data

LEAGUE SEASON 2001 - 02

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

27-04-02 HYDE UNITED 2 EMLEY 3 UNI Att. 333
In their final game of the campaign, the Tigers continued with their Jekyll and Hyde form by giving Emley ( wearing our red shorts and looking like a mixed wash accident) a three-goal start and then fighting back and probably should have won by the finish. Alas like so many other games it was not to be and Dave Nolan was left rueing all the chances that has been missed. Steve Foster missed a couple early on, and another later. Dominic Crookes and Matty Taylor both missed sitters.

Hyde recalled the players who had been suspended for the last three games as well as Stephen Lyons in goal. It turned out to be a nightmare for Steve as he picked the ball out of the net three times before he had made a save. In addition Simeon Bambrook had hit the bar with a free-kick. Half –time three goals down and playing like it.

However within eight minutes of the restart, Hyde, with Damien Joyce having replaced a disappointing Chris Young, had pulled two goals back through a superb strike by Lee Madin and a Nolo header. No more goals came but the chances did and on reflection it was lucky we didn’t have to win the game. Frustrating though as Thommo’s Bradford hammered five past Colwyn Bay and Bishop’s lost on their travels again. So near yet so far…and so to the end of an era.

The lasting memory of the season is not all those chances, but 87 goals conceded. Most of them bad ones!

Hyde - Lyons, Madin, Taylor, Crookes, Ashwell, Band, Young, Foster, Evans, Hawtin, Nolan Subs Brady, Joyce and Salmon

Emley – Clark, Nicholson, Crossley, Hardy, Hatto Adams, Day, Ryan, Bambrook, Coleano, Manousios Subs Thorpe, Prasher and Smith

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

23-04-02 HYDE UNITED 1 WHITBY TOWN 1 UNI Att. 316
A draw against a battling Whitby team was not enough to prevent the Tigers being relegated for the first time in their long history. A victory was needed to hang on to the faintest of hopes for the play-offs, but at least now we don’t need Droylsden to do us a favour in their last match. This was a pulsating game as Whitby fought hard to gain a point they needed to be safe from the play-offs themselves. The Tigers were ravaged by suspensions and injuries. Simon Yeo, Matty Taylor and Peter Band all went through the pain barrier to play. Simon will wish he hadn’t as a knee in the mouth despatched him to Tameside General for stitches after 66 minutes. I guess his last game for Hyde.
The match itself really encapsulated the season. Rank bad luck( Bandy hit the woodwork twice), indiscipline at times ( four more bookings and a sending off), some great football and the conceding of an awful goal from a weakly hit free-kick. The goal from Craig Veart did at least set up a grandstand finish for the last twenty minutes. Lee Madin pulled one back with seven minutes remaining, plus an extra five for injury time, Possibly should have been more, but at the end of the day, chances were missed and that sums up the whole season.

Effort could not be faulted on the night from the walking wounded and the Tigers left the pitch to a standing ovation. Dale Hawtin had left the pitch minutes earlier after an error needed him to commit a professional foul to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity. Alex Gildea for Whitby had been sent off ten minutes earlier for a second bookable as he feigned injury after a spat with Paul Ashwell.
At the end of the day we have conceded too many goals [ 84 ] (only Bamber have conceded more), given away points to teams near the bottom, and paid the ultimate price. Our goalscoring (despite the missed chances) is not too bad. Emley in 7th position have only scored two more. Time for a complete review all round when the emotion has died down me thinks.
Hyde - Acton, Joyce, Taylor, Crookes, Ashwell, Band, Salmon, Madin, Yeo, Hawtin, Nolan Subs – Meszaros, Brady and Filson

Whitby – Naisbett, Anderson, Williams, Graham, Wilford, Dunning, Wood, Veart, Robinson, Skelton, GildeaSubs – Goodchild, Key and Williams

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

20-04-02 HUCKNALL TOWN 3 HYDE UNITED 1 UNI Att. 249
A combination of poor defending and ill discipline cost the Tigers dear as they failed to get the three points they desperately needed to reach the play-offs. On a difficult rock hard pitch and already without Young, Evans and Foster through suspension, and Madin through injury, they lost Obong, Taylor and Critchley during the game with more injuries. In addition Peter Band was sent off for abusing an ineffective linesman. The officials will all have better days, but there is no point in disputing every decision, which goes against us. Decisions were poor both ways. We were still arguing when Hucknall scored their second. That’s the ultimate price.

The first half had started so well with Ashwell’s long throws causing all sorts of problems in the Hucknall box. The Tigers could have already been in front when Band headed on for Yeo to hammer home on seventeen minutes. If a couple more chances had been taken, it could have been all over, but Hucknall equalised with a well-worked goal through Ricketts, three minutes before half-time.

Within two minutes of the restart, Hucknall could have sealed it as two easy chances went begging, but they did take the lead on sixty minutes through Cooke with a quickly taken free-kick with the defence at sixes and sevens. A Yeo header produced a brilliant save from Young, but that was the nearest we came and Hucknall added a third on 83 minutes from substitute Newell after more woeful defending.

Still the faintest of technical chances to reach the play-offs but with a performance like this, we won’t get the necessary two wins. A dramatic improvement in both performance and discipline is needed for Monday night. Our disciplinary record is dire. As well as collecting almost four times more bookings than teams like Vauxhall and Burton, we are also losing players through suspension. Three were missing from this game and Bandy will have three games at the start of next and if there is a God, miss the play-offs too.

Hyde – Acton, Joyce, Taylor, Crookes, Ashwell, Band, Critchley, Obong, Yeo, Hawtin, Nolan. Subs Meszaros, Brady and Filson.

Hucknall – Young, Wright, Prindiville, Starbuck, Hicks, Gaunt, Mitchell, Cooke, Duerden, Ricketts and Burke. Subs Newell, Bainbridge and Keegan

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

13-04-02 HYDE UNITED 3 ALTRINCHAM 2 UNI Att. 437
This was a tremendous game, especially after all the drab affairs we have had at home recently. Three precious points, but whether they will be enough remains to be seen, but on the day, the Tigers could not have done more.

Hyde were missing Chris Young and Lee Evans (both suspended) and Martin Filson and Neil Critchley (both injured) whilst Simon Yeo was not fit enough to start the game. Altrincham had former Hyde favourite Kurt Edgington in goal. He was suitably clad in a TMI jersey he borrowed from us. They had other injury problems too, but still fielded a strong team with Rod Thornley impressive up-front before he leaves with the England party this week to continue his physio duties.

After a defensive mix-up, Hyde took the lead on seven minutes when Steve Foster lobbed over the advancing Kurt. If a couple of chances had been taken, it would have been all over, but Altrincham fought back and Gareth Strange scored a superb equaliser from the edge of the box on 34 minutes.

Worse was to follow for the Tigers as Danny Murphy gave Altrincham the lead a minute after the break with only his second touch. No lying down this time from the Tigers and six minutes later the hard-working David Nolan was held back in the box. A penalty. Remember those? Foster sent Kurt the wrong way. No mean feat that, as he used to save them for us.

Minutes later Dominic Crookes was unlucky to see a volley deflected over the bar, but on 64 minutes he was on hand to score helped by a couple of defections. It didn’t matter how it went in, it just did and then an agonising 30 minutes to hang on. Lee Madin could have sealed it but scuffed his shot wide after a great move, but that would have spoilt the last 15 minutes! The Tigers were defending desperately, plenty of injuries, bookings and tactical substitutions and the return of Simon. Two minutes injury time was held up in error. It should have been four, but turned out to be six with more injuries. Heart tremors galore, but the Tigers held on. Who said there was no spirit in the team?

Stars for the Tigers were Foster up-front, Damien Joyce in midfield and Crookes and Paul Ashwell at the back, but everybody played their part in a fully committed performance.

Full marks to Altrincham who gave so much to the game. I can’t remember when we last did the double over them, (Cheshire League days?) but both wins were fully deserved and shows what we can do with the right attitude.

Three games left and still 9 points to play for. A win at Hucknall would make things interesting…we have won on both our previous visits!! Be there!! Coach leaves 11.30am, but seats must be pre-booked or you could travel with Luke on a dozen trains. The choice is yours as they say.

Hyde – Acton 7, Joyce 8, Taylor 8, Crookes 9, Ashwell 8, Band 8, Madin 7, Foster 8, Obong 7, Hawtin 7, Nolan 8. Subs Brookes, Meszaros and Yeo

Altrincham – Edgington, Rowland, Swanick, Maddox, Sertori, Hawes, Poland, Craney, Strange, Thornley, Ryan. Subs Murphy, Daniel and Thompson

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

10-04-02 HYDE UNITED 0 VAUXHALL MOTORS 0 UNI Att. 218
The score says it all. This was another dreadful match played in front of a sparse crowd on a difficult pitch. In normal circumstances, a point against a team who are second in the league and who have won 8 out of their last 9 games would be an achievement. But these are difficult days for the Tigers and a win was desperately needed.

In the night not much chance of that. One solitary shot on target, and one deflected was all Hyde had to show. Vauxhall were no better. The league’s leading scorer, Terry Fearns, had two gilt edged chances he may have scored on another day and that was it.

Simon Yeo was still missing for the Tigers. He hopes to be back on Saturday. Let us hope so, as we had no punch up front without him. Lee Evans and Chris Young will definitely be missing as they start their suspensions. Kenny Brady, out since September, returned as a second half substitute but made little impact and the same can be said for Lee Madin, who never gained good possession to enable him to use his pace. Nolo did return though and he had a decent game in midfield.

Four games left now, three at home and a trip to Hucknall, but still two points adrift of Colwyn Bay having played a game more. A play-off place is looking the best we can hope for as Bishop Auckland scrambled another point. Its going to be tight and unless we beat Altrincham on Saturday, the play-off may be beyond us.

Hyde – Acton, Joyce, Taylor, Crookes, Ashwell, Band, Young, Foster, Evans, Hawtin, Nolan. Subs – Brady, Meszaros and Madin .

Vauxhall – Holmes, Spellman, Thompson, Brazier, Haddrell, Aspinall, Nesbitt,Lawton,Fearns, Stanhope, Mc. Dermott. Subs – Lynch, Cullen and Wright

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

06-04-02 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 4 HYDE UNITED 1 UNI Att. 470
Accrington has never been a lucky ground for the Tigers, but the omens seemed slightly better this time around, although we were missing Simon Yeo. It was a beautiful day for football, Lutel James was suspended and Accrington had a cup-final on Wednesday. No such luck. Accrington swept into lead on twelve minutes through the impressive Paul Mullin and never looked back. A further goal from Procter three minutes before half-time confirmed their first half superiority. It was a dreadful half for the Tigers, who never got going, and indeed a dreadful match, not helped by a pedantic referee, who was always too far away to see what happened. Two goals from within the six-yard box summed up the defending.

The second half was slightly better. Steve Foster, harshly booked in the first-half, was inches wide when he beat Jamie Speare to the ball, but by then Accrington had scored again through Robbie Williams. Foster did get on the scoresheet five minutes later to give the Tigers some hope, but it was to no avail as Mullin added another with eight minutes left.

Overall a poor performance with the spirit showed at Altrincham a fading memory. Three defeats on the bounce and some awful goals conceded, either from set pieces or from within the six yard box or both. We are definitely missing Felgate’s direction and Filson’s organisation at the back.

We have just 5 games left, with 4 at home. We need at least three wins and even then that would only probably get us a play-off place, but on current form we would take it. Nothing less than a confidence-boosting win on Wednesday will do.

Hyde – Acton 6, Joyce 7, Taylor 6, Crookes 7, Ashwell 6, Band 8, Young 6, Foster 7, Madin 6, Hawtin 6, Evans 6. Subs Nolan, Brookes and Obong

Accrington – Speare, Cavanagh, Hart, Halford, Smith, Burns, Williams, Robinson, Procter, Mullin, Carden Subs Buggie, Flitcroft and Bell

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

01-04-02 VAUXHALL MOTORS 2 HYDE UNITED 1 UNI Att. 287
A great display from the Tigers against the second best team in the league (according to the table), but in the end another defeat as Vauxhall scored an undeserved winner four minutes from time totally against the run of play. It was so late Ceefax missed it as it said we drew!

Hyde gave Damien Joyce his full debut, but relegated Matty Taylor to substitute. Lee Madin was also recalled to the bench.

The Tigers started sluggishly but soon got in their stride as Simon Yeo headed home a Chris Young corner on 10 minutes. Steve Foster had already burst through but hit the keeper’s legs rather than the target. The lead didn’t last long though as leading scorer Terry Fearns found himself in acres of space to head home an equalizer on 24 minutes. Undeterred the Tigers pressed forward with Chris Young twice going close and Lee Evans was only inches away with a long range effort.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Plenty of Hyde pressure, the Vauxhall ‘keeper, Chris Holmes taking an inordinate amount of time with every goal-kick and it seemed only a matter of time before Hyde scored. We thought we had when Chris Young hammered the ball home from outside the area, but it was disallowed for offside. A harsh decision. In the Premier League it would have stood!

Worse was to follow as Yeo was carried off after getting his studs caught in the ground and twisting his knee. He left the bar later on crutches. Despite the introduction of Martin Filson and Lee Madin and further Hyde pressure, the goal would not come, and then with just four minutes left, Peter Cumiskey hit home a low shot in a rare Vauxhall attack to leave the Tigers devastated.

How many games have we lost by the odd goal and how many times have we conceded in the last ten minutes? Runcorn twice and Vauxhall spring to mind in the last two weeks alone!

So where do we go from here? Two wins for Bishops over the weekend against our two defeats certainly hasn’t helped. The plain facts are that we need 3 (or more likely 4) wins from the last 6 games if we are to survive, and where better to start than the Crown Ground, Accrington.

Hyde – Acton 7, Joyce 7, Obong 6, Crookes 8, Ashwell 8, Band 7, Young 8, Foster 7, Yeo 7, Hawtin 6, Evans 7. Subs – Filson, Taylor and Madin

Vauxhall Motors – Holmes, Aspinall, McDermott, Brazier, Haddrell, Lynch, Nesbitt, Lawton, Fearns, Young, Cumiskey. Subs Cullen, Spellman and Stanhope

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

29-03-02 HYDE UNITED 0 RUNCORN 1 UNI Att. 527
After the euphoria of two successive wins, it was down to earth with a big bump, as Runcorn snatched the points with two minutes to go through Carragher in a dreadful match. My young son had the best idea, he slept throughout.To make matters worse, seconds before the goal, Lee Evans was sent off for aiming a kick at Kevin Leadbetter after he had been clearly fouled and will now miss three crucial games. New loan signing from Manchester City, Damien Joyce, was probably lucky to escape with just a caution soon afterwards for his first tackle in the Unibond, that can best be described as ill-judged. So everything happened in the last two minutes in a game of few chances. Peter Band was hero and villain in the second half as first he scrambled the ball off the line but then missed one of the few clear cut chances of the game.Nothing much else to report.

The game (on a beautiful warm sunny afternoon) had a no score feel from the start to bore the Bank Holiday crowd. The referee, Mr Morbin,who had always been behind play, had managed a quiet afternoon too, but paid the penalty for his leniency with a sending off and a handful of bookings, most if not all could have been avoided had he taken stronger action early. As usual in these circumstances, the first/worst challenges went unpunished and this was definately the case leading up to the Evans' sending off.

The pressure is still on the Tigers with at least three wins still needed and the games ebbing away. Two defeats against Runcorn haven't helped and in both games they have probably been lucky to win, but that's what happens when you are near the bottom. The game at Vauxhall all of a sudden takes greater importance.

Hyde - Acton 7, Critchley 6, Taylor 8, Crookes 7, Ashwell 7, Band 7, Young 8, Foster 6, Yeo 6, Hawtin 7, Evans 6 subs Joyce, Obong and Brookes

Runcorn - McMillan, Carragher, Gamble, Whalley, Tomlinson, Ellis, Price, Morley, McNeil, Lunt, Leadbetter. subs Ness, Cowley and Watson

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

26-03-02 ALTRINCHAM 1 HYDE UNITED 2 UNI Att. 639
The Tigers fought back from a goal down to deservedly beat Altrincham at Moss Lane. Hyde recalled Neil Critchley and Peter Band but were without Martin Filson who had a groin strain. David Nolan, not yet fully fit, was on the bench. Altrincham had their own injury crisis with twelve players allegedly unfit and it suddenly got worse as on loan winger from Manchester City, Andrew Tunnicliffe, limped off after just seven minutes.

The game was off to a lively start with Stuart Coburn making an excellent save after 13 minutes. From the resultant corner, Steve Foster hit the bar. Minutes later Simon Yeo had a firm header brilliantly saved. Altrincham then broke away and Steve Hawes was left unmarked to head the Robins in front against the run of play. Hyde fought back strongly and five minutes before the break, the versatile Lee Evans found himself in acres of space and coolly rounded Coburn to equalize.

The second half belonged to Hyde. Driven on by Peter Band from midfield, the Tigers created numerous chances but found Coburn in great form. He was commanding in all aspects of his game and used the ball well. With just twelve minutes left Yeo flicked on for Steve Foster to hammer home and send the significant Hyde contingent in the crowd into raptures. A few heart-stopping moments in the last few minutes, but the Tigers held firm to register their second victory in a week and move out of the bottom two.

Overall this was an excellent battling performance from the Tigers. Richard Acton has found new confidence in goal, the defence did everything asked of them whilst Band and Chris Young controlled the midfield. Yeo, Foster and Evans were always a handful up-front and with more performances like this, relegation will be a thing of the past. A mention too for the referee, Mr Rawcliffe, who was on top of his game throughout. We have not said that many times this season.

Hyde - Acton 8, Critchley 7, Taylor 7, Crookes 8, Ashwell 8, Band 9, Young 8, Foster 8, Yeo 8, Hawtin 8, Evans 7. Subs Obong, Nolan and Brookes

Altrincham – Coburn, Ryan, Shuttleworth, Maddox, Sertori, Hawes, Hulme, Craney, Poland, Swannick,Tunnicliffe. Subs Whiteman, Strange and Mairs

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

22-03-02 HYDE UNITED 2 BRADFRORD PARK AVENUE 0 UNI Att. 389
In a tense relegation struggle, the Tigers came out on top with a fine battling performance. There were also a number of “firsts”. The first Saturday home game for 10 weeks, the first home clean sheet since November and a first goal for Dominic Crookes in a Tiger’s shirt.

Peter Band failed a late fitness test and joined Ben Obong and David Nolan on the physio’s table. Michael Meszaros was also missing, but the Tigers welcomed back Martin Filson into the heart of the defence and Richard Acton in goal. Hyde started strongly with Steve Foster twice going close before he slotted home on 36 minutes after a great through ball from Simon Yeo. The Tigers had already survived an early scare when the ball struck Dale Hawtin’s hand in the area after only four minutes. On another day it could have been a penalty. Remember them…. they are what we never get!

The second half turned out to be a scrappy affair with the Tigers hanging on and in desperate need of a second goal to ease the tension. It duly came on 77 minutes as Crookes headed home Chris Young’s corner. Youngy had another great game in midfield and is at last showing the Hyde faithful what he can really do. Breathing space at last and despite five minutes injury time (following a high tackle on sponsor’s man of the match, Matty Taylor), the Tigers held on for another crucial three points.

Results could not have gone better for the Tigers, with only us winning of the bottom ten in the league. It is still possible teams who think they are ‘safe’, find themselves vulnerable. Bradford’s management were under no such illusions and still believe they could be involved. On current form, however, Whitby and Colwyn Bay (who both conceded five goals) and Bishop Auckland, one win in plenty, are the teams we need to get in front of. Nine games to go, five at home and probably five wins needed. It’s not impossible, but it would help if we beat Altrincham on Tuesday!

Hyde – Acton 7, Madin 7, Taylor 8, Crookes 8, Ashwell 8, Hawtin 7, Young 9, Foster 8, Yeo 8, Filson 8, Evans 7 Subs not used - Nolan, Critchley and Brookes

Bradford Park Avenue – Montgomery, Quinn, James, Lindley, Stansfield, Daly, Hancock,Benn, Hayward, Maxwell, Calcutt. Subs – O’Brien, Richards and Bagshaw

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

19-03-02 RUNCORN 3 HYDE UNITED 1 UNI Att. 202
The Tigers came away from their first visit to the Autoquest Stadium with an undeserved 3-1 defeat after conceding two late goals to former player Kevin Leadbetter in a game they had enough chances to win.

Hyde got off to a dream start as Steve Foster hammered home after only two minutes. Simon Yeo had a chance to make it two seconds later after he robbed keeper Mark Winstanley, but the ball went agonizingly wide. This could possibly have sealed the game, but instead Runcorn fought back immediately with Steve Carragher hitting the bar.

The equalizer came on twenty minutes after more Runcorn pressure when a shot from David Gamble deflected off Paul Ashwell over keeper David Felgate. Hyde then began to take the sting out of Runcorn and were unlucky on 31 minutes when Ashwell’s effort was scrambled around the post by Winstanley.

In the second half the Tigers produced the best chances with Peter Band and Lee Madin both heading wide when well placed to score and should have had a penalty when Foster was brought down. The referee said he saw nothing wrong, but Foster could only continue after lengthy treatment. It was not going to be Hyde’s night as Runcorn survived two more goalmouth scrambles but then immediately broke downfield and took advantage of some sloppy defending for Leadbetter to score with 8 minutes to go. As the Tigers stormed forward, Runcorn broke again and Leadbetter netted with a superb volley. This was cruel on Hyde who had played well in the second half but paid the ultimate price for missed chances.

Runcorn’s move to the Autoquest has certainly not caught the imagination of their spectators with a crowd of only 202 with more than half from Hyde. The playing surface is large and the facilities impressive but overall the ground lacked atmosphere and is clearly geared more to rugby than football.

After their recent good run this was a match Hyde would have expected to win and it is imperative that three points are gained on Saturday as at least 15 more are needed with games running out.

Hyde – Felgate 7, Madin 6, Taylor 7, Crookes 8, Ashwell 7, Band 7, Young 7, Foster 7, Yeo 7, Hawtin 6, Evans 7. Subs – Brookes, Critchley and Meszaros

Runcorn – Winstanley, Carragher, Ness, Whalley, Tomlinson, Ellis, Price, Morley, McNeil, Gamble, Leadbetter. Subs – Lunt, Cowley and Watson

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

16-03-02 WHITBY TOWN1 HYDE UNITED 2 UNI Att. 324
The Tigers made it seven points out of the last nine with an impressive second half performance which gave them a deserved 2-1 victory at sunny Whitby. Although David Nolan said before the game that he was confident we would get two goals, that seemed a long way off at half-time as Hyde trailed 1-0 and had lost Simon Yeo with a knee injury along the way.

The Tigers started with the usual three at the back, but this soon became four as Lee Evans was drafted in to left back as Whitby stormed forward with a series of long high balls. Lee Ure was very speedy (if somewhat theatrical when tackled) and causing the defence all sorts of problems. After surviving the initial onslaught, Hyde fell behind after 15 minutes when a corner by David Logan found its way directly into the net – or so Assistant Referee said. Interesting this as he had failed to spot incidents under his nose but suddenly spotted something 35 yards away! In fact all the officials had their moments in the first half. The same Assistant was involved minutes later to get Dale Hawtin a booking when he clearly tripped going for the ball before colliding with Ure. The referee was then embarrassed to find the Whitby physio treating a player in the centre circle as play went on around him. Surprisingly no action was taken. Perhaps we should have done that in Worksop game?

To be fair the officials improved a little after the break, but not as much as the Tigers. Driven on by Peter Band and a new formation with Paul Ashwell at right back and Matty back to his old stomping ground on the left, Hyde stormed up field and within three minutes had pulled the goal back as Bandy (black-balled on Monday) hammered home after good work by Lee Madin. Eight minutes later Hyde were in front as Madin hit home a loose ball to send the hoards of travelling Tigers fans into raptures. More chances came and went but Hyde held firm with David Felgate making crucial saves when he had to, and Dominic Crookes and Hawtin making last ditch tackles. Defending was never easy on the heavy pitch, which had passed an early morning inspection.

The final whistle didn’t come until 4.59pm, but in the end three points had been secured and that’s what matters at this stage. Still a long way to go…but six more wins like this will do! The whole team did well in the second half, but special mention should be made of Chris Young, who had an excellent game in centre midfield, and showed what he can do with his right head on. He almost scored too with a superb 30- yard free kick, which brought a good save from Phil Naisbett. Striker Lee Evans also deserves praise for slotting in at left back in the first half and then left midfield in the second half. He performed heroics with his never-say-die attitude and epitomised the spirit currently in the squad.

Hyde had new signing Michael Meszaros on the bench, but this was not really the game to see what he can do. His turn will come soon no doubt, especially as Hyde look like being without Martin Filson, Yeo and Nolo for the Runcorn game.

Hyde – Felgate 7, Madin 7,Taylor 7, Crookes 8, Ashwell 8, Band 8, Young 9, Foster 7, Yeo 7, Hawtin 7, Evans 8. Subs – Brookes 7, Meszaros and Critchley.

Whitby – Naisbett, Williams, Logan, Graham, Rand, Anderson, Dunning, Robinson, Marchant, Ure and Gildea. Subs – Key, Windross and Ragiab Mohammed El Magaryef.

REPORT BY TONY BEARD

12-03-02 HYDE UNITED 3 WORKSOP TOWN 3 UNI Att. 425
The battle of the “Tigers” produced a thrilling game at Ewen Fields in front of the biggest crowd since Burton Albion visited in October, with the Hyde Tigers fighting back twice and ultimately saving the game in the last minute, when all seemed lost, to secure a point. Whether it was a point gained or two lost remains to be seen but there can be no doubting the tremendous spirit showed in the second half after Hyde had gone two down.

David Nolan was injured, so Hyde brought back Steve Foster into the starting line-up, with Chris Young returning to the bench. Ben Obong limped off after 35 minutes to be replaced by Martin Filson.

Hyde just about shaded the exciting first half on possession, but it was Worksop who took the lead on 37 minutes through the influential Linden Whitehead. Foster gave the ball away in midfield and seconds later the ball was in the net. Worksop played some excellent football, especially in the last quarter of the pitch and kept the Hyde defence on their toes throughout. The nearest Hyde came was a left-foot screamer from Paul Ashwell, which skimmed the crossbar, with help from the impressive Jamie Holmshaw in the Worksop goal (according to Ashy) and not (according to the referee, Mr.Sims). A few close shaves at the end of the half (when we usually score), but disaster struck immediately on the restart as a poor clearance allowed former Droylsden player, Carl Holmes to slot home.

The Hyde Tigers stormed forward driven on by Peter Band and Ashwell and eventually Simon Yeo burst clear to slot past Holmshaw. Game on. Minutes later he again created something out of nothing, but this time hit the post and the ball bounced to safety. Simon was now playing superbly with all his old flair, assisted by the spritely Lee Madin, and with six minutes left, it was no surprise when Simon scored a great goal , hitting it over Holmshaw who was caught in no-mans land after another quick break. Nobody could have then predicted what would happen next. With Hyde storming forward for a deserved winner, a screamer of a shot, probably goalbound, hit Bandy in his nether regions. He went down in agony and Worksop broke clear. Mr. Sims, who had up to then, had a decent game failed to stop play (which he technically doesn’t have to do) and Worksop failed to put the ball out. Unsporting, but again not in the laws. To compound the felonies, Andy Todd then struck the ball home. Bandy spent five minutes on the floor before being carried off and all he had to show for his evening endeavours was a booking for a rash first half challenge, and a fantastic bruise in a place which will take some explaining to his beloved Louise. With more than the ninety minutes now up, Hyde again stormed forward. Yeo crossed from the right and Filson, always the man for the occasion, headed home. With the clock now showing 95 minutes, Mr Sims indicated a further six to cover the various injuries and the blatant time-wasting that had gone on previously. Both sides wanted a winner but despite scares at either end, the game ended a creditable draw.

In normal circumstances, a great game and a fair result, but not when you are desperate for three points!

Hyde – Felgate 7, Madin 7, Taylor 8, Crookes 8, Ashwell 8, Band 7, Foster 6, Obong 6, Yeo 9, Hawtin 7, Evans 7 Subs – Filson 7, Young 6, Brookes.

Worksop Town – Holmshaw, Kotylo, Davis, Bradshaw, Varley, Holmes, Gavin Smith, Andy Smith, Whitehead, Townsend, Todd. Subs Carl Smith, Gray and McPherson.

REPORT BY TONY BEARD