips beaten. Yeo headed straight at Phillips from Pickerings cross and Banim miskicked after Robertson had set him up only
ten yards out. The game was put beyond doubt seven minutes from time when Robertson's corner was punched by Phillips and Simon Yeo slammed the ball home. 

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, P Taylor, band, Richardson,N Hall, Yeo, Banim, Pickering. Subs: Tobin for Banim, M Taylor, M Hall.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



22-04-00 HYDE UNITED 4 HUCKNALL 3 UNIBOND Att. 553
A last minute winner for the second Saturday in a row secured a victory for Hyde in one of the best games at Ewen Fields this season. Hucknall pushed forward in the early moments and although their passing was good they never threatened Graham Bennett's goal. The Tigers took the lead in the 18th minute when following a long ball forward Town goalkeeper Dave McCarthy let the ball slip from his grasp and Lloyd Richardson tapped home the loose ball. Hucknall came straight back and from Richard Taylor's cross, Paul Tomlinson forced Bennett to tip the ball over the top. A mistake by Ally Pickering gave Tomlinson his next chance and this time he made no mistake shooting low into the bottom right of the goal on twenty minutes. Pickering made up for his mistake a minute later by supplying the ball which Lloyd Richardson headed over McCarthy to restore the home sides advantage. To complete a frenetic four minutes Tomlinson broke down the right for Hucknall and fired in a shot off the post to level the match again. In the 27th minute Hucknall took the lead after more bad defending let in Simon Martin to slot past Bennett from close range. Dave Regis then went close for the visitors when his 18 yard shot flashed past the post. On the stroke of half-time Hyde forced their way back into the game, strong play fromPeter Band in the penalty area allowed Lloyd Richardson to grab his hat-trick from close range and send the teams in level at the break. Hyde cut out the mistakes in the second half limiting Hucknall to only one serious attempt from Martin which Bennett pushed round the post for a corner. Simon Yeo went close for Hyde with a glancing header from Pickering's cross and Band was unlucky to see his shot drift wide of the post after Yeo had played him in. Neil Hall set Robertson away down the left but his cross was just inches too far infront of the onrushing Peter Band. In the final minute of the game a cross from Jody Banim was headed goalwards by Band but the ball struck the crossbar and Lloyd Richardson scored his fourth of the game giving the Tigers a victory, this after scoring just 3 in his previous 64 games for the club. 

Team: Bennett, Pickering, Robertson, Wilson, P Taylor, Band, Richardson, N Hall, Yeo, Salmon, M Taylor. Subs: Tobin for Pickering, Foster for M Taylor, Banim for Salmon.


REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



17-04-00 HYDE UNITED 3 COLWYN BAY 0 UNIBOND Att. 374
Hyde's second half performance at a soggy Ewen Fields gave them all three points and put them just one point behind league leaders Leigh RMI. The first half doesn't really deserve a mention as both sides struggled to cope with the conditions and there was no goalmouth action whatsoever. The Tigers took the lead in the 51st minute, Paul Robertson's low drive from 25 yards skidded off Bay keeper Richie Roberts and went over the line, it wasn't pretty but it was the breakthrough. The goal of the night arrived on 67 minutes, Yeo played the ball to Lloyd Richardson who played a one-two with Banim before slamming the ball past Roberts to give Hyde a cushion. Hyde wrapped it up with four minutes left as an excellent ball from Salmon got Simon Yeo away and he walked round the keeper before sidefooting the ball home. Not a great game but Hyde put in the effort in the second period and were deserved winners. 

Team: Bennett, Pickering, Robertson, Wilson, P Taylor, Band, Richardson, N Hall, Yeo, Banim, M Taylor. Subs: Tobin, Salmon for Banim, Griffiths.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



15-04-00 BARROW 1 HYDE UNITED 2 UNIBOND Att. 985
The Tigers kept alive their slim chances of promotion thanks to a last minute winner from Peter Band here at Holker Street. Hyde welcomed back Paul Taylor from injury but were without Jody Banim, John Foster and Ally Pickering from the side which beat Guiseley on Tuesday. Hyde created the better chances of the first ten minutes, first Salmon's flick put through Yeo but Simon Bishop in the Barrow goal got down to block his shot and then Bishop saved again from Yeo when the striker connected with Robertson's corner. Barrow then awoke and started to cause problems for Hyde. They had a goal disallowed for offside before Peverill's powerful shot flew just past the post. Barrow took the lead on 29 minutes, a free kick near thehalfway line was knocked into the box by Lowe, Graham Bennett cleared with his fist but the ball fell kindly to Michael Waller who simply sidefooted the ball into the unguarded goal. Neil Illman was next to try his luck but his shot from just outside the penalty area was straight at Bennett. Barrow had claims for a penalty waved away by the referee shortly before the break after Richardson appeared to have handled whilst back defending. Illman almost increased the home side's advantage two minutes after the break when his looping shot beat Bennett but bounced off the crossbar allowing Hyde to clear. The Tigers equalised in the 50th minute through an unlikely source, Robertson's cross from the left was cleared but the ball dropped to Neil Hall who volleyed home from twenty yards. Paul Robertson then started to cause all kinds off problems for his old club, twice making strong runs down the left and crossing but on both occasions he saw Bishop save well from Yeo's attempts. Illman weaved his way into the area but Bennett stood up well and saved his shot using his legs. Kenny Lowe should have secured a victory for Barrow after breaking clear but he shot wildly over thecrossbar from ten yards with just Bennett to beat. Mark Hume then went close with a header from Illman's free kick but Bennett tipped his effort over the top. Hyde then stole the three points in the final minute after Robertson corner was headed goalbound by Yeo, Bishop saved and Peter Band knocked home the loose ball from six yards. 

Team: Bennett, M Taylor, Robertson, Wilson, P Taylor, Band, Richardson, N Hall, Yeo, Salmon, Marginson. Subs: Tobin for Marginson (69), Mark Hall for Salmon (79), Griffiths for Richardson (85). 

Man of the Match: Paul Robertson - Back at his old club, took a lot of stick from the Barrow supporters but set up both goals and didn't he love it!!!!

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



11-04-00 GUISELEY 0 HYDE UNITED 1 UNIBOND Att. 204
After 334 minutes without a goal, the last coming eight minutes into the Bishop Auckland game, the Tigers took all the points with a scrappy effort at relegation threatened Guiseley. In the fourth minute, Lloyd Richardson tested Shutt in the Guiseley goal with a shot from the edge of the area but the 'keeper did well and pushed the ball around the post. A bizarre backpass from Nettleton then had Shutt in all sorts of trouble as the ball rolled past him heading towards goal, credit to the goalie though as he raced back to hack the ball away about a foot from the line to spare the defenders blushes. Simon Ireland's curling ball from the right caused Hyde problems but Parke was stretching at the far post and couldn't direct his effort on target. Substitute Craig Bower then wasted an excellent
opportunity for Guiseley, shooting wide from twelve yards with just Bennett to beat. Simon Yeo then produced a great stop from Shutt after he turned inside the area and fired a shot to the near post, Shutt responding by parrying the ball for a corner. The last chance of the half fell to Jody Banim, after showing some neat footwork in the box he shot across the face of the goal and wide. Early in the second half Poole's volley from twenty yards was hit straight at Bennett, who later in the game had lengthy treatment after a collision with Parke. Good play down the right saw Taylor cross, Banim flick on and Yeo fire straight at Shutt when he should have scored. Hyde took the lead on 72 minutes, a Guiseley clearance cannoned off Yeo inside the area and the loose ball was headed in by Lloyd Richardson although Jody Banim will be trying to claim the goal as he slid in at the far post to make sure. Guiseley pressure for the last fifteen minutes failed to breakdown the Hyde defence and the Tigers held on for their first win in six games. 

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, Pickering, Band, Richardson, Hall, Yeo, Banim, M Taylor. Subs: Salmon for Banim, Griffiths, Tobin.


REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



08-04-00 LANCASTER 1 HYDE UNITED 0 UNIBOND Att. 261
The Tigers again failed to take advantage of a slip up by the league leaders as their injury depleted side lost to an average Lancaster City team here at the Giant Axe. It was fifteen minutes until the first notable chance of the game, Peter Band heading over from Robertson's left wing cross. Chris Ward, looking suspiciously offside, broke away from the Hyde backline but Band and Graham Bennett did enough to prevent the forward shooting at goal. Jody Banim went close in the 33rd minute, striking from eighteen yards but Lancaster goalkeeper Mark Thornley made a stunning Thornley with a header from Richardson's cross but the goalie was more than equal to the test. Just before the break, Dickenson broke down the left for City and his cross found Kevin Barnes, he made good connection with his head but the ball landed on top of the net causing Bennett to stretch to cover his goal. On 55 minutes Simon Yeo picked the ball up from Graham's free kick and unleashed a scorching shot that just cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later Lancaster took the lead, a long ball in from the left was met by the head of Kevin Barnes who guided the ball past Graham Bennett who perhaps should have done better to stop the ball. Shortly after, another ball was pumped in from the left, Bennett failed to collect and Ward fired wide as the game was slipping away from the Tigers. The last real chance for Hyde arrived when Tobin played in Banim but his powerful drive hit the side-netting. 

Team: Bennett, M Taylor, Robertson, Wilson, Pickering, Band, Richardson, Tobin, Yeo, Banim, Griffiths. Subs: McDonald for Griffiths, Salmon for Richardson, Mark Hall for Tobin. 

Man of the Match: Ally Pickering

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



04-04-00 MARINE 0 HYDE UNITED 0 UNIBOND Att. 279
The Tigers gave a display that has been typical of their recent form here at the newly refurbished Rossett Park, dominating the game but failing to take all three points. It took Hyde just two minutes to register their first shot on target, Jody Banim's shot was blocked and Karl Marginson picked up the loose ball but drove it straight at Marine goalkeeper Chris Clarke. Jon Gautrey then went close for the Mariners, shooting from the edge of the box but failing to trouble Graham Bennett as the shot went wide. Pickering made a strong run down the right and into the penalty area before crossing for Yeo but his shot flashed past the post and wide. Gary Scott had Marine's best chance of the game in the 22nd minute, Bennett blocked his effort after the defender found himself one on one with the Hyde goalie. Two minutes later and it was Peter Band who tested Clarke, firing a shot to the near post after Banim had played him in but the 'keeper made a good save. Banim picked the ball up on the left touchline just inside the Marine half on 31 minutes, his mazy dribble took him past 3 or 4 defenders but his shot struck the post with Clarke beaten. The second half saw Pickering go close with a free kick before Thompson broke clearfor Marine, he chose to lob Bennett from distance but the ball cleared the crossbar. The Tigers were now starting to create real chances, Robertson's 20 yard free kick just inches wide of the post and on 71 minutes Banim's cross from the right found Yeo unmarked ten yards out but Clarke produced an excellent stop to deny his header. Pickering's free kick was headed over the top by unmarked Richardson as time was running out and with just three minutes remaining Pickerings cross was taken off the toes of Yeo by Mark Schofield when the striker looked odds on to score. 

Team : Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, Pickering, Band, Richardson, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin, Salmon, Griffiths

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



01-04-00 HYDE UNITED 1 BISHOP AUCKLAND 1 UNIBOND Att. 367
Both Sides served up an excellent first 45 minutes at Ewen Fields playing good football and creating lots of chances, unfortunately the second half was the complete opposite. The Bishops gave warning of their intentions inside the first minute, Danny Brunskill firing across the goalmouth and wide. On 2 minutes however, Bishops' captain David Bayles let fly with a 25 yard shot which flew past Graham Bennett and into the bottom corner to give the visitors a shock lead. Michael Nelson had a great chance to double the lead almost immediately when he headed just over the top following a corner on the right. Hyde equalised with their first chance of the game, after Stuart Walker and Jody Banim broke clear it was Simon Yeo who made an attacking run and calmly fired past Steven Jones. Hyde then lost Walker with a dislocated finger sustained when he landed awkwardly trying to Connect with Yeo's cross from the right. Brunskill had a great chance to put Bishop Auckland ahead once again but Bennett made an excellent block with his legs after the forward had found space inside the penalty area.Hyde took control of the game for the last twenty minutes of the half and only a mixture of bad luck and poor finishing prevented them from scoring. Peter Band headed over from Robertson's free kick and in the 34th minute Martin McDonald's low drive was denied by an excellent one-handed save by Jones. In a frantic ten seconds both Gavin Salmon and Peter Band had goalbound efforts blocked as the Tigers threw everything at the Durhamside. Steve Jones again produced a good save this time to stop Yeo's shot although Band should have scored from the rebound but got a poor connection with his header. In the dying seconds of the half a shot from Banim rattled the crossbar and went over. The second period was played at a much slower pace with chances few and far between and the ended fairly as a draw. 

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, Pickering, Band, McDoanld, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Walker. Subs: Tobin for Yeo, Richardson for Salmon, Salmon forWalker. 

Man of the Match: Ally Pickering.


REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 



27-03-00 HYDE UNITED 2 EMLEY 0 UNIFILLA CUP FINAL Att. 602
Emley gave little resistance to a Hyde team depleted by injured and cup-tied players and the Tigers deservedly won the Unifilla Cup. Jody Banim had Hyde's first two chances of the night, his tricky footwork was stopped in the six yard box by Simon Jones' tackle. He soon had Andy Rhodes scrambling across his goal with an eighteen yard effort which flashed past the post. Hyde took the lead on 23 minutes, Peter Band knocked the ball into the air, Stuart Walker chased and SIMON YEO was on hand to pick up the loose ball and power it past stranded Rhodes. Band was unlucky four minutes later, shooting over after some excellent play by Yeo. Emley had the better of the last fifteen minutes of the first half but they were restricted to long range efforts that failed to produce any kind of save from Bennett. On 44 minutes Simon Yeo collected a ball over the top and held the ball up until PETER BAND ran into the area and shot into the bottom left corner to give Hyde a two goal cushion. Hyde should have made it three within thirty seconds of the restart, Stuart Walker got away and his powerful shot crashed against the crossbar, Jody Banim followed up but headed wide of the empty goal. The game the fizzled out as a contest with Hyde letting Emley have possession until the final third when they took control again. The final few minutes saw Walker shoot wide in a one on one with Rhodes and the keeper make a good save to stop Yeo's low shot. The first trophy of the century for Hyde and still an outside chance of a second this season. 

Team: Bennett, Foster, Salmon, Wilson, Pickering, Band, Richardson, Neil Hall, Yeo, Banim, Walker. Subs: Esdaille, Griffiths for Salmon, Mark Hall. Man of the Match: Peter Band.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER 

25-03-00 SPENNYMOOR UNITED 0 HYDE UNITED 0 UNIBOND
Hyde saw Leigh pull further away at the top of the table after a poor showing at the Brewery Field. Robertson's free kick from the right was taken by Naisbett at the second attempt with Band waiting to pounce. Yeo then dispossessed a Moors defender on the edge of the box but fired his shot at the keeper. A dangerous corner from Spennymoor was then cleared behind by Gus Wilson with tall defender Jones ready to pounce behind him. The Hyde defence then stood still appealing for offside allowing Linighan a straight run at goal, Bennett stood up well and made an excellent save with his legs. Earlier, Marginson's ball across the box was a little quick for Banim who swung his left boot at it but completely missed the ball. The second half saw Walker's glancing header from Robertson's free kick go just wide of the far post. Simon Yeo thought he had won the game on 82 minutes when he headed home a ball from the left only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside. In the final minute of the game Robertson tried his luck with a low shot from twenty yards but Naisbett got down well to push it round the post. Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, Pickering, Band, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin for Banim, Richardson, Walker for Marginson.


REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER