LEAGUE SEASON 2003 - 04
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
01-11-03 COLWYN BAY 1
HYDE UNITED 1 UNI att. 280
Not for the first time this season, the Tigers
paid the penalty for not converting their chances as Colwyn Bay
snatched an injury time equaliser. The match should have been over
by half-time as the Tigers completely dominated the first half with
some great football, creating at least four chances they should have
taken. Only Craig Buckley’s effort actually made the target, but
Matthew Parry lived up to his name as he parried it over. Colwyn had
one half chance as a shot deflected off Nicky Hill and hit the
outside of the post.
Hyde were without John O’Kane with Hill
switching to the back, whilst Phil Salt returned in midfield. New
signing Keiran Delaney, from Curzon Ashton made an appearance as a
second half substitute.
The second half followed a similar pattern
although Colwyn were now seeing more of the ball. Hyde’s strikers
could not hit the target, let alone find the net, and it was left to
Steven Clegg to show how it should be
done on 64 minutes as he lashed home a cross-field pass from 20
yards, after the referee has played a good advantage.
Colwyn pushed forward and had a goal disallowed
for pushing as the Tigers defended valiantly. In the last ten
minutes panic set in, including the referee, who had until then had
an excellent game as he became influenced by the crowd and the home
team’s desperation. Hyde conceded free kick after free-kick on the
edge of the area. Even John Baker, who had a pretty quiet afternoon,
held onto the ball too long and was penalised. But just when it
looked that Hyde would
hold out, another free-kick, another blocked effort, but it fell to James
Glendenning on his home debut, and he hammered it home in the
first minute if injury time.
It was hard on the Tigers, but they have only
themselves to blame as the goal drought continues (excluding the
Flixton game). Colwyn Bay who were all at sea in the first half, and
should have been drowned under an avalanche of goals before
half-time.
Hyde
– Baker, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Buckley, Hill, Gaynor, Salt,
Tolson, Wright, McNeil. Subs – Kielthy, Ellis & Delaney.
Colwyn Bay – Parry, Porter, McMahon, van Blerk, Glendenning, Dwyer, P.Johnson, Kevan, Spink, Thomas, Evans. Subs – Dews, M.Johnson and MacLeod.
REPORT MARK DRING
09-11-03
HYDE UNITED 3 WORKINGTON
1 UNI att. 234
Hyde left it late against a workmanlike Workington side to secure the points, but the game should have been over long before Paul Jones headed in with three minutes to go. The match followed a similar pattern to many before. Plenty of possession but no killer touch up front.
Tim Mullock made his debut in goal for the
Tigers and gave the defence immediate stability, despite being
called into serious action only once in the game. He was adjudged to
have brought down Glen Murray, whose theatrical dive convinced the
referee. A yellow card for Mullock and no chance with Craig
Johnston’s penalty. The goal game just three minutes after Anthony
Wright had swung his left foot to give the Tigers the lead on
51 minutes.
The equaliser wasn’t really deserved, but it
meant Hyde had it all to do again. Neil Tolson was carried off on 68
minutes to leave the Tigers an uphill task, but Kieran Delaney added
some verve to midfield as the Tigers powered forward in the last
quarter.
Craig Buckley could have clinched it for Hyde
but contrived to miskick from a yard out, but it was a goal from an
unlikely source in Jones which put the
Tigers back in front. The football started to flow again and with a
minute to go, Phil Salt scored the goal
of the game with a beautiful shimmy before slotting home.
Alls well that end’s well as they say, but
the Tigers have to bury teams when they are on top, if they want to
be serious title contenders. There were some good individual
perfomances with Ian Pendlebury probably being the most impressive
on the day.
The experiment with Sunday football was
inconclusive. The scaremongers who predicted no crowd were proved
wrong as 234 turned up, which was 20 more than Gateshead a couple of
weeks ago, and nine more than the Saturday league average.
Hyde
– Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Buckley, O’Kane, Hill,
Salt, Tolson, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Gaynor, Ellis & Delaney.
Workington – Pape, Grasy, Wharton, Varty, Henney,Lewis, Ennis, Hewson, Murray, Goulding, Johnston. Subs – Dawson, Coyles and Thornton
REPORT MARK DRING
15-11-03
KENDAL TOWN
1
HYDE UNITED 3 UNI att. 204
Hyde travelled up the M6 in beautiful weather,
watching Coyote Ugly and came away from this idyllic Cumbrian
setting with three points, which they fully deserved as there was
certainly nothing ugly about their performance.
Neil Tolson was passed fit, so it was an
unchanged Tigers who took the field. In an eventful opening, Tolson
was brought down in the area in the first minute, but the referee
waved aside penalty claims. Later in the game, he probably would
have give it. Down the other end, and who else but the much
travelled Andy Whittaker, headed home
after slack marking. Three minutes gone and one down.
Straight back to the other end and after Hyde
had missed a couple of sitters, Anthony Wright was flattened from
behind by the ‘keeper. Another penalty? No, again play on.
It was all Hyde and no surprise when
Craig
Buckley slid home Ian Pendlebury’s cross to equalise on 17
minutes. Third time lucky on 28 minutes when the referee gave a pen
and Tolson thundered the ball home.
Chances were still being created and Kendal were lucky to still be
in the game at half-time, Their best spell came just a couple of
minutes before the break when Tim Mullock produced two great saves
from point blank range.
Kendal stepped up the pace after the break, but
it was Hyde who were still dictating matters and man of the match Matty
McNeil clinched it on 70 minutes, when he rifled home after a
good move.
This was a great team performance and everybody
contributed. Mullock looked secure at the back, whilst Nicky Hill
looked comfortable in midfield and then left back for the second
half after Pendo had gone off with a face injury at half time.
Kieran Delaney showed his strength in the second half, whilst
Buckley made some superb runs. The three lads up front ‘worked
their tripe off’, according to the Manager, and I couldn’t put
it better myself.
The Tigers are playing some great stuff at the
moment. It is just a shame there are not more there to see them.
Bring on Bamber on Monday and a return to Ewen Fields for Dave
Swanick. I am sure he will get the reception he deserves!
Hyde
– Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Buckley, O’Kane, Hill,
Salt, Tolson, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Gaynor, Ellis & Delaney.
Kendal – Ward, Pennington, Close, Burrow, Whittal-Williams, Prosser, Cliff, Dixon,Whittaker, Foster, Galley. Subs – Close, Clitheroe and McKenna.
REPORT MARK DRING
17-11-03 HYDE UNITED 4
BAMBER
BRIDGE 0 UNI att. 259
Another scintillating performance from the Tigers to rocket them up to third place and launch a serious Title challenge. There was always a chance this could have been a bridge too far, but Hyde made Bamber look very ordinary and could have had ten on the night.
There was drama too before the kick-off as one
of the assistants had an accident on the way to the match and
couldn’t continue. A hasty replacement was sought and he arrived
with just ten minutes to go
It was a horrid wet night, but the surface was
superb and the Tigers were soon in their stride. They could already
have been in front, when Ian Pendlebury played a neat one-two and
let fly with a screamer. Cyril Sharrock, who had replaced Graham
Bennett since the last encounter, could only parry it, and Neil
Tolson side footed home. Sharrock had a first half nightmare
failing to hold the slippy ball
and was lucky he did not concede more.
After 24 minutes, Dave Swanick returned to the
stadium and announced his arrival with a needless foul on Craig
Buckley. Bugsy took the kick and Matty McNeil
headed in at the far post. Two minutes earlier Nicky Hill had
scraped the bar with another screamer. If the game wasn’t already
over as a contest, it was fourteen minutes later as comical
defending allowed Anthony Wright to
score easily.
In the first match Bamber had only ten men for an hour and blamed that for their defeat, but there were no excuses here. The Tigers continued the second half in the same vein and McNeil added a fourth with some beautiful skill before dinking the ball over the unfortunate Sharrock. Despite Bamber having more possession, it was still Hyde creating the chances. Substitute Kieran Delaney went close twice and McNeil nearly got his hat-trick with a deft flick after Tony Ellis had set him up.
So all in all, a brilliant night for the
Tigers. Neil Tolson won the sponsors’ man of the match, but it
could have been any one of six on the night. All three forwards were
superb, Bugsy and Hill covered every inch of the sodden turf, whilst
the defence looked composed on a difficult night for defending. Tim
Mullock again did everything he had too and is proving to be a good
signing already.
Bring on Chorley and hopefully a few more hundred fans.
Hyde – Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Buckley, O’Kane, Hill, Salt, Tolson, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Gaynor, Ellis & Delaney.
Bamber Bridge – Sharrock, Swanick, Leaver, McCann, Bain, Kent, Turner, Shepherd, Wane, Massey, King. Subs – Squires, Honor and Fogarty.
REPORT MARK DRING
21-11-03 HYDE UNITED 0
CHORLEY
0 UNI att. 319
Another good performance from the Tigers, but
this time the opposition did not cave in and Hyde couldn’t find
the net when it mattered. Chorley put up a battling display, got men
behind the ball whenever they needed to, and held out for a draw.
They had a bit of luck from time to time, but nobody could begrudge
their point from their efforts.
Hyde carried on from where they left off on Monday. Flowing moves all around the pitch, but the Chorley defenders were in an uncompromising mood and the midfielders chased and harried for every ball. They certainly did not look like a team with just one win in the last twelve. Lee Bracey saved most the Tigers could throw at him and when he was beaten there was always a defender on the line.
In the second half, Hyde stepped up a gear and after 50 minutes Anthony Wright forced a good save from Bracey, but he should have scored. Seconds later, Dave Eatock who had a great game for Chorley, found himself with the goal at his mercy, but blasted wide. It would have been an injustice if they had scored. On 70 minutes, Wright almost scored again, and Neil Tolson blasted the rebound wide. It was all Hyde now as Chorley started to wilt. Lee Pryers cleared off the line from Matty McNeil and then Wright found the net, but a zealous linesman flagged for offside. The ref consulted and the goal was disallowed. A marginal decision. With just three minutes left, John O’Kane pushed forward and unleashed a goalbound effort, but again Bracey was up to it.
Hyde defended well when they needed to and Tim Mullock again looked the part in goal, but to be honest had very few direct saves to make. Phil Salt was well marked in midfield and Hyde lost the impetus of Craig Buckley who got a deadleg early on and was substituted at half time. Mc Neil and Wright covered every inch up front, but unfortunately it was just one of those days. It wasn’t a bad game, but it just needed a goal.
Worse still for the Tigers after the final
whistle with news that all the other teams near the top had won and
despite picking up 10 points from the last 12, the Tigers had
dropped three places to sixth! This Division is just so tight and
will remain so, I think, until the last game.
Hyde – Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Buckley, O’Kane, Hill, Salt, Tolson, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Gaynor, Ellis & Watts
Chorley – Bracey, Varley, Pryers, Vermiglio, Mc Cartney, Leather, Mills, Patetrson, Barker, Eatock, Clitheroe. Subs – Wuilkinson, Repullo and Porter.
REPORT MARK DRING
29-11-03 FARSLEY CELTIC 1 HYDE UNITED 3 UNI att. 117
This was a good performance from Hyde in windy conditions at Throstle Nest, as Craig Buckley and John O’Kane had both been ruled out before the kick-off. Nicky Hill went to centre half with John Gaynor recalled in midfield and Kieran Delaney given his first start. Only 117 fans were there to see it with at least half from Hyde.
The Tigers took the lead on eight minutes when
Delaney
shot home after Anthony Wright headed on. Eight minutes later, Hyde
went further in front when Matty McNeil backheeled into the path of Wright
who scored easily. By this stage, Hyde were well on top, but Farsley
clawed their way back into the game , when a superb midfield ball by
Michael Midwood was hammered into the net by Roy
Stammer on 35 minutes. It was now all Farsley, and only a
superb save from Tim Mullock kept the Tigers in front. Hyde were
certainly glad to hear the half-time whistle.
Playing downhill with the wind behind them,
Farsley’s threat was nullified by the strong Hyde defence,
superbly marshalled by Paul Jones and Hill, and it was Hyde who
increased their lead on 56 minutes when Delaney’s cross was
superbly converted by Neil Tolson.
Farsley twice came close and had strong claims for a penalty, but it
was Hyde who always looked more likely to score.
Not for the first time, Steve Waywell got his
tactics exactly right. As Farsley increased the pressure in the
first half, Wright was drafted back into midfield to combat the
threat of former Tiger, Richard Annan and impressive left winger,
Stammer. Wright responded superbly to keep Farsley at bay. In the
second half when Delaney was forced to come off, Mc Neil played in
midfield for the last quarter and he did well too.
This was a very tough fixture and the players
responded with an excellent battling performance in very testing
conditions. The lads showed good character when it mattered and are
now seriously threatening the leaders with seven wins and only one
defeat in the last ten league games.
Hyde – Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Delaney, Gaynor, Hill, Salt, Tolson, Wright, McNeil. Subs – Meszaros, Ellis & O’Kane
Farsley – Morgan, Russell, Annan, Shields, Mitchell, Stabb, Watson, Iqbal, Smithard, Midwood, Stammer. Subs – Henderson, Beech and Spence.
REPORT MARK DRING
06-12-03 HYDE UNITED 2
ROSSENDALE
UTD 0 UNI att. 289
This was another good workmanlike performance
from the Tigers. Craig Buckley and John O’Kane were still missing
and Neil Tolson was only fit enough for the bench. Jamie Milligan
made his debut and crowned it with a superb goal.
Before the game, Tony Ellis was presented with
the “Team of the Month award” and for the first half, it looked
like it was going to have its usual curse as Hyde struggling to find
their rhythm. Chances were few and far between with Anthony Wright
probably have the best one as he burst clear. Rossendale were well
disciplined and got men behind the ball whenever they could. They
did get the ball in the net, but the ref had already blown for an
infringement.
Wright had another chance immediately after the
restart, but former Tiger Greg Challender got in the way. It was
Milligan, however, who put the Tigers ahead on 59 minutes. Matty
McNeil, who was superb again, was fouled for the umpteenth time
about 25 yards from goal. Up strode Milligan
and put it in the top corner with a dipping shot. Beckham would have
been proud of it.
Four minutes later Ian Pendlebury cleared off
the line and that was really the last threat from the visitors. The
Tigers now started to
play with more confidence and increased their lead on 79 minutes
through McNeil with a well-taken goal.
Dave Gamble lost possession in midfield, Phil Salt picked up the
ball headed for goal and then put Mc Neil through. He did the rest
with great aplomb. .
This was another tough fixture, but the players
responded well. The defence kept their third clean sheet in four
games. The whole back four played well and Tim Mullock behind them
dealt confidently with anything which came his way. He has been a
good signing, with just three goals conceded in six games, one a
pen. Will the ‘blond’ John O’Kane get his place back? I think
it may be a bit tougher at Gateshead next week, but they will come
into the game with two straight defeats behind them.
Half the season has gone and we are in third position in touching distance of the leaders. I think we would have settled for that before the start of the season!
Hyde – Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Delaney, Gaynor, Hill, Salt, Milligan, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Meszaros, Ellis & Tolson
Rossendale – Andrews,
houldsworth, perkins, Gamble, Woods, Challender, Clarke, Brooks,
Burton, Wilson, Norton. Subs – Cunningham, Cryer and Bird.
REPORT MARK DRING
13-12-03 GATESHEAD 2
HYDE UNITED 1 UNI att. 161
For the most part of this game, Hyde looked
likely to get at least a draw they fully deserved, but with just
eleven minutes left, it started to go horribly wrong. Paul Jones who
had been booked in the first half, did an unnecessary lunge on James
Curtis in the area, injured himself in the process, and after
treatment was shown a second yellow. Paul
Thompson stepped up to score from the spot, although Tim
Mullock was unlucky not to save.
Minutes later John O’Kane, who had already
been booked, showed his frustration as Gateshead kept the ball in
the corner for the umpteenth time and received a second yellow to
reduce the Tigers to nine men for the last five minutes. The fans
may not have liked it, but referee George Simpson had no choice. It
could have been worse as Gateshead’s tactics increasingly aggravated
the Tigers and Jamie Milligan was lucky to escape with a yellow as
tempers boiled over, and Mr Simpson showed common sense.
This was a disappointing end to a game where
the Tigers had fought back from going a goal down on 52 minutes when
the irrepressible Thompson headed home. Anthony Wright equalised on 71 minutes
to seemingly set up a grandstand finish until the moment of madness
from Jones brought the world crashing down. It was hard on the
Tigers. This was always going to be a tough game, but they matched a
physical Gateshead side all the way in difficult conditions and had
a sniff of victory until those fateful six minutes. Nevertheless
even then, Hyde, with nine men, could have snatched an equaliser as
they pushed forward. Gateshead for their part were happy to keep the
ball in the corners and dramatically
go to ground if any tackles came in. They had done a job and taken
six points off the Tigers. Not pretty, but pretty effective.
The only good news for the Tigers was that none
of the Top Six had won, apart from Gateshead, and therefore their
championship challenge was still alive and well after an afternoon
they would want to forget..
Hyde – Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Delaney, O’Kane, Hill, Salt, Gaynor, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Milligan, Ellis & Waine.
Gateshead – Burke,
harrison, Morgan, Cattaanach, Curtis, Bell, Rasmussen, Blandford,
Thompson, Chilton, Colvin. Subs – Buzzeo, Macdonald and Watson.
REPORT MARK DRING
15-12-03 HYDE UNITED
4 COLWYN BAY 0 UNI att. 245
The Tigers bounced back from their
disappointment at Gateshead with an emphatic performance against a
very lacklustre Colwyn Bay. But that was only part of the story as
this game belonged to leading scorer, Neil Tolson, on this bitterly
cold night.
For the first 29 minutes, Tolson deputised in
goal as debutant ‘keeper, Ross McNeilly was held up in traffic on
the M1, but so well the defence played in front of him, he did not
have a solitary to save, even though Colwyn knew he was deputising.
Normal service was resumed when McNeilly arrived as Tolson switched
to centre forward and the unlucky Kieran Delaney was sacrificed. He
had made a storming start.
Just eight minutes later Tolson was in the
thick of it as Mick Heathcote fouled him as he burst through with
the defence all at sea. A booking for Heathcote and also one for
‘keeper Matthew Parry for
offering the referee an unwanted opinion. The referee, David Benton
had an excellent game and was
absolutely spot-on as Tolson, ( who
else?) converted the penalty. Earlier the impressive Nicky
Hill had given the Tigers the lead on 16 minutes with a great
glancing header from a Jamie Milligan cross.
The second half was only four minutes old as
Anthony Wright should have scored, but the ball ricocheted to Phil
Salt whose cross was then put away by the persevering Wright.
As Colwyn started to sink, Hyde stepped up the pressure with some
brilliant possession football and only Parry stopped it becoming a
rout.
You can’t keep a good man down as they say,
and so it was on 67 minutes, as Tolson
received the ball 35 yards from goal on the touchline. There looked
no danger but an exquisite lob left Parry floundering to round off a
quite unbelievable night for him and the Tigers in general.
Hyde moved up to second spot with this win and are now just three points behind Matlock with a game in hand, but on the night I suppose you just have to hand it to Neil Tolson!
Hyde – Tolson, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Milligan, O’Kane, Hill, Salt, Delaney, Wright, McNeil. Subs – Gaynor, McNeilly & Waine
Colwyn Bay – Parry,
Hobson,Porter, McMahon, Heathcote, Johnson, Dews, Gibson, Spink,
Skirving, Ovenden. Subs – Kendrick, Sykes and Humphries.
REPORT MARK DRING
19-12-03 HYDE UNITED
4 KENDAL TOWN 2 CC att. 141
This game was doubt right up to kick-off as the
fog descended on Ewen Fields. It relented a little, but not before
the Tigers had changed into canary yellow shirts to help the
officials.
Tim Mullock had returned from Portugal, whilst
Craig Buckley came through half a game after injury. Andy Waine made
his full debut in midfield, although Jamie Milligan was ruled out.
Steven Clegg, Anthony Wright and Phil Salt were rested.
Hyde were soon in their stride and could well
have been ahead before Neil Tolson
anticipated a defensive error to put the Tigers in front on 25
minutes. When John Gaynor put the
Tigers two up just after half-time after battling through the
defence, it should have been all over. Hyde had already hit the
woodwork twice and forced three brilliant saves out of Lee Ward in
the Kendal goal.
However an inspired substitution by acting
manager, Tony Hesketh, changed the course of the game. He replaced
James Sheppard, already booked, was heading for another early bath
if he hadn’t, with Gary Prosser. Within two minutes Christopher
Bennett had pulled one back and just a minute later Paul
Southward equalised. Both were down to woeful defending.
Kendal then had a purple patch and the Tigers were rocking.
However normal service was resumed on 80
minutes when substitute Tony Ellis
converted well, despite being fouled as he broke through. There was
still time for Tim Mullock to produce a brilliant save from a
curling free kick, before the Tigers burst downfield for Tolson
to slot home his second. All’s well that end’s well, but Steve
Waywell will be concerned about the second half performance which
let an enthusiastic Kendal back into the game.
Hyde – Mullock, Gaynor, Pendlebury, Jones, Buckley, O’Kane, Hill, Waine, Tolson, Delaney, McNeil. Subs – Clegg, Ellis & Salt.
Kendal Town – Ward, Burrow, Garner, Whittal Williams, Close, Dixon, Cliff,Hayton, Southward, Bennett, Sheppard. Subs – Prosser, Foster and Clitheroe
REPORT MARK DRING
26-12-03 WITTON ALBION 4 HYDE UNITED
3 UNI att. 351
This is another game the Tigers should have
won, but in the end they finished with nothing and only 9 men on the
pitch for the second away match running. Substitute Tony Ellis was
also sent off as the deputy official lost control in the final
minutes of another wise absorbing game.
There was drama from the outset as
Darell
Dicken put Witton two up within twelve minutes with two
superb strikes from outside the box. Hyde clawed their way back into
the game and on twenty minutes Paul Gibson could only fumble Phil
Salt’s free kick into the net to give the Tigers a
lifeline. Joy was shortlived as ten minutes later, leading scorer Mike
Moseley, looking yards offside, again gave Witton a two goal
cushion. Right on half time, Neil Tolson miskicked in front of goal,
but Andy Waine was on hand to lash the
ball home.
Further drama during the interval as referee
Mr. Butler could not continue. It seemed no loss at the time as his
performance in the first half was inept. It was best remembered for
a bad tackle on Tolson, for which he gave Hyde ‘advantage’ only
for Witton to break clear and score their third goal.
With senior assistant, Mr Bond taking control
for the second half, so did Hyde. Chance after chance went begging,
before Paul Jones, under pressure,
headed past Tim Mullock for a crazy own goal. Two minutes later Tolson
was on hand to convert a Ian Pendlebury corner and the Tigers were
back into it, but despite creating more chances were unable to find
the killer touch. They were also unlucky when a blatant penalty for
a foul on Matty mcNeil was turned down.
In the last minute, the game erupted. First
McNeil was given a straight red for a comment made to the referee
after he was again upended in the box. The ball was kicked downfield
and Jones completed his nightmare with an ill judged tackle from
behind. Another straight red, albeit a little unlucky as it was his
first foul of the game.
Substitute Tony Ellis, who was warming up
behind the linesman, added his thoughts and the deputy referee who
had now completely lost control, showed another red. Still Hyde
found time to miss two more chances before Mr.Bond brought a most
eventful afternoon to a close. Hyde were again left to rue missed
chances and a minute of total madness from players and officials
alike.
Hyde – Mullock, Clegg, Pendlebury, Jones, Waine, O’Kane, Hill, Salt, Tolson, Wright, McNeil.Subs – Delaney, Ellis & Gaynor.
Witton Albion – Gibson,
Evans, Johnson,Pritchard, Furnival, Pavey, Salt, Dicken, Moseley,
Barlow, Yates. Subs – Foy, Sargeson and Hughes.
REPORT MARK DRING
01-01-04
HYDE UNITED 0 WITTON ALBION
1 UNI att. 442
This was a pretty lacklustre performance from
the Tigers. After their heroics on Boxing Day, this was a
disappointment for the biggest crowd of the season. Hyde were
without John O’Kane and Paul Jones, both of whom were suspended.
Ironically Steven Clegg and Nicky Hill who deputised for them at the
heart of the defence were Hyde’s best two players by a mile.
Anthony Wright was also missing having gone back to Aberystwyth.
It took Hyde over 30 minutes to get into their
stride and even the loss through injury of Brian Pritchard at the
heart of the Witton defence didn’t spur the Tigers on. Kieran
Delaney had a couple of chances, but it was pretty mediocre fayre.
The second half didn’t improve much. Hyde
pushed forward a little more and Craig Buckley was introduced to add
some impetus. Matty McNeil had a couple of chances, when he perhaps
should have done better, and there was plenty of Hyde pressure in
the last quarter, but by then Michael Yates had lashed the ball home
to give Witton an unlikely double.
There can be no complaints from the Tigers, it
was just one of those games when too many players were off the pace.
The officials were excellent, good advantages were played and not a
booking in sight. A far cry from Boxing day. Hyde must now bounce
back quickly if they are going to be taken seriously as title
contenders with three defeats in their last four games.
Witton Albion – Gibson,
Evans, Johnson,Pritchard, Hughes, Pavey, Salt, Barlow, Moseley,Yates,
Nolan. Subs – Foy, Sargeson and Stannard.
REPORT MARK DRING