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LEAGUE SEASON 2000 - 01

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

24-03-01 HYDE UNITED 4 SPENNYMOOR UNITED 0 UNIBOND Att. 256
A good second half performance saw Hyde beat basement side Spennymoor comfortably after an uninspired first 45 minutes. Spennymoor, who are now virtually condemned to relegation, failed to register a single effort on goal as Hyde called all the shots going forward. In the first minute John Grant pulled a shot across goal for the Tigers as the home side looked to put right a run of five straight defeats. A Paul Robertson corner was headed over by Steve Rimmer who also forced Moors goalkeeper Stuart Dawson into action shortly after with a looping header. Hyde went ahead on 31 minutes when Peter Band was on hand to head home a Paul Robertson cross from the left. John Grant had another chance just before the break when poor defending allowed him to get into the box but his effort was blocked at the last moment. After the break it was loan man Grant again that was causing the danger, this time with a low cross for Simon Yeo but the striker missed the target from six yards out. Hyde went two ahead on 51 minutes when a Neil Critchley cross was walloped into the net by Peter Band from twelve yards. Two minutes later Peter Band had his hat-trick, this time stooping to head home a Matty Taylor cross. Neil Critchley went close for Hyde with a delicate chip that cleared the crossbar before Spennymoor had long spells of possession without carving out any chances. It was left to John Grant to finish off the afternoon, firstly stinging Dawson's hands with a thunderous shot and then latching onto Gavin Salmon's last minute pass before cutting insideand drilling past Dawson for the fourth.

Hyde: Graham Bennett 7, Lloyd Richardson 7, Paul Robertson 7, Mark Beeston
7, Steve Rimmer 7, Peter Band 9, Matty Taylor 7, Neil Hall 7, Simon Yeo 7,
John Grant 8, Neil Critchley 7. Subs: Carl Laurie 7 for Yeo, Steve Tobin 7
for Richardson, Gavin Salmon 7 for Band.

Spennymoor: Stuart Dawson, Leigh Grant, Matthew Cooke, Andrew Swalwell,
Jeremy Pratt, Craig Veart, Kevin Bromley, Jon King, Liam McDermott, Neal
Jackson, James Bridge. Subs: Martin Mulcaster, Chris Leonard, Richard Paxton

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

17-03-01 EMLEY 3 HYDE UNITED 1 UNIBOND Att. 379
This defeat against the lead leaders made it five in a row for Hyde, the longest losing sequence in Mike McKenzie's reign of nearly seven years. Results are what count but this game was so different from the other four games. Hyde had long spells on top and but for a couple of questionable decisions from the officials it could have been a different story. New boy John Grant combined with Matty Taylor on 12 minutes before shooting at the legs of Emley goalkeeper Paul Cuss. Minutes later Emley's Simon Jones crossed from the left but Wael Nazha couldn't beat Graham Bennett with a weak shot. On 29 minutes a Paul Robertson cross was headed goalwards by Simon Yeo but Cuss got down to deny the striker. The home side were awarded a dubious penalty on 29 minutes when Nazha turned Rimmer on the edge of the box before collapsing in a heap, there were two questions to be answered, firstly was it a foul or was the forward making a meal out of it? and secondly did the offence take place inside or outside the penalty area?. Neil Critchley, Neil Hall & Ian Hutchinson were all booked for protesting before eventually, on 30 minutes, Gary Hatto stroked home the penalty. Five minutes into first half stoppage time, Hyde's three game barren scoring run came to an end from an unlikely source. Simon Yeo made a great run down the left before crossing into the centre where Matty Taylor scored with a looping header. Eight minutes after the break Emley went close when Darren Day found himself one on one with Bennett but the keeper came out on top and Hyde counter attacked where Matty Taylor got through but Cuss partly blocked his shot, diverting it onto the post. On the hour Simeon Bambrook, on for Nazha cut inside from the right before unleashing a powerful shot which flashed past the post and wide. Two minutes later Emley had good cause for another penalty when Beeston scythed down Day in the area but the referee waved play on despite it being more worthy than the earlier one he gave. On 67 minutes a mistake from Rimmer let Day run through again, Graham Bennett coming to the rescue not for the first time in the afternoon. The home side went ahead on 76 minutes, Hyde were on the attack when Miles Thorpe blocked a cross possibly with a hand and then broke forward playing a lovely ball to put in Simeon Bambrook who made no mistake with an angled drive from the edge of the box. Three minutes from time Emley wrapped it up when Mark Wilson crossed for Darren Day who finished with a side footed volley from close range. Hyde played well and were unfortunate not to take anything from the game, signs of a promising future....???

Hyde: Graham Bennett 8, Ian Hutchinson 7, Paul Robertson 7, Mark Beeston 7,
Steve Rimmer 7, Peter Band 7, Matty Taylor 7, Neil Hall 7, Simon Yeo 7, John
Grant 6, Neil Critchley 6. Subs: Carl Laurie 6 for Hutchinson, Lloyd
Richardson 6 for Critchley, Colin Hall 6 for Grant.

Emley: Paul Cuss, Steve Nicholson, Simon Jones, Andy Wilson, Gary Hatto,
Paul David, Darren Day, Miles Thorpe, Robert Tonks, Wael Nazha, Nicky Wood.
Subs: Simeon Bambrook, Mark Wilson, Rory Prendergast

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

10-03-01 HYDE UNITED 0 GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 1 UNIBOND Att. 323
Hyde welcomed back Neil Critchley on loan from Crewe and two new signings ex Bury and Northwich, Ian Hutchinson, and ex Oldham forward, Colin Hall. Three new faces, but unfortunately the same outcome.

Gainsborough returned to Lincolnshire with the three points after a solitary goal separated the sides at a rain swept Ewen Fields although in truth a draw would have been a fairer result. It was Hyde who started the brighter with Matty Taylor making great probing runs in behind the Trinity defence and Steve Rimmer heading wide a Steve Tobin corner, when he should have done better. The Gainsborough goal was under constant threat in the first period and only great work by Neil Allison stopped Hyde going ahead by clearing off the line direct from a Paul Robertson corner. In fact it was again Robertson who caused chaos in the penalty area with a free kick that Kevin Martin did brilliantly to push past the post after John Reed almost put into his own net.

Excellent defensive work by Allison stopped Hyde taking the lead just afterthe break with a last ditch tackle on Peter Band as the midfielder looked certain to score. Hyde's best opportunity came in the 55th minute when Mark Beeston nodded back a Robertson cross and Rimmer blasted the ball against the cross bar with Martin well beaten. With the game entering the final half hour, Gainborough started to find their rhythm. Reed caused Hyde all sorts of problems and with the new players finding the surface energy sapping, it was no surprise that after concerted pressure Trinity took the lead on 79minutes. A defensive slip allowed Gavin Bassinder in to coolly slot the ballpast the hapless Graham Bennett who had been mostly a spectator up until this point. To their credit the Tigers continued to press, and almost snatched an equaliser in the 86th minute, when Simon Yeo stripped the defense and hit ashot that Martin somehow managed to parry to safety. Bassinder should have made the scoreline look healthier in the final minute when he shot wide with only Bennett to beat.

If the tigers can take anything from this game, it was the fact the Gainsborough are ninth in the table, and looked no better than we did. Lady luck just does not smile on those in trouble - just ask Manchester City.

Hyde United: Graham Bennett (7), Ian Hutchinson (6), Paul Robertson (6), Mark
Beeston (7), Steve Rimmer (8), Peter Band (5), Matty Taylor (5), Steve Tobin
(4), Simon Yeo (6), Jody Banim (4), Neil Critchley (4). Subs: Carl Laurie
(4), Colin Hall (6), Mickey Beirne.

Gainsborough: Martin, Brown, Limber, Allison, Limighan, Gore, Reed, Circuitt,
Watts, Drayton, Bassinder. Subs: Ellington, Newton, Allen.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

06-03-01 LEEK TOWN 2 HYDE UNITED 0 UNIBOND Att. 178
Hyde's curse against the bottom teams continues. We have now played 7 out of 8 games against the bottom four sides in our league and come away with just one victory, an uninspired 2-1 win against Leek at home. Hyde rang the changes with Alex Lawler in goal and recalls for Steve Smith and Anthony Charles. Leek went ahead on 33 minutes when a cross from the right found its way to Aiden Callan who took his time before slotting home. Hyde's only real chance of the game arrived on 41 minutes when Peter Band played in Simon Yeo but the striker just missed the target after a great volley. Leek made it 2-0 on 52 minutes when a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area was blocked but Aiden Callan was on hand to tap the ball home from close range. After that the team once again seemed to lose interest not that they had shown that much enthusiasm in the first place and we were lucky it wasn't more than two. Alex Lawler took a lot of abuse from the locals, mainly due to his poor kicking, but apart from that I thought he had a reasonable game and you couldn't fault him for either goal. Thanks to Don Goodwin for stepping in to cover for me on Saturday as I'm at a wedding.

Hyde: Alex Lawler 6, Steve Smith 6, Paul Robertson 6, Mark Beeston 6,
Anthony Charles 5, Peter Band 6, Matty Taylor 6, Neil Hall 5, Simon Yeo 6,
Jody Banim 6, Phil Trainer 5. Subs: Mickey Beirne 5 for Hall, Steve Tobin 5
for Banim, Carl Laurie 5 for Taylor.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

03-03-01 HYDE UNITED 0 BISHOP AUCKLAND 2 ULCqfinal Att. 275
Bishop Auckland left Ewen Fields with a thoroughly deserved place in the semi-finals of the League Challenge Cup after a comprehensive win over their hosts. Hyde goalkeeper Graham Bennett made a save inside twenty seconds when he pushed Jeff Smith shot around the post for a corner. On 6 minutes Hyde had their first attempt when Jody Banim shot wide after latching onto a Simon Yeo flick. Bishop keeper Steven Jones denied Paul Robertson on 15 minutes when he made a good stop after the full back tried his luck from 25 yards. Bishop Auckland dominated the last 15 minutes of the half with Smith volleying over and then Andrew Shaw cutting the ball back into a good position only to find no-one there to finish. On 43 minutes Anthony Lee's cross was headed wide by Shaw and a minute later Lee let fly with a scorcher from 30 yards which Bennett palmed onto the crossbar. Bishop Auckland went ahead five minutes after the break when a poor backpass from Matty Taylor only found Danny Mellanby who rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home.It could have been two six minutes later when Steven Bell was tackled inside the area, the ball fell kindly for Mellanby but the striker shot wide. On 67 minutes Hyde's Jody Banim was unlucky to see his shot hit the side netting although Jones had his post covered. The 81st minute saw substitute Mark Foster go close for the visitors, forcing Bennett to save with his legs after beating the keeper to a throughball. The visitors laid any doubt to rest in the final minute when Steven Bell slotted home from close range and so ending Hyde's last chance of silverware this season.

Hyde: Graham Bennett 6, Matty Taylor 5, Paul Robertson 6, Mark Beeston 6,
Steve Rimmer 6, Peter Band 7, Phil Trainer 6, Neil Hall 5, Simon Yeo 6, Jody
Banim 6, Carl Laurie 5. Subs: Mickey Beirne 6 for Laurie, Steve Tobin 5 for
Rimmer, Lloyd Richardson 6 for Banim.

Bishops: Steven Jones, Stephen Hutt, Anthony Lee, David Gallacher, Mark
Salmon, Michael Nelson, Steven Bell, David Bayles, Andrew Shaw, Danny
Mellanby, Jeff Smith. Subs: Danny Brunskill, Thomas Dunn, Mark Foster.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

27-02-01 BAMBER BRIDGE 2 HYDE UNITED 1 UNIBOND Att. 243
Hyde fell to their first league defeat at Irongate despite dominating the second period as well as parts of the first. It wasn't a good start for the Tigers when, on 6 minutes, Graham Bennett's rush from the goal led to Nigel Greenwood rounding him but Steve Rimmer got back to put the ball out for a corner. The first led to a second and from this Bennett's poor punch was scrambled home from close range in the 7th minute, I don't know the scorerat this time. On 13 minutes Hyde were unlucky, a Phil Trainer cross was met at the far post by the head of Peter Band who saw his effort come back off the post. On 20 minutes it was 2-0, a cross from the left was flapped at by Bennett and Nigel Greenwood was able to steer the ball home at the back post. A minute later Simon Yeo hit the post from the edge of the penalty area with Bridge 'keeper Billy Stewart well beaten, it just wasn't going for Hyde. On the half hour the visitors pulled one back when a Paul Robertson free kick was met with a crisp Simon Yeo header that rocketed into the bottom corner. Just to prove Hyde's luck was out in the 38th minute, Simon Yeo was played in but Stewart came out quickly only to kick the ball against his own defender but luckily for the ex Southport & Hednesford keeper the ball rolled inches wide of the post for a corner. On the stroke of half time Stewart made a great save when a Banim cross was knocked down by Matty Taylor and Phil Trainer made the goalkeeper save well with his legs. The second half saw Stewart made two more impressive saves from Jody Banim and from Paul Robertson as Bamber Bridge held on for an undeserved win.

Hyde: Graham Bennett 3, Matty Taylor 7, Paul Robertson 7, Mark Beeston 5,
Steve Rimmer 7, Peter Band 7, Phil Trainer 6, Neil Hall 6, Simon Yeo 7, Jody
Banim 6, Anthony Charles 5. Subs: Mickey Beirne 6 for , Steve Tobin 6 for
Banim, Carl Laurie 7 for Charles.

Bamber: Billy Stewart, Andy Farley, Lee Pryers, Phil Robinson, Simon
Woodward, Brad Pates, Simon Carey, Servet Tasdemir, Nigel Greenwood, Simon
Burton, Paul Crompton. Subs: Dave McCann, Paul Lin, Phil Cain.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

24-02-01 LANCASTER CITY 1 HYDE UNITED 4 UNIBOND
Both sides combined to make a very uninteresting first half although Lancaster were the side who shaded it. Their first chance came on five minutes when Brian Butler's exquisite chip drifted past the far post with recalled Hyde goalkeeper Graham Bennett beaten. On 15 minutes the home side had an even better opportunity when Colin Potts played in Chris Ward who promptly took on Beeston before amazing shooting wide with the goal at hismercy. The only other talking point from the first half was whether Ward was offside when he shot home from close range, the referee thought he was and it was goalless at the break. Hyde had a chance two minutes after the break, a Peter Band header set away Simon Yeo but Mark Thornley came out of his goals well to snuff out the chance. Lancaster went ahead on 52 minutes, a free kick on the right was pumped into the box by Potts and was headed back across goal for Brian Welch to prod home from close range. On 63 minutes Hyde equalised, a Phil Trainer shot from the edge of the area looked harmless enough as it went towards Mark Thornley but then took a strangebounce and struck the goalkeeper in the face and came back out where Simon Yeo took two attempts but forced the ball home. Thornley stayed down dazed but eventually stayed on. Four minutes later he paid the price for his bravery when he failed to react to a throughball and Simon Yeo slotted home his second with ease. It could have been level again on 76 minutes when Welch's chip across goal was met by the head of Kenny Mayers but Graham Bennett produced an excellent save to deny the former Bamber Bridge and Morecambe man, just moments later Butler unleashed a cross/shot from 25 yards and saw his effort cannon off the crossbar. Hyde put the game beyond doubt on 86minutes, Steve Tobin came forward and played the ball right to Peter Band who got to the byline and crossed for Simon Yeo who rose above Thornley at the near post to complete his hat-trick. Two minutes later Simon Yeo got away and squared for Steve Tobin who easily slotted home from the edge of the penalty area to complete the rout. A much better defensive display by Hyde althoughin my opinion not as good a performance as Barrow or Accrington!!! Strangegame this football!!

Hyde: Graham Bennett 7, Matty Taylor 6, Paul Robertson 6, Mark Beeston 6,
Steve Rimmer 8, Peter Band 7, Phil Trainer 6, Neil Hall 6, Simon Yeo 9, Jody
Banim 6, Anthony Charles 5. Subs: Mickey Beirne, Steve Tobin 7 for Banim,
Carl Laurie.

Lancaster: Mark Thornley, Paul Sparrow, Paul Haddow, Lee Clitheroe, Paul
Rigby, Kenny Mayers, Dean Martin, Brian Butler, Chris Ward, Brian Welch,
Colin Potts. Subs: Phil Brown, Ian Dickinson, Jimmy Love

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

19-02-01 HYDE UNITED 4 BARROW 4 UNIBOND Att. 301
Barrow were unlucky not to go ahead on 3 minutes, Darren Roberts forced a great save from Kurt Edgington but from the resulting corner, a minute later they were in front. The ball was swung in to the back post where Lee Jenkinson headed past Edgington from ten yards. Hyde had 5 or 6 corners in the next ten minutes but couldn't find a way through the Barrow defence. On 16 minutes, Edgington came to Hyde's rescue again after a cross field ball went over Anthony Charles and into the path of Roberts whose shot was well saved by the Hyde goalkeeper. On 21 minutes it was 2-0. Neil Doherty collected the ball on the halfway line, made a little run and then crashed a 40 yard shot in off the post for the goal of the night. Hyde came back immediately and on 23 minutes a Paul Robertson corner was headed home by Anthony Charles, his first goal for the club. On 29 minutes Charles' Crewe team mate Phil Trainer went close for Hyde with a dipping shot from 25 yards which flew just over the top with Simon Bishop beaten. A minute later Peter Band flicked the ball on for Simon Yeo who darted down the left before pulling his shot across the face of the goal and wide. The Tigers equalised on 35 minutes, Steve Rimmer calmly picked out Anthony Charles on the left and he rifled a diagonal shot across Bishop and into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. Five minutes after half time Hyde were in front, Matty Taylor played in Simon Yeo who drilled a shot past Bishop and into the bottom right corner from 25 yards. On 67 minutes it was 4-2 when Tony Hall lost possession under pressure from Band and Robertson, Jody Banim nipped inand shot under Bishop's despairing dive to seal a magnificent comeback for Hyde, unfortunately they didn't know what was in store at that point. Barrow pulled one back on 77 minutes when a mix up between Rimmer and Edgington allowed Nicky Peverill to steal in and lob the ball over Edgington with ease. A minute later it was all square again when a quick free kick allowed the ever impressive Wayne Bullimore to get inside the box where when pulled back for Peverill to tap home from six yards. In the end Hyde were hanging on a bit as Barrow had all the impetus in the last ten minutes, this in a game Hyde could have won 2 or 3 times over if only they were more clinical in front of goal.

Hyde: Kurt Edgington 7, Matty Taylor 8, Paul Robertson 8, Mark Beeston 7,
Steve Rimmer 7, Peter Band 9, Phil Trainer 8, Neil Hall 6, Simon Yeo 7, Jody
Banim 7, Anthony Charles 8. Subs: Mickey eirne, Steve Tobin, Lloyd
Richardson (all not used).

Barrow: Simon Bishop, Steve Housham, Scott Maxfield, Lee Warren, Tony Hall,
Graham Anthony, Darren Roberts, Lee Jenkinson, Nicky Peverill, Wayne
Bullimore, Neil Doherty. Subs: Steve Gill, Andy Hill, Mike McKechnie

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

17-02-01 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 4 HYDE UNITED 1 UNIBOND Att. 567
Hyde still haven't won a game at the Crown Ground, although this was by no means as comfortable for Accrington as it sounds. For me, this was one of the best away performances of the season despite the result as Hyde played good football throughout and only in the last five minutes were they out of the game. On 8 minutes Peter Band let fly with a scorching drive from 30 yards which was destined to sneak into the top corner until Accrington goalkeeper Jamie Speare leapt and palmed the ball away. Hyde's keeper Kurt Edgington made an equally impressive save 3 minutes later when a ball from the right was headed goal wards by Simon Carden, with the ball seemingly past him he thrust out an arm to prevent the midfielder from opening the scoring. Jody Banim had a good chance for Hyde on 20 minutes after some good work by Simon Yeo but he poked the ball wide under pressure from the Stanley defence. Anthony Charles played himself into trouble shortly after when he lost possession to Carden on the edge of the box but luckily for the loan signing the shot flew over the top. Carden again missed an opportunity for Accrington after Mullin and Payne combined to put him in but his shot once again flew over the top. On 37 minutes Simon Yeo got hold of the ball on the left and put in a cross for Peter Band who glanced the ball wide after making a late run into the penalty area. Stanley went ahead two minutes after the restart when Brett Baxter's corner was headed home by Jay Flannery via a huge deflection off Peter Band, the ball was going wide. Hyde settled things down and started to take the game to Accrington and were quiterightly rewarded on 64 minutes when a Paul Robertson through ball was cleared by Flannery but fell straight to Jody Banim who hit a first time shot over the head of Speare and underneath the crossbar to equalise. Moments later they could have been ahead when a corner was cleared to Phil Trainer who chipped the ball back in and Banim struck an acrobatic (...Jody!!!) scissors kick but his effort went straight at Speare. Acrrington's decisive goal came on 74 minutes and was hotly debated. A route one ball put Mark Ceraolo through on goal and he promptly hit the deck the moment a challenge came in, the referee waved play on as Ceraolo lay in the penalty area but Stanley won the ball back and Ceraolo who must have been offside leapt to his feet and powered the ball past Kurt Edgington. Credit to the referee who took a long look at his assistant but if he didn't flag the ref didn't really have any alternative but to give the goal. Nevertheless, Hyde should have come back again especially when Robertson's cross was headed over by Simon Yeo from six yards out. Stanley went on to score twice in the last six minutes, firstly on 84 Mark Brennan had plenty of time with the ball before shooting in off the post and he doubled his tally when he shot home from the edge of the box in injury time. 4-1 but the vast majority of Hyde fans would have felt that we deserved a point, if not more. If the luck isn't going for you what can you do?

Hyde: Kurt Edgington 7, Steve Smith 7, Paul Robertson 7, Mark Beeston 6,
Steve Rimmer 6, Peter Band 8, Matty Taylor 7, Phil Trainer 7, Simon Yeo 7,
Jody Banim 8, Anthony Charles 5. Subs: Mickey Beirne 6 for Smith, Lloyd
Richardson, Steve Tobin.

Accrington: Jamie Speare, Steve Carragher, Steve Hollis, Robbie Williams,
Jay Flannery, Brett Baxter, Simon Carden, Gary Williams, Mark Ceraolo, Paul
Mullin, Russel Payne. Subs: Mark Brennan, Paul Burns, Steve McDonald.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

13-02-01 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 3 HYDE UNITED 1 UNIBOND Att. 1089
Celtic continued their dominance of the Tameside Derby by making it 4 wins from the last 4 games against Hyde. Early Celtic pressure couldn't force a breakthrough but they still went ahead very early. It was on 4 minutes when a corner was swung in from the right and Kevin Parr was able to jump clearly and head the ball home. Hyde's Jody Banim did have a chance when he got through on goal but pulled his shot across goal where a defender cleaned up easily. On 25 minutes a Tony Sullivan cross was headed just wide by substitute Matty McNeil, on for Parr who departed on a stretcher with what looked like a serious injury. It was 2-0 on 41 minutes, a freekick was pumped into Hyde's penalty area where Dominic Crookes dived to head past Edgington with ease. Hyde did have another chance just before the break when Peter Band pulled the ball back for Banim to shoot but Celtic got enough bodies in the way and the chance was lost. Two minutes after the restart it was all over, another ball was knocked in from the right and Steve Jones rose to head past Edgington and improve his impressive tally against Hyde this season. On 79 it should have been four when Sullivan got through but Edgington came out well and deflected his shot wide using his legs. Hyde's consolation came on 88 minutes when Paul Robertson swung the ball in from the left and Peter Band produced a diving header which took a slight deflection and looped over Gary Ingham and into the goal.

Hyde: Kurt Edgington 6, Steve Tobin 5, Paul Robertson 6, Mark Beeston 5,
Steve Rimmer 6, Phil Trainer 5, Matty Taylor 6, Neil Hall 5, Peter Band 6,
Jody Banim 6, Anthony Charles 6. Subs: Steve Smith, Lloyd Richardson, Mickey
Beirne (all not used)

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

10-02-01 HYDE UNITED 3 GATESHEAD 1 UNIBOND Att. 307
In the end Hyde won this game quite comfortably but only after Gateshead had got themselves in a winning position. On 5 minutes Steve Preen was felled for the visitors but Gareth McAlindon fired over the free kick from a promising position. It was McAlindon's set piece on 10 minutes that led to the opening goal. He swung the ball in from the left and David Kitchen was able to steer the ball into the goal unopposed at the far post. Not until Gateshead went in front did Hyde start to look a threat, Anthony Charles had their first chance of the game when his header was cleared off the line following a corner. It was all level on 25 minutes when Paul Robertson took on Paul Talbot several times before eventually swinging in a cross that Simon Yeo rose to head home just as Gateshead goalkeeper Adrian Swan was about to collect. On 30 minutes the home side were in front, Robertson swung in a corner and giant defender Steve Rimmer, making his home debut, steamed in to head past stranded Swan. The big Gateshead keeper made amends with two good saves either side of the break, firstly denying Yeo his second when through on goal then he swept up an effort from Jody Banim to keep the visitors in the game. Hyde goalkeeper Kurt Edgington proved his worth when Preen got through on goal on the hour by tipping his close range shot around the post when it could easily have been the equaliser. On 67 minutes it could have been all over when Phil Trainer played through Matty Taylor but Swan raced to save at the wingers feet. Two minutes later the home side wrapped it up when a Robertson corner, his third assist of the game, was headed home at the front post by Jody Banim, Hyde's third headed goal of the game.

Hyde: Kurt Edgington 7, John Foster 6, Paul Robertson 8, Mark Beeston 7,
Steve Rimmer 8, Phil Trainer 7, Matty Taylor 7, Neil Hall 7, Simon Yeo 7,
Jody Banim 7, Anthony Charles 7. Subs: Steve Tobin 7 for Foster, Peter Band
7 for Yeo, Carl Laurie.

Gateshead: Adrian Swan, Richie Watson, Paul Talbot, Simon Bates, David
Kitchen, Rob Bowman, Gareth McAlindon, Paul Thompson, Steve Preen, Wayne
Edgcumbe, Kenny Cramman. Subs: Paul Dalton, Phil Ross, Paul Proudlock

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

29-01-01 HYDE UNITED 5 OSSET TOWN 1 ULCgs Att. 212
The Tigers progressed to the quarter Finals of the League Cup after a comfortable victory over Ossett. Hyde went ahead after just 6 minutes after some defensive dallying let in Jody Banim went promptly squared for Mickey Beirne to tap home his second goal for the club. It was 2-0 after 22 minutes, Paul Robertson swung in a corner which Mark Beeston headed towards goal and Jody Banim provided the final touch on the goal line. Six minutes was all it took for the next goal, Robertson made a great run down the left before cutting inside and laying off to Steve Tobin who lashed the ball home from the edge of the penalty area via a deflection off Jody Banim. On 32 minutes it was 4-0, Phil Trainer's trickery on the left fooled the Ossett defence and his ball across the face of goal was lashed in by Jody Banim at the far post. On 67 minutes it was five, Tobin played in Carl Laurie whorolled the ball past the advancing goalkeeper with ease to claim his first goal for the club. As ever, Hyde couldn't manage a clean sheet and on 89 minutes Jermaine Manners lashed home a consolation for Ossett from the edge of the penalty area. Hyde have now won the group as Altrincham have drawn 2 games and qualify as one of the best 8 group winners with 10 points and 15 goals from 4 games.

Hyde: Kurt Edgington 7, John Foster 7, Paul Robertson 8, Mark Beeston 7,
Carl Laurie 7, Phil Trainer 7, Matty Taylor 7, Steve Tobin 7, Jody Banim 7,
Mickey Beirne 7, Anthony Charles 7. Subs: Peter Band 7 for Beirne, Lloyd
Richardson 7 for Taylor, Brendan Aspinall 7 for Robertson.

Ossett: Neil Bennett, Adam gray, Paul Sykes, Ryan Gray, Craig Boardman, Paul
Ryan, Matt Smithard, Mark Lambert, Mick Midwood, Chris Annan, Simon Fuller.
Subs: Simon Woodhead, Jermaine Manners, Sam Polli.

REPORT BY STEVE BOWKER

27-01-01 HUCKNALL TOWN 1 HYDE UNITED 2 UNIBOND Att. 290
After their dismal performance in midweek the Tigers roared back to record a thoroughly deserved victory at Watnall Road. On a pitch which looked like it had been ploughed ( it was too wet to get a roller on), Hyde were in control from the start with some neat football as Hucknall seemed content to hit high hopeful balls for Dave Regis as well as using the very long throws of Lee Soar. The Tigers welcomed back Steve Rimmer in the centre of defence, but were still missing Simon Yeo up front with a hamstring strain.( He hopes to be back next Saturday).
Hyde should have taken the lead on 33 minutes when Phil Trainer squared from the by-line to Jody Banim who had the simple task of side-footing home. He missed by a yard! The Tigers continued to press and the impressive Trainer headed just over. Hyde took the lead on 40 minutes following a Paul Robertson corner which flicked off Jody Banim( so he said!) at the near post. The lead was short-lived however as right on half-time Beeston fouled the impressive Simon Martin on the edge of the box ( a harsh decision). The ball was squared to Simon Brown who lashed it in past a startled Kurt Edgington. Cruel luck for the Tigers.
Undeterred the Tigers continued to make all the running in the second-half and eventually took the lead on 71 minutes when Phil Trainer hammered home from the left into the far corner. The defence then held firm against a late onslaught to register a first league win since mid November and move a few places up the table.
Overall this was a superb performance from the Tigers against a team who had lost only one league game since September and would have expected to win. Rimmer had an outstanding game and was well supported by Beeston and John Foster, who had his best game for some time. The only blot on the day was a needless booking for Banim which leaves him one booking away from a one match ban. I have not mentioned the referee....let's say he will have better days!

Edgington 6, Foster 8, Robertson 7, Beeston 8, Rimmer 9, Trainer 8, Taylor 6, Hall 7, Banim 7, Hanson 5, Charles 5.
Subs ( not used) Tobin, Band, Laurie.

Come back Steve Bowker!
REPORT BY TONY BEARD