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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

21-03-00 WINSFORD UNITED 1 HYDE UNITED 2 UNIBOND Att. 247
As early as the third minute Hyde should have been ahead, Banim racing clear of the Winsford backline and chipping the ball only for Newlands to produce an excellent tip round the post. Next to try his luck was Karl Marginson, he dribbled his way into the penalty area but shot just wide of the target. Neil Hall's powerful run into the box was the next test for Winsford but he shot across goal and wide after getting into a great position. The Tigers were really unlucky not to score when Hall crossed from the left Marginson headed down but Newlands saved and Banim put the rebound wide. Finally Hyde went ahead in the 36th minute when after a tussle in the penalty area a clearance struck Peter Band and looped over Newlands into the goal. On 42 minutes Hall's flick to Jody Banim was controlled well, he then took on two defenders before firing into the bottom corner. Marginson and Robertson combined well on the left with Newlands saving the shot from Robertson. Danny Worthington then pulled a goal back for Winsford on 56 minutes when he capitalized on poor defending to shoot past Bennett. Strong play from Band earned him the right to shoot from the edge of the box but Newlands turned his low shot round the post. Again Newlands denied Band, this time he held a curling shot after Robertson had dispossessed Prince Moncrieffe to give him the chance. With two minutes remaining Moncrieffe latched onto a poor backpass by Robertson but Bennett saved well with his legs and Hyde held on to win a game which should have been over at half time.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

18-03-00 HYDE UNITED 1 GATESHEAD 1 UNIBOND Att. 522
A Neil Hall throughball sent Hyde's Jody Banim racing away early in this top of the table clash, Gateshead goalkeeper Adrian Swan half saving his effort with Tony Hall clearing up the loose ball. Hyde lost their leading goalscorer Simon Yeo on 16 minutes through injury and his replacement, Peter Band went close when he headed Pickering's cross just wide of the target. Gateshead's Steve Bowey then tested Hyde keeper Graham Bennett with a quickly taken free kick but he was more than equal to the test. Indeed it was from Bennett that the Tigers broke away down the right, Banim crossing for Peter Band to backheel home at the near post to put the home side ahead in the 34th minute. Paul Thompson then rose well to head a left wing cross goalbound but Bennett denied the striker with another good save. Moments before the interval Banim had an excellent opportunity when he rounded Swan but shot wide from a tight angle. David Kitchen went close for the visitors early in the second half, he fired over from eight yards following a deep corner to the back post. Band should have sealed a home win when he collected Richie Watson's backpass, went round the keeper but, like Banim before him shot wide. Goalmouth action was not easily forthcoming as defences were on top although both sides passed the ball around well, looking for openings. John Foster made a critical tackle in the Hyde penalty area as Thompson and Bowey looked to unhinge the Tigers rearguard and with five minutes remaining the Home side squandered another chance when Band headed over from Banim's right wing cross. Gateshead then made Hyde pay for their missed chances when in the final minute Thompson was on hand to turn in a right wing centre, much to the delight of the travelling
supporters.

HYDE UNITED:- Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, McCready, Pickering, McDonald, N Hall, Yeo (Band 16), Banim, Marginson (Walker 87). Sub Not Used-Tobin. Booking:- Bennett

GATESHEAD:- Swan, Watson, Lynch, Proudlock (Tremble 82), Kitchen, T Hall, Ainsley, Bowey, Preen, Thompson, Alderson (McAlindon 66). Sub Not Used-Scott

Attendance:- 522
Referee:- Mr G Mellor (Derby)

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

13-03-00 HYDE UNITED 1 LEIGH RMI 2 UNIBOND
Leigh came to Ewen Fields as league leaders and on eight minutes they had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring. Black got away down the right and crossed for Brian Ross who missed the target with just Bennett to beat. Straight away Hyde came back, Peter Band getting clear but taking one touch too any allowing Turkington to tackle. The visitors went ahead in the 28th minute, Tony Black bursting away from the Hyde defence before calmly knocking the ball over the advancing Bennett. Hyde then squandered a number of chances, a cross from the left was met with a glancing Band header which drifted wide, a game of pinball inside the Leigh penalty area for over thirty seconds yet the visitors cleared, McDonalds cross to the back post met by Band and cleared from under the crossbar by Ross and a Marginson header which was stopped on the line by a mixture of goalkeeper and defender. Just before the break a rare mistake by Gus Wilson let Brian Ross in he squared to Matthews but the former Guiseley forward miskicked with the goal at his mercy. A bright move inside the first minute of the second half saw Marginson clip the ball wide after Banim and Hall had combined. Leigh went two ahead on 47 minutes, a poor free kick by Peter McCuminsky went straight at Bennett who proceeded to allow the ball through his legs for a soft goal. McCuminsky then wove in from the left to shoot but this time Bennett made the most of his hands and tipped the ball round the post.After that it was all Hyde, Jody Banim got away from the defence, O'Connor saved his shot, Tobin picked up the loose ball and blazed over an emptygoal. O'Connor saved again from a curling Banim shot. Yeo headed over from Banim's cross and Paul Robertson's twenty yard shot was just the wrong side of the upright. A quick free kick led to Banim shooting, O'Connor parrying, Yeo followed up but O'Connor stopped the second effort as well. On 73 minutes Simon Yeo got behind the defence and rolled the ball past O'Conner to set up an interesting last twenty minutes. Jody Banim's shot from twelve yards was then deflected wide, Yeo had the ball in the net again only for the linesman to raise his flag, just to even things up Leigh also had a goal ruled out for offside. In the final minute Yeo was tripped in the area by the outstretched arm of O'Connor just ten yards away from the linesman but nothing was given. In injury time Robertson's free kick was headed against the crossbar by Yeo, almost as if to prove that it just wasn't our night.

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Aspinall, Wilson, Band, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin for Aspinall, Pickering for Band, Walker for Hall.

Man of the Match - Jody Banim.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

11-03-00 EMLEY 0 HYDE UNITED 1 UNIBOND Att. 301
Defensive indecision from Emley early on led to Yeo shooting from nine yards but it was deflected behind for a corner. Paul Robertson then made a jinking run before chipping the ball to Neil Hall who only connected withhis shoulder and Rhodes was able to gather easily. Paul David had Emley's only real shot at goal in the first half but his effort from the edge of the box was wide enough not to trouble Graham Bennett. Andy Rhodes then saved a Yeo shot from outside the penalty area with his legs as Hyde continued to have all the meaningful chances. Early in the second half a back header from Foster was intercepted but followed up with a weak shot from the left which Bennett saved easily. Karl Marginson's ball across the penalty area gave Martin McDonald a great chance to open the scoring but he blazed over the crossbar from twelve yards with the goal at his mercy. The Tigers took the lead in the 72nd minute when Foster's long range shot was only parried by Rhodes and Brendan Aspinall was on hand to slot home the loose ball. Indeed Hyde almost doubled their lead straight away whenPickering's ball from the right was sliced just past the post by defender Steve Nicholson. After that it was pressure from the Yorkshire side as they looked to get something out of the game. Charlie Bradshaw headed just wide of the near post following a corner and in the 85th minute after another corner it was Bradshaw who connected with his head but saw his effort go just over the top with Bennett stretching to cover his goal. Bennett went on to make an excellent reaction save from a point blank shot with just two minutes left on the clock and then followed up by saving when Emley's substitute found himself in acres of space.

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Aspinall, Wilson, Band, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Pickering,Marginson. Subs: Banim, Tobin, Walker - not used.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

29-02-00 BAMBER BRIDGE 0 HYDE UNITED 0 UNIBOND Att. 318
The Tigers winning streak came to a dull end at Irongate tonight, the game was played on a boggy surface which didn't help either side take command. Burton went closest for Bamber Bridge in the first half when he cut in from the left to shoot at the near post, but Bennett got his body behind the ball and conceded a corner denying The Brig the lead. Paul Taylor then limped off with a serious looking injury which could mean a re-shuffle at the back in the next few games. Again it was Bamber Bridge who got a shooting chance as Burton fired over the top from twenty yards. It was a scrappy game with Hyde being restricted to long range efforts which didn't test Horridge in the Bamber goal. The second half was a little better with Banim's effort sailing over the bar after good play from Robertson although at the other end Gus Wilson made a fine block to stop a shot on target. Yeo then had a close range shot blocked after Marginson had done well. In the dying moments, Foster had a weak shot easily stopped by Horridge and Marginson cut in from the left but his shot which was destined for the bottom corner was blocked.

Team: Bennett, Foster, Wilson, Aspinall, Taylor, Band, Robertson, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin for Banim, Richardson for Taylor, McConnell for Richardson.

Man of the Match: Paul Robertson.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

26-02-00 HYDE UNITED 4 WHITBY TOWN 1 UNIBOND Att. 407
Whitby settled the quicker of the two sides and were unlucky not to take the lead inside the first five minutes when a twenty yard lob beat Bennett but landed on the wrong side of the post. This didn't deter the Blues and when Lee Ludlow got away from Taylor on 9 minutes, he made sure his shot landed inside the posts to give the visitors the lead. The Tigers soon hit back, seven minutes later to be precise, when Jody Banim's tame effort took a deflection to leave Whitby goalkeeper Dawson helpless. Karl Marginson then rattled the angle of post and crossbar with a free kick on the edge of the area, although Dawson tipped the ball onto the woodwork with an excellent save. Hyde's next chance came from a Robertson corner, Band headed down and Marginson fired over from six yards. Whitby had a great chance to re-take the lead when Ludlow cut in from the left and fired a shot just over the top with Bennett at full stretch. Instead it was Hyde who took the lead on 42 minutes, Robertson's ball curled in from the left drew Dawson from his line but he couldn't collect and Peter Band rolled the ball into the empty goal. Early in the second half McDonald fizzed a twenty yarder straight at Dawson and Robinson went close for Whitby with a free header following a free kick. Hyde went further ahead on 58 minutes as Banim's header set Marginson away, he cut into the box then with good vision slotted the ball to Paul Robertson who netted his first for The Tigers. On 68 minutes Marginson was fouled inside the area and Paul Taylor dispatched the spot kick clinically to increase the scoreline once again. Foster crossed from the right and Marginson won the header but Dawson was able to stop with his legs as Hyde looked to increase their goal difference. Towards the end it was Whitby who played the better football as they looked to regain some pride, Bennett needing to be alert as he tipped a stinging close range shot around his near post.

Team: Bennett, Foster, Wilson, Aspinall, Taylor, Band, McDonald, Hall, Robertson, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin for McDonald, Richardson for Hall, McConnell for Marginson. Man of the Match - Karl Marginson. Played some excellent football and has improved the side already after his capture from Stalybridge, we look more likely to score when he's around.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

22-02-00 COLWYN BAY 2 HYDE UNITED 3 UNIBOND Att. 241
The Tigers arrived at Llanelian Road looking to overturn a couple of poor results in Wales during the last couple of seasons. Simon Yeo had a great chance in the seventh minute when he pulled away from the Colwyn defence but Richie Roberts made an excellent save when faced one on one. Next it was Jody Banim who got away, this time though, Roberts didn't need to save as the striker pulled his shot across the face of the goal and wide. On 33 minutes Neil Hall played the ball towards Band, who couldn't control but did enough to force the defender to clear only as far as Karl Marginson who rifled a 25 yard dipping volley over Roberts and just underneath the crossbar to put the Tigers ahead. Colwyn Bay equalised five minutes later when a short free-kick was struck by Craig Lawton and took a big deflection off Marginson to beat Graham Bennett in the Hyde goal. The lead was restored three minutes later when Banim and Yeo made a one-two and Jody Banim smashed a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner giving Roberts no chance. Hyde's dominance continued and indeed grew in the second half, just thirty seconds had been played when Banim got away down the right and crossed for Yeo who surprisingly shot wide. The Tigers had a goal chalked off soon after when Brendan Aspinall was adjudged to be offside as he prodded home a free-kick from close range. Neil Hall's cross from the right was met with a side foot volley by Marginson but the ball flew over the top of the goal. Peter Band was next to try his luck when he burst through from midfield only for Roberts to deny him with an excellent save. A corner from Robertson was headed clear to Jody Banim who unleasheda powerful volley which Roberts did well to tip over the top, indeed from Robertson's next corner, Paul Taylor flicked the ball on and Simon Yeo hit the crossbar to give The Seagulls another let off. Colwyn reminded Hyde that for all their chances they only led by one goal and Lawton went close with a dipping shot from outside the penalty area but Bennett watched the ball fly past his post. Hyde went 3-1 ahead on 82 minutes when Yeo seemingly trapped in the corner on the right managed to turn and cross and MARTIN MCDONALD arrived to get the faintest of touches and head home his first goal for the club. Yeo then tried his luck from 30 yards when his chips sailed over Roberts' head but also landed on the wrong side of the post. Colwyn made the last few minutes more nervous for Hyde when Jamie Fairhurst scored direct from a free-kick on 89 minutes but the Tigers held on to claim a thoroughly deserved victory.

Team: Bennett, Wilson, Robertson, Aspinall, Taylor, Band, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin, Richardson & McConnell (None used).

Man of the match - MARTIN MCDONALD - Not everyone will agree with me tonight as Banim, Marginson, Band & Hall all played very well but McDonald seemed to pop up wherever the action was and was solid in central midfield.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

19-02-00 HYDE UNITED 4 GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 0 UNIBOND Att. 403
Hyde, starting with new signing Karl Marginson started the better team here at Ewen Fields today, they created a neat move down the right flank involving Hall, Foster and finally Jody Banim whose shot was blocked in a crowded penalty area. Drayton then failed to take a glorious opportunity for Trinity, gifted a one on one with Bennett after some dreadful defending he managed only to hit the post and then watched as the ball rebounded straight to the thankful Hyde goalie. Hyde then went close with two corners which on other days might have brought goals, Band being unlucky with a header in particular. Hyde took the lead on 13 minutes, Jody Banim got away down the left and crossed into the centre, Paul Robertson missed his kick but Simon Yeo was stood right behind him to steer in his first of the afternoon. Banim's deft header then got Yeo away, his shot was good but
bettered by an excellent save from Metcalfe in the Trinity goal. New signing Marginson then played in Peter Band after an excellent run but his shot came back off the crossbar. Hyde continued to dominate the game as the second half came around, Banim going close with a deflected shot and John Foster fizzing a 30 yard effort at the keeper. Hyde doubled their advantage on 63 minutes when goalkeeper Metcalfe made a mess of a backpass and Jody Banim was able to claim the easiest goal of his career. Metcalfe's bad luck continued three minutes later as Banim dribbled into the penalty area only to be tripped by the goalkeeper just before his shot hit the post, Simon Yeo slotted home the resulting spot kick. The Tigers added their fourth when Metcalfe's poor goalkick was picked up by McDonald who played in Simon Yeo and the striker was able, with the help of a deflection, to lob the goalie and claim his hat-trick as well as giving Metcalfe an unfortunate 3 assists. Marginson then tested Metcalfe from 20 yards but the keeper made a good save low to his right. Trinity then broke away looking for a goal to restore some pride, a good move saw the ball worked right then crossed in to the centre where their substitute headed over the top of Bennett's goal.

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, Aspinall, Band, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Marginson. Subs: Tobin for McDonald, Richardson for Robertson, McConnell for Marginson.

Man of the Match: Simon Yeo - The inevitable outcome after his hat-trick but no-one played badly in a good all round performance from the boys in red.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

12-02-00 HYDE UNITED 3 LEEK TOWN 2 UFC Semi Final Att. 315
Leek stormed into a tenth minute lead at a windswept Ewen Fields when the league's top scorer Paul Kiely calmly placed a 20 yard free kick over the wall and into the top corner leaving Graham Bennett rooted to the spot. Hyde equalised on 16 minutes when Simon Yeo latched onto Richardson's pass, knocked the ball past the onrushing Mark Statham and then drilled the ball home from a tight angle on the right. Leek went close from another free kick, crossed from the left Dave Sutton stooped to head but saw his effort go just wide of the post. The first half of the game was a bad tempered affair and their were four bookings before the break. Hyde went close with a free-kick of their own shortly after the restart, Banim passed to Yeo and then it was knocked on to Walker who managed to dribble through crowded penalty area but saw his shot go past the post. Hyde took the lead on 56 minutes, John Foster went on a long run and lost the ball but stayed committed and helped to win it back, the ball was then launched in from the left and Mark Statham dropped the ball under challenge from Yeo, Peter Band simply tapped the ball over the line and into the empty net. The lead lasted just two minutes though as from a free kick on the right the ball was crossed to the back post, headed back across goal, Bennett came to take the cross, missed it completely and Paul Kiely said thank you very much to level again. The Tigers notched the winner on 67 minutes when Walker's free kick curled in from the touchline was headed clear, Jody Banim lashed a left foot volley into the top corner leaving Statham helpless. Leek tried desperately to grab an equaliser and Kiely went close again with a header just over the top but Hyde stood firm to reach the Unifilla Cup Final.

Team. Bennett, Foster, McConnell, Wilson, Aspinall, Band, Richardson, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Walker. Subs: Brenchley, Griffiths for Walker, Edgington. Man of the Match: Peter Band

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

09-02-00 RUNCORN 3 HYDE UNITED 2 FAT4 Replay Att. 649
Runcorn took the lead inside the first ten minutes here at Canal Street when Mike Smith fired a low shot past unsighted Bennett to put The Linnets one up in the ninth minute. Hyde weren't behind for long though, 11 minutes to be precise as from a Tobin free kick, flicked on at the near post Brendan Aspinall was on hand to head firmly past Acton. Graham Bennett then came into his own with two excellent stops, first he tipped over an 18 yard drive from Moseley and then dived low to his left to push an overhead kick around the post. Early in the second half is was Gus Wilson who went closest for Hyde, his free kick from 45 yards was not collected by Acton who let the ball bounce and then had to scramble backwards to tip over the crossbar. John Foster was the next to try his luck with a low 20 yard shot which Acton held firmly. Runcorn then broke away on the right and crossed but the centre forwards header landed on the wrong side of the far post. A poor back header by Brunskill gave Simon Yeo a great chance to win the tie but he panicked and shot wildly over the top when a little composure would have seen the Tigers celebrating a victory. Extra Time saw the Tigers fall behind again, a goalmouth scramble led to Garry Burke knocking home from close range in the ninety-fifth minute. Amazingly Hyde were level again forty seconds later, Gus Wilson, not having scored in 274 previous game for Hyde collected the ball 30 yards out on the left, took one touch then it was a case of head down & whack. Acton stood in disbelief as the ball flew in to the top corner via the post and many Hyde fans had to look twice just to make sure it was Wilson and not an illusion. Acton then made a great save low to his left to deny Robertson who shot from 40 yards. In the dying
seconds of the first period another scramble in the Hyde goal area almost cost The Reds but it was stopped on the line and cleared. Chances were few and far between in the second period and it looked as though the game was heading for penalties until the 119th minute when Mike Smith launched the ball high over Bennett's head from thirty yards and into the top corner to give Runcorn a fifth round tie with Heybridge Swifts.

Team: Bennett, Wilson, Foster, Aspinall, Taylor, Tobin, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Robertson. Subs: Esdaille for McDonald, Walker for Banim, McConnell

Man of the Match: Steve Tobin - Battled hard all game, it was close between him and Coco Robertson tonight, not to mention the "prolific Gus Wilson"

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

05-02-00 HYDE UNITED 0 RUNCORN 0 FAT4 Att. 764
I am very tempted to be sarcastic and say "for match report see 29/11/99 titled Hyde United 0 Runcorn 0" but I won't. Runcorn started the better of the two sides with Watson trying his luck from a distance but failing to trouble Bennett. Hyde then had a great chance to open the scoring when a long ball put Yeo through on goal but he shot wide with his right foot with Acton bearing down on him. A cross from Yeo on the left led to Banim's attempt being blocked and Gus Wilson firing wide from the edge of the box. Again Yeo got away down the left, this time his cross found Banim but it arrived at a bad height and Acton scooped up the volley easily. John Foster burst down the right and crossed this time Yeo was on the end of a cross and his header was tipped onto the post and away by Acton. Just on the stroke of half time a deep Walker cross was headed over by Band. The second half was, like the first, dominated by midfield and while Hyde had the better of the few chances on offer, it was fair to say that Runcorn were keeping the ball much better in the centre. Foster again got down the right and crossed to the near post, Yeo got in a powerful header but it was off target. David Nolan then shot straight at Bennett from 20 yards when he should have done better and a long free-kick pumped into the area saw Bennett save again after a header down. Good work from Tobin led to Foster crossing again, McDonald's effort being taken easily by Acton.

Team: Bennett, Foster, Robertson, Wilson, Taylor, Band, McDonald, Walker, Yeo, Banim, Critchley. Subs: Tobin for Walker, McConnell, Esdaille for Critchley, Brenchley.

Man of the Match: John Foster - did well comingforward and was steady at the back as well.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

29-01-00 HYDE UNITED 2 LEEK TOWN 0 UNIBOND Att. 396
Leek started off the better side at blustery Ewen Fields and only a terrific save from Graham Bennett prevented Dave Sutton's shot from flying into the top corner. Hyde took the lead on 16 minutes, Robertson curled a ball in from the left and Simon Yeo steered his header past Statham and into the corner. Statham was beaten again a few moments later but he was happy to see Critchley's deflected cross come back off the crossbar. Kiely went close for Leek when he turned Aspinall and shot wide of the post. Yeo broke away from Diskin but Statham raced out to block his effort only to see Band fire the ball back but Diskin recovered to clear. From the resulting corner, Band's header was cleared off the line at the front post. The wet and windy continued into the second half but the home fans soon warmed when on 69 minutes, Yeo crossed from the left and Peter Band fired past Statham from six yards. Bennett almost gifted Leek a goal when he spilled the ball at a strikers feet but to be fair he recovered well to save at the second attempt. Leek looked for a way back into the match and Bennett did well to parry away a scooped effort from the grounded Sutton. Statham made an excellent save with his feet from Yeo and Critchley, following up, saw his effort cleared off the line. The last chance fell to Yeo, on for his 50th goal for Hyde, but after linking with Band he fired wide when he should have been celebrating.

Team: Bennett, Wilson, Robertson, Aspinall, P Taylor, Band, McDonald, Hall, Yeo, Banim, Critchley. Subs: McConnell, Tobin, Walker for Banim.

Man of the Match: Simon Yeo.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER