LEAGUE SEASON 2002 - 03

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  

18-04-03 HYDE UNITED 1 BLYTH SPARTANS 1 UNI att.255
This match was exactly the same as the one last week against Gateshead apart from the fact we managed to score a goal from the seven chances we created. Hyde welcomed back John Gaynor from injury but were missing Paddi Wilson with a broken hand from last week’s game. 

The Tigers started well and missed chance after chance until Steve Foster lobbed the ball home on 33 minutes. He had already missed a sitter and then hit the bar with a header. Lee Evans missed a couple of chances too and it was déjà vu. Even the weather was the same. Half time score 1-0; should have been four or five. 

Blyth were a different team in the second half and when Glen Robson scored on 63 minutes, they looked unlikely winners. However the Tigers’ defence stood firm with a couple of close shaves, a sitter missed, and the crossbar rattled when it seemed easier to score. 

Yet again it was a match that got away. That’s why we are bottom I suppose. 

Hyde – Fish, Coleman, Williams, Jones, Spooner, Sertori, Lydiate, Gaynor, Foster, Evans, Buckley.
Subs – Ellis, Whelan and Swanick

Blyth – Naisbett, Morton, Martin, Hutton, Forster, Dixon, Little, Perry, Robson, McMahon, Stewart.
Subs – Williams, Phillips and Bell. 

REPORT BY TONY BEARD



12-04-03 HYDE UNITED 0 GATESHEAD 1 UNI att.186
On the face of it, just another regulation defeat in front of the lowest league crowd for many a long year. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. We had no less than five one on ones with the ‘keeper and didn’t actually get the ball on target, let alone score. Lee Evans had an absolute nightmare missing four of them. His workrate was fantastic, his finishing was dire. 

The Tigers started well and should have been three goals up when Michael Chilton headed in a corner from inside the six yard box. It was so predictable after such a bright start. The rest of the game was pretty medioacre with chance after chance being spurned. 

The referee didn’t help, but then he shouldn’t have needed to. The nearest we came to scoring was a looping header from Simon Coleman which Graeme Waind just managed to scramble round a post. 

In the end we made Gateshead look good and they weren’t, but not for the first time we have paid the ultimate penalty for not taking chances when they occur.



Hyde – Fish, Coleman, Williams, Jones, Swanick, Lydiate, Wilson, Foster, Evans, Buckley
Subs – Meszaros, Whelan and Brookes

Gateshead – Waind, Watson, Cramman, Cattanack, Thompson, March, harrison, McAlindon, Chilton, Dickinson, Colvin..
Subs – Tait, Mort and Morgan 


REPORT BY TONY BEARD



09-04-03 RUNCORN 1 HYDE UNITED 1 UNI att.112
The Tigers put up a brave show at Valerie Park, Prescot, in front of a Spartan crowd, and were unlucky not to come away with all three points. They welcomed back Steve Foster and got off to a dream start as Simon Coleman half-volleyed a screamer into the top corner after only three minutes. Coleman went on to have a fine game in an unaccustomed midfield role. 

However after 15 minutes they lost Paul Jones with a bad nose injury and 15 minutes later lost the influential Nicky Spooner with a calf problem. Two lots of reshaping didn’t help, but it was still Hyde creating all the chances with Foster and Lee Evans both going close

The pitch was difficult and suited a long ball game and certainly Hyde deserved their half time lead. It should have been more and there were made to pay for the missed chances when Matty McGinn headed in an equalizer on 60 minutes past an unsighted Dave Fish. 

The defence then stood firm with Carlo Sertori and Jason Lydiate both having great games and Fish behind them handling superbly and making many good saves as Runcorn increased the pressure. However it was still Hyde who came the closest with a Sertori free kick drifting inches wide. 

Hyde United – Fish, Coleman, Williams, Jones, Spooner, Sertori, Lydiate, Swanick, Foster, Evans, Buckley.
Sub – Woodhead, Whelan and Meszaros

Runcorn FC Halton – Winstanley, Carragher, Ness, Ellis, Harris, Spearitt, Parle,Price,Prescott, Leadbetter,Mc Ginn.
Sub – Morley,Allen and Watson

REPORT BY TONY BEARD
 


31-03-03 HYDE UNITED 1 WORKSOP TOWN 4 UNI att.319 
After the euphoria of recent away performances, this was dire. Worksop scored twice in each half, hit the woodwork three times and missed a load of sitters. Dave Fish make plenty of good saves in between. That basically sums the game up. 

For our part, Steve Gunby clipped the bar with a first half free-kick and Paddi Wilson glanced in a last minute consolation. Dave McCartney in the Worksop goal never made a save in the game. 

Worksop looked impressive throughout and obviously took a liking to the superb surface at Ewen Fields. We were left chasing shadows as time and again they went through the Tiger’s defence as gaps appeared all over the pitch. 

This was definitely one to forget. Worksop’s goals came from Adam Muller on 18 and 75 minutes, Steve Hawes hammered home a free-kick on 31 minutes and Gary Townshend scored ten seconds after half time. Wilson pulled one back at the death, but it was hardly deserved.

Hyde – Fish, Coleman, Williams, Jones, Spooner, Swanick, Lydiate, Brookes, Sertori, Ellis, Gunby
Subs – Winstanley, Buckley and Wilson

Worksop Town – Mc.Cartney, Ludlam, Davis, Hawes, Bernard, Wood, Peacock, Whitehead, Muller, Townsend, Todd.
Subs – Callery, Roberts and Caudwell


REPORT BY TONY BEARD



29-03-03 BURSCOUGH 0 HYDE UNITED 0 UNI att.170
The Tigers fully deserved their point at Victoria Park and with a little luck could have come away with all three but for two last gasp saves from Burscough ‘keeper Matthew Taylor. To say Burscough have reached the semi –final of the FA Trophy, the town was hardly gripped by “cup fever” as only 170 turned up, at least half of whom were from Hyde. 

Nevertheless it was the Hyde faithful who went home happy after this dour encounter. The pitch, although well grassed, was hard and bumpy and in the first half the Tigers also had to contend playing against a strong wind and blinding sun. However they coped admirably despite the loss of Paddi Wilson after only 14 minutes. Wilson had reacted verbally to instructions from the bench and Steve Waywell had no hesitation in immediately substituting him and bringing on last week’s hero, Tony Ellis. Paddi, with so much talent being wasted, should have known better. 

For the rest of the half, the Hyde defence stood firm, with at least 15 corners against them. Former Oldham Athletic player, Paul Jones had a superb game, and was ably supported by the rest of the defence. Dave Fish handled well whenever he was called into action and the Tigers suddenly started to believe in themselves. 

In the second half, Burscough faded and it was Hyde who looked the most likely to score. A great Steve Gunby effort was scrambled around a post and Paul Williams was only inches away with a free kick. Tom Brookes also had a couple of good efforts as Hyde pushed forward despite losing Lee Evans through injury. Rob Woodhead became a makeshift striker, but like the rest of the team, battled for every ball and epitomised the new found spirit in the team. Dave Swannick, so often the fans’ object of discontent, had another fine game in midfield and covered every inch of the pitch as Burscough proved they were not up for the fight. They will need to do considerably better next week, if they are to make the Trophy final. But let’s not take anything away from the Tigers, who although relegated, are still prepared to fight. 

Hyde – Fish, Coleman, Williams, Jones, Spooner, Swanick, Lydiate, Evans, Wilson, Brookes, Gunby.
Subs – Ellis, Buckley and Woodhead 

Burscough – Taylor, Underwood, Bluck, Teale, Taylor, Burns, Lawlwss, Bryne, Wright, Bowen, Martindale.
Subs – Molyneux, Hyland and White

REPORT BY TONY BEARD



22-03-03 DROYLSDEN 0 HYDE UNITED 1 UNI att. 347
For once, former Tigers did not come back to haunt us as Hyde battled to hold on to a Tony Ellis strike and take all the points in this Tameside derby. The Droylsden faithful ( not as many as from Hyde) had turned up, inspired by their leader, expecting a 10-0 victory. They were to leave before the end, bitterly disappointed, as the Tigers defended superbly throughout. 

The pitch was difficult and with seemingly plenty of building work going on everywhere, atmosphere was a bit thin on the ground. The dug-outs were open-air, but totally adequate on the day in the warm spring sunshine! 

The Tigers were again missing Matty Duffy, Rick Whelan, Steve Foster and John Gaynor, and Lee Evans had also joined the lengthening list, but welcomed back Jason Lydiate who had a storming game at right back. Making his debut for Hyde was former Stockport and Leigh player, Paul Williams. He, too, had a good game and gave the team the all important balance. But it was in the middle of defence where Hyde were strong. The experienced trio of Jones, Spooner and Coleman absorbed everything Droylsden threw at them. Behind them, Dave Fish handled well, apart from one rush of blood which could have proved costly as Ged Murphy struck the bar with a glancing effort. 

The original plan was to play Mark Sertori up-front, but he lasted only ten minutes, before he pulled up lame.So to plan B with Ellis partnering Paddi Wilson. Steve Gunby had a face injury in the first half, and was replaced by Rob Woodhead on fifty minutes. Mike Meszaros replaced the tiring Tom Brookes on the hour as the Tigers pushed forward. 

On 71 minutes a great cross from Lydiate found Paddi and, although his shot was well blocked by Paul Phillips, ‘the assistant’ Tony Ellis was there to hammer home the rebound. Game, set and match and humble pie for an after match snack. 

Hyde – Fish, Coleman, Williams, Jones, Spooner, Sertori, Lydiate, Swanick, Wilson, Brookes, Gunby.
Subs – Ellis, Meszaros and Woodhead

Droylsden – Phillips, Hall, Warner, Farley, Burke, O’Brien, Kevan, Murphy, Salmon, Wright,Haarhoff..
Subs – Chambers, Glendenning, Kerr 

REPORT BY TONY BEARD



15-03-03 HYDE UNITED 0 ALTRINCHAM 2 UNI att. 485
Not for the first time, former Tigers came back to Ewen Fields to haunt us. This time it was Paul Robertson and Peter Band. “ Coco” hit a sweet left footer into the net on 10 minutes after a cross field pass from Dave Swanick went horribly wrong. “Bandy” added a second on 69 minutes after Dave Fish had got tangled up. 

The Tigers were missing Matty Duffy, Rick Whelan, Steve Foster and John Gaynor – all injured, most quite serious – and Jason Lydiate who was suspended. Making debuts were Simon Coleman and Paul Jones. Coleman was probably Hyde’s best man, especially in the second half, but it was Fish who received the man of the match award from the sponsors. He made some excellent saves, but was probably at fault with both goals 

The weather and the pitch were better than the game. There were plenty of chances, but the game never got going as a spectacle. Altrincham missed some sitters, whilst we hit the post twice. First time it was Paddi Wilson with a great header which would have levelled the scores. Second time was Steve Gunby with a deflected shot, but overall this was a disappointing performance from the patched–up Tigers. Altrincham always looked the more likely to score with Tony Sullivan causing all sorts of problems. We were lightweight up-front as well as midfield. 

Hyde – Fish, Crookes, Coleman, Jones, Spooner, Sertori, Gunby, Swanick, Wilson, Evans, Woodhead.

Subs – Ellis, Meszaros and Brookes 

Altrincham – Acton, Scott, Adams, Maddox, Talbot, Rose, Sullivan, Craney, Band, Shuttleworth, Robertson.

Subs – Clegg, Lunt and Gallagher



05-03-03 HYDE UNITED 1 VAUXHALL MOTORS 0 UNI att. 237
Whilst most non-league followers were contacting CEEFAX to see if they had made a mistake on the final score, the Tigers were celebrating a great victory. Make no mistake about this, the Tigers deserved their win after defending bravely for most of the game. Before the start the Motormen were confident they could still catch Accrington if they won all their games. Well Hyde certainly put a spanner in the works, as they got into gear from the first kick. 

We played well at Vauxhall and were unlucky to lose, but revenge was sweet as a brave header from Paddi Wilson gave Hyde the lead on 16 minutes. What a night he had. A goal, a booking, a bad miss when he could have sealed it, a goal ruled out for offside and a verbal spat( paddy?) with the management team which resulted in a rather abrupt substitution. That’s Paddi! 

For most of the game the defence were under great pressure but Dominic Crookes and the rest defended magnificently. Behind them, Dave Fish handled brilliantly after his ‘mare at Hucknall and the Tigers looked a different team. But the man of the match for me was young John Gaynor. He covered every inch of the ground in a brilliant display in midfield and really stood out as the game progressed. 

Every player played his part as Steve Waywell could only muster 14 players owing to injuries. (It now looks like Fozzy and Rick Whelan could be out for most of the season). Vauxhall are an excellent team and played like it. We may not have been able to match them on skill, but we certainly matched them on effort. 

A new dawn? Time will tell. 


Hyde United – Fish, Lydiate, Duffy ( Woodhead 46), Crookes, Spooner, Sertori, Gaynor, Swanick, Wilson ( Ellis 77), Evans, Gunby
Sub– Meszaros ( not used) 

Vauxhall Motors – Hilton, Ward ( Lawton 67), Mc Dermott, Brazier, Tomlinson, Robinson, Aspinall ( Lynch 67), Nesbit, Fearns ( Young 64), Haddrell, Cumiskey

REPORT BY TONY BEARD



25-02-03 HUCKNALL TOWN 2 HYDE UNITED 0 UNI att. 159 
Hyde turned in a much better performance at Hucknall and were unlucky not to come away with at least one point, if not three. On a pitch resembling Blackpool beach, all the play came from the Tigers who paid the penalty for missed chances at one end and letting in two awful goals at the other. 

The first half belonged to Hyde with Steve Foster ( remember him?) and Lee Evans causing all sorts of problems but they could not find the net. Five minutes before half time ( how many times has that happened this year?) Mark Nangle was given far too much time and space and his weak shot found the back of the net. 

The second half followed a similar pattern, but Hyde were dealt a double blow after 55 minutes when first Steve Foster was carried off with an ankle injury and seconds later Rick Whelan followed with a torn hamstring. The Tigers continued to fight and John Gaynor produced a great save from Ryan Young. 

Against the run of play, Hucknall got a second on 74 minutes, when Russell Cooke’s shot went under Dave Fish. A horror moment. Still the Tigers pressed and Evans had a great effort which cannoned back of a post. It was that sort of night. When you are down you certainly get no luck. 

For Hyde there were plenty of decent performances on the night, none more so than Dominic Crookes who had his best game for some time.


Hyde – Fish, Ashwell, Whelan, Crookes, Duffy, Sertori, Gaynor, Spooner, Foster, Evans, Gunby.
Subs – Ellis, Swanick and Wilson. 

Hucknall – Young, Maymen, Shaw, Adams, Hicks, Gaunt, Soar, Mitchell, Nangle, Marcelle, Cooke.
Subs – Holmes, Prindiville and Huckerby.

REPORT BY TONY BEARD 



22-02-03 HYDE UNITED 1 GAINSBOROUGH 5 UNI att. 251
After waiting so long for a game, most observers would have wished they hadn’t as the Tigers produced a most inept display, and went down 5-1 to Gainsborough, having played most of the second half with 10 men.

With the midfield non-existant, it was only a matter of time before the defence gave way under so much pressure and so it proved as the impressive Gareth Grant put Trinity ahead on 34 minutes. Luke Staton added a second five minutes later and it was all over. 

The Tigers changed formation in the second half and Lee Evans was introduced to add fire power up front, which he did, but Gainsborough added a third on 54 minutes when Lee Ellington slotted home a penalty after debutant Jason Lydiate had handled in the area and got a red card for his trouble. 

Lee Evans pulled one back for the Tigers on 71 minutes. ( our first goal of 2003), to give a flicker of hope, but this was immediately extinguished as Grant added a couple more opportunist goals. 

Steve Waywell gave debuts to three players and there was only Dave Swannick in the line up from the start of the season. On this performance, there is certainly some way to go. A winning formula seems a long way off. The end of the season cannot come quick enough, but at least Fozzy will be back on Tuesday after serving a suspension lasting 8 weeks.


Hyde – Fish, Swannick, Duffy, Lydiate, Spooner, Sertori, Flitcroft, Gunby, Wilson, Ellis, G.Evans.
Subs – Crookes, Ashwell and L.Evans 

Gainsborough Trinity – Pettinger, Knowles, Brown, Allison, Timons, Staton, Camm, Eshelby, Ellington, Lucas, Grant..
Subs – Jones, Scaife, Fallows.

REPORT BY TONY BEARD



01-02-03 HYDE UNITED 0 MARINE 2 UNI att. 307
This was a pretty even game with Hyde probably just edging it, but two goals conceded in the last 17 minutes sealed the Tigers’ fate. Up until then Hyde had missed chance after chance and when they did get a shot on target, it was inevitable that Peter Crookes would rise to the occasion. Dave Nolan probably would have had too, but he was out with a dead-leg. Crooksey made a series of excellent saves and there was no sign of his poor handling which often undid him for us. 

Steve Waywell gave debuts to Nicky Spooner and Mark Sertori, who both helped tighten up the defence, but it was up front where Hyde struggled. Lee Evans missed a sitter in the first half and Paddi Wilson missed when clean through in the second. (Only three players started the game who were at Hyde at the beginning of the season. That shows the turnover we have had this year). 

The Tigers were made to pay the ultimate penalty when Tony Taylor scored at the far post after 73 minutes and five minutes later, substitute Neil Black added a second after Dave Swanick had erred. 

Not the result Waywell would have been looking for, but once again there were some good signs, but its turning out to be a long road to recovery. A game a fortnight isn’t helping and so there may be a friendly for next Saturday. Watch the website for details. 

Hyde – Fish, Gaynor, Swanick, Crookes, Spooner, Sertori, Flitcroft, Gunby, Evans, Ellis, Wilson.
Subs – Ashwell, Hayder and Wilkinson

Marine – Crookes, Murphy, Proctor, Bainbridge, Connolly, Wareing, Thompson, Hussin, Mc Nally, Taylor, Randles.
Subs – Dolan, Black and Park.

REPORT BY TONY BEARD



18-01-03 BARROW 3 HYDE UNITED 0 UNI att. 1036
A very poor defensive performance was the main reason why the Tigers succumbed to Barrow for the third time this season. Unable to clear their lines they were constantly under pressure from a fluid Barrow side for whom Holt and Connell were excellent. Dave Fish made some great stops, but he was let down by those around him. He deserved better as he blocked efforts, only to see the ball put back into the net. 

Barrow took the lead on 30 minutes through Darren Connell after he hit home a rebound. He scored a second three minutes before half time with a superb goal into the top corner. The third came on 82 minutes, when Steve Housham scrambled the ball home. The referee blunded here ( he admitted it later) as a Barrow throw was taken about 20 yards from where it should have been. The linesman knew, but couldn’t summon the courage to tell the ref. Lucky it didn’t decide the game! 

One high spot for the Tigers was another good performance of young John Gaynor at right back who was hampered with a back injury from quite early on. Nevertheless he showed plenty of class. Dave Swanick returned in midfield and had a good solid game. Others showed glimpses of what they could do, especially in the first half, but Steve Waywell knows he still needs several new players to get the Tigers on the road to recovery. 

Hyde – Fish, Gaynor, Ashwell, Crookes, Diggle, Swanick, Flitcroft, Hayder, Wilson, Evans, Fisher.
Subs – Ellis, Wilkinson and McGill 

Barrow – Bishop, Shaw, Maxfield, Hall, Salmon, Anthony, Arnold, Gaughan, Connell, Warren, Holt.
Subs – Housham, Hume and Rogers.

REPORT BY TONY BEARD