LEAGUE SEASON 2006 - 07
FAC =
F.A. Cup, FAT = F.A.Trophy, MPC = Manchester Premier Cup, CSC =
Cheshire Senior Cup,
qr
= Qualifying Round, qf =Quarter Final sf =Semi Final # =
Sent OFF
This was the match the Hyde faithful had been
dreading in view of the Tiger’s current form and their fears
were soon justified as Droylsden dominated the match from start to
finish. They raced into a four goal lead and even had the luxury
of missing a penalty before Hyde staged a belated comeback to make
the scoreline more respectable. The late goals could not hide the
fact that the Tigers were made to look second best in every
department and had no answer to Droylsden’s pace up-front and
their movement off the ball. Schoolboy errors by the back four
only exacerbated the problems.
Droylsden went ahead on 27 minutes when Terry
Fearns set up Steve Daly to score.
Hyde fought back in more ways that one as first Paul Armstrong had
a disagreement with Paul Phillips and then Nathan Wharton struck a
post before a further altercation involving a number of players
resulted in Steve Pickford and Gareth Morris being booked.
Pickford will now miss a game after accumulating five bookings.
Lincoln Adams was booked for an innocuous
tackle as the referee became more pedantic and inconsistent. Right
on half-time, Danny Caldecott was lucky to escape censure as he
brought down the lively Jamie Tandy in the area. Craig Dootson
finger-tipped the spot-kick onto the post and the ball was cleared
for a very rare Fearns miss.
Only a goal down starting the second half,
Hyde felt they were still in the game, but that changed within
three minutes as Chris Denham scored
easily after a mistake by David Eyres. Droylsden were now in full
flow and Fearns wrong-footed Adams
and smashed in a third on 57 minutes. Things went from bad to
worse for the Tigers as Caldecott again fouled in the penalty
area. This time there was no mercy as he received a straight red
card and Fearns made no mistake with
the kick this time.
Hyde brought on new signing Paul Gedman
up-front and Chris Lynch at the back and at last began to have
some decent possession without giving the ball away cheaply. After
a lovely flowing move, Pickford
pulled a goal back on seventy minutes and with a minute to go,
good work by Gedman set up Gareth Seddon
who flicked the ball over the line.
It was too little too late as Hyde had been well beaten on the day and they have it all to do when they visit troubled Lancaster on Tuesday. Nothing less than an emphatic win will do.
Hyde United – Dootson, Adams, Caldecott, German, Flynn, Wharton, Armstrong, Pickford, Johnson, Seddon, Eyres. Subs – Gedman, Davis, Brackenridge, Lynch, Harrison.
Droylsden – Phillips, Williams, Warner, Robinson, Ruffer, Morris, Tandy, Jagielka, Fearns, Daly, Denham. Subs – Burke, Lynch, Rapley, Wolski, Howard.
REPORT BY TONY BEARD
10-10-06 LANCASTER
CITY 2 HYDE UNITED 3 LGE
att.251
A potential banana skin this for the Tigers
with Lancaster going into this game having lost a number of
players following off the field problems, whilst Hyde needed to
bounce back after Saturday’s defeat at Droylsden.
In the event it was an exciting incident
packed game with the home side showing tremendous spirit in
adversity, whilst the Tigers should have made their superiority
count in the first half and killed the game by half-time. A
controversial goal, a disallowed goal and a sending off; this game
had it all! However there were no problems with the pitch this
time around after the abandonment at the start of September
The Tigers roared into a two goal lead within
seven minutes, but the expected avalanche never materialised as
the home side battled all the way. Good work by Gareth Seddon set
up Paul Gedman after only four
minutes and he missed another chance a minute later having been
set up again. Seddon was in on the
act again within two minutes as he rifled home from the edge of
the area, but Hyde were pegged back a minute later as Luke
Mulholland hooked in from close range.
Hyde were playing well with three upfront and
Dale Johnson was having his best game for some time, but after
Hyde had failed to increase their lead despite creating the
chances, the half finished in dramatic style. First Ryan Zico
Black, who had a superb game for the home side and had previously
hit the bar, set up Ryan Elderton who found the net only to be
ruled offside. With just seconds remaining, the Assistant flagged
again for offside. The referee did not see the flag initially and
blew for a subsequent free-kick for Lancaster. With Hyde expecting
a free-kick to them, Black chipped
the ball home much to the astonishment of all around. Even more
astonishing was the fact the referee allowed the goal to stand
despite a consultation with his assistant and protests from the
Hyde team. He immediately blew the half time whistle and the
officials were left with plenty to ponder as they drunk their tea,
as to how they could contrive to get such an easy decision wrong.
Lancaster had an early chance in the second
half, but the Tigers were still on top, although it must be said
the defence looked decidedly suspect whenever the home side ran at
them. Hyde’s lead was restored on 55 minutes after Johnson had
superbly laid the ball to Seddon for
him to score easily. Three minutes later, former Tiger Mark Quayle
aimed a kick at Steve Pickford and was shown a straight red card,
but even with 10 men for the last half hour, Lancaster would not
lie down, but Hyde hung on for an important victory, which moves
them four places up the table. The final whistle brought relief
all round.
Hyde United – Dootson, German,
Lynch, Davis, Flynn, Wharton, Armstrong, Pickford, Johnson, Seddon,
Gedman.Subs – Rick, Caldecott, Adams, Brackenridge, Harrison.
Lancaster – Kennedy,
Wynne, Wiggins, Helliwell, Love, Barnes, Elderton, King, Quayle,
Black, Mulholland. Subs – Durnan, Galley, Marshall.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
14-10-06 WORKSOP
TOWN 3 HYDE UNITED 1 LGE
att.339
In the battle of the Tigers, it was Hyde who
were ultimately mauled at Sandy Lane despite being given a
dream start within four minutes from Gareth
Seddon. He
picked the ball up midway in the Worksop half and then
unleashed a tremendous shot into the top corner past a
startled Ayden Duffy. It was just the start Hyde had been
looking for but they failed to capitalise and by the end of
the game they had surrended meekly.
Once again the defence was
the downfall failing to show any confidence. John O’Kane was
watching from the stand and what Hyde would have given for his
composure on the ball. Time and time again Hyde gave the ball
away or even worse gave away needless free-kicks around the
area. Worksop equalised from one of these on twenty one
minutes when defender Antony Jackson
headed home. It could have been worse for the visitors as
Steve Pickford, Hyde’s best player, needlessly fouled in the
area, but Craig Dootson saved Tony Crane’s spot-kick, for
his second penalty save of the week.
Hyde were grateful to still
be in the game and started the second half brightly with Paul
Gedman going close but they soon faded and on 65 minutes Blake
Norton crossed from the left and Ben
Saunders easily scored. Hyde resorted to playing the
long ball but never looked like getting back in the game
despite three substitutions.
Worksop sealed the victory on full time when Hyde lost
possession on the edge of the their area and the home side
swept downfield for substitute James
Harwood to score.
Another woeful performance from Hyde despite being given the impetus of a superb goal after only four minutes and another penalty save from Dootson. Steve Waywell has a busy week ahead of him to get the Tigers back on track.
Hyde
United – Dootson, German, Lynch, Davis, Flynn, Wharton,
Harrison, Pickford, Johnson, Seddon, Gedman.Subs – Rick,
Caldecott, Armstrong, Brackenridge, Kerr.
Worksop
– Duffy, Thompson, Davies, Owens, Danson, Jackson, Froggatt,
Robinson, Saunders, Crane, Bacon. Subs – Nicholson, Harwood,
Everitt, Norton, Archer.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
21-10-06 HYDE UNITED
2 HINCKLEY UTD 0 LGE
att.364
Hyde battled superbly
against adversity on Saturday to register a fully deserved
victory against Hinckley United, who had only lost once all
season. They were given a dream start after only two minutes
when Dale Johnson latched onto a
cross and rifled home, but had to play for 20 minutes with
only 10 men and the last 15 with only 9 men after firstly
Lincoln Adams had received a second yellow card and then
Nathan Wharton followed suit
Both will feel a little
aggrieved. Adams booked in the first half for an innocuous
tackle, caught Owen Storey as he went down the wing, and
although it looked like he had taken the ball first, he was
dismissed. Wharton was the recipient of a reckless challenge
and reacted aggressively and he too was shown a second yellow.
The tackle upset the Hyde players and a number surrounded Leon
Jackson, who was booked. Jamie Lenton waded in for Hinckley
and he too was shown a second yellow and dismissed. Sounds
like a dirty game, but it wasn’t, although Rich Lavery was
lucky to escape censure after a dreadful two footed challenge
late in the first half.
The Tigers were without
Steve Pickford and Danny Caldecott, whilst Mike Flynn was
substitute, as a new defensive pairing of Adams and Earl Davis
was tried. Although the visitors had plenty of possession they
did not seriously test Craig Dootson, but did have a goal
disallowed for offside late on. In between times the defence
looked more secure than in recent matches.
The killer goal was superbly
taken seven minutes after half-time by Paul
Gedman as he turned superbly on the edge of the area
and sent a screamer into the corner of the net. A goal fit to
win any game. So despite all their possession, the visitors
found themselves two goals down and a mountain to climb.
When Adams was dismissed on
the hour, Johnson was sacrificed and replaced by Flynn and
when Wharton went, Gedman was the unlucky man as Mark Kerr
made his debut to bolster the overworked defence. Hyde held on
(including five minutes of added time) showing tremendous
spirit and ultimately deserving the points. More performances
like this will see them climb the table and show the fans what
they can really do.
Hyde
United – Dootson, German, Lynch, Davis, Adams, Wharton,
Harrison, Armstrong, Johnson, Seddon, Gedman. Subs – Rick,
Brackenridge, Kerr, Flynn, Ndjebayi.
Hinckley
United – Belford, Duik, Lenton, Lavery, Byron, Birch,
Cartwright, Jackson, Heggs, Storey, Wykes. Subs - Sturer,
Shilton, Love
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
23-10-06 HYDE UNITED 1 VAUXHALL MOTORS 1 LGE att.415
An equaliser deep into injury time
prevented the Tigers taking maximum points in a game they
should have had in the bag. It was a poor goal at that, as Karl
O’Donnell put in a long cross from the right which
eluded everybody to finish in the back of the net. It was hard
on Hyde who once again battled well and with more luck in
front of goal could have secured victory earlier in the game.
Paul Gedman
rounded off a great move involving Dale Johnson and Gareth
Seddon to put the Tigers in front on 22 minutes and almost
scored again right on half time, but was thwarted by a good
save from Sean Lake. The main highlight of the first period
was the substitution of Tom Field for the visitors. After an
altercation with Gerry Harrison, he completely lost his head
and after a lunging tackle on resumption of play, he was
immediately substituted. After removing his shirt, he then
wanted to argue with the crowd as he was walked languidly to
the dressing room.
Seddon has the ball in the net twice
early in the second half, but was ruled offside, whilst Gedman
again brought the best out of Lake. Hyde were forced back
although Craig Dootson was never tested. With tempers becoming
a little more frayed, Earl Davis, Paul Armstrong and Nathan
Wharton were all booked in quick succession. Just as it looked
like Hyde would hold out, the visitors snatched an equaliser
they didn’t really deserve.
This was another improved performance
from the Tigers. They also had new signing, defender Paul
Howarth on the bench and with a couple of more signings in the
offing should continue their climb up the table. However Blyth
on Saturday will be anything but easy.
Hyde United –
Dootson, German, Lynch, Davis, Adams, Wharton, Harrison,
Pickford, Johnson, Seddon, Gedman. Subs – Armstrong,
Brackenridge, Flynn, Howarth, Ndjebayi.
Vauxhall – Lake,
Moogan, Dames, Griffiths, McNulty, Field, Garrity, Lawless,
O’Donnell, Whitaker, Martindale. Subs – Macauley, Rooney, Wright, Furlong, Longrigg.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
28-10-06 BLYTH
SPARTANS 0 HYDE UNITED
0 LGE att.574
Hyde made the long trip to the North East
on Saturday and came away from Croft Park with a fully
deserved point and by the end could have had all three. It was
a good result for the Tigers against the league’s early
leaders and in fact was Blyth’s first draw of the season in
the league. The game was spoilt by a blustery wind, but the
weather was fair and the Tigers adapted well.
In a game of few chances, Gareth Seddon
came closest for Hyde. He was thwarted by the legs of Blyth
Keeper, Adam Bartlett just before half-time after being put
through by Gerry Harrison. He again came close twice in the
second half as the Tigers finished strongly with a succession
of corners.
Blyth had plenty of possession but found
the Tigers defence in uncompromising mood, with Earl Davis
again superb with his best game for Hyde so far. The midfield
trio of Harrison, Steve Pickford and Nathan Wharton all fought
well in front of the back four and thereby protected Craig
Dootson, who had little to do all afternoon.
The match was excellently refereed by Mr
Harrington, who failed to be swayed by the partisan home
support, especially in the second half as Blyth found the
going tough. Hyde completed a satisfactory week unbeaten and
at last are beginning to show what they are capable of. There
is still some work to be done, but with a couple of new
signings likely, they are well on their way.
Hyde United –
Dootson, German, Lynch,
Davis, Adams, Wharton, Harrison, Pickford, Johnson, Seddon,
Gedman. Subs – Armstrong, Brackenridge, Flynn, Howarth,
Caldecott.
Blyth – Bartlett, Christensen, Addison,
Leeson, Snowdon, Hedley, Graham, Gildea (A), Dale, Bell,
Gildea (L). Subs – Forster, Lowther, Williams, Hanton, McCabe.
REPORT BY TONY BEARD
04-11-06 HYDE UNITED 0 WORCESTER CITY 0 LGE att.401
Hyde fought out a goalless draw with
Worcester City on Saturday on a dank afternoon totally devoid
of any fireworks. It was Hyde’s second consecutive stalemate
and had the statisticians reaching for the record books. Last
season the matches at Ewen Fields averaged more than four per
game, but this season goals are harder to come by as teams are
more evenly matched than ever, with the majority of clubs
still in touching distance of the leaders.
The Tigers gave a debut to Mike Taylor
from Lancaster at centre half and he performed excellently
replacing the suspended Lincoln Adams in a solid defence,
although the expected debut of Michael Jones did not
materialise. With Nathan Wharton also suspended, Steve Waywell
pushed up defender Paul Howarth into midfield.
However the midfield trio were constantly
overrun by the efficient and well organised visitors and Hyde
constantly found themselves on the back-foot. When they did
win possession they frequently gave it away and then had to
start all over again. Hurriedly taken free kicks didn’t help
and how the team cried out for a creative midfielder in the
Phil Salt or Jamie Milligan mould. If only their legs matched
their ability!
In a game of few chances, Gareth Seddon
came closest for Hyde three minutes into injury time when he
clipped a post in a goalmouth scramble. Minutes earlier, Craig
Dootson had produced the save of the match to thwart Worcester
at the other end. To be fair the Tigers defended well. Earl
Davis, who struggled at the start of the season now looks the
player everybody thought he was and the fact that Hyde have
conceded only one goal in four games (and that being a freak)
shows an excellent foundation to build on. Waywell made two
late substitutions, but it had no impact and Steve
Brackenridge had the distinction of having come on in the last
two games and amassing just three minutes in both.
With Waywell on the look out for the
aforementioned midfielder and Nicky Clee resuming full
training this week, things are looking brighter for the
Tigers, but if they do want to consider themselves play-off
contenders, they need to sneak a goal when the defence has
played so well, to get three points rather than one. They have
been close to doing so in the last two games, but not quite
close enough.
Hyde United –
Dootson, German, Lynch, Davis, Taylor, Howarth, Harrison,
Pickford, Johnson, Seddon, Gedman. Subs – Armstrong,
Brackenridge, Flynn, Rick, Caldecott.
Worcester City – Mc Donnell, Ward, Burley, Smith, Thompson, Lyttle, Warmer, Colley, Danks, Wilding, Clegg. Subs – Hodnett, Preece, Khan, Cornes, Traore.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
11-11-06 HUCKNALL TOWN 4 HYDE UNITED 2 LGE att.329
With a strong gusty wind blowing straight
down the ground and both teams struggling to find the net in
their last couple of games, this game was a good candidate for
a goalless draw and after the first few exchanges it should
have had fans running to the betting shop as both sides found
the conditions hard to cope with. However everything changed
on 24 minutes when Dale Johnson
pounced on a loose ball, after Hucknall had failed to clear a
corner, to put Hyde deservedly in front.
The Tigers’ joy was short-lived as six
minutes later, man of the match, Liam
Hearn lashed the ball home as Hyde’s defence looked
on. In a crazy two minute spell, five minutes later, the home
side grabbed two more with Hyde’s midfield backing off.
First Andy Legg scored from the
edge of the area and then Laurie Wilson
struck a beauty past a surprised Craig Dootson.
From looking reasonably comfortable, Hyde
suddenly found themselves two goals down and no way back
despite having the wind advantage to look forward to in the
second half. Paul Armstrong replaced Paul Howarth at half time
to strengthen the overrun and ineffective midfield.
Although he injected more energy, he soon
found himself booked and was later hacked down by Wilson. A
small fracas ensued as Wilson lay on top of him, but it was
all over in a matter of seconds. After deliberation with his
assistants, referee, Mr Turner then surprised everybody by
sending off Michael Briscoe and booking Gareth Seddon. A clear
case of mistaken identity all round. Mr Turner, who had a
dreadful afternoon, had earlier sent Tony Ellis from the bench
for a comment made following another debatable decision.
Hyde continued to huff and puff in the
wind, but Hearns had
grabbed his second on 65 minutes to put the game beyond them
although Seddon did pull a goal
back with seven minutes left. Earl Davis also had a header
cleared off the line, by then it was too little too late.
Once gain it was Hyde’s midfield which was completely overrun and at times, non existent. Steve Pickford had no support and that affected his own game too. The defence were constantly under pressure, whilst the forwards got no decent service at all. A change of personnel and/or formation is urgently needed if the Tigers are to achieve what they should this season.
Hyde United –
Dootson, German, Lynch, Davis, Taylor, Howarth, Harrison,
Pickford, Johnson, Seddon, Gedman. Subs – Armstrong,
Brackenridge, Kerr, Rick, Caldecott.
Hucknall Town – Smith, Hanson, Cowan, Cooke, Briscoe, Wilson, Olanipekun, Legg, Ricketts, Hearn, Williams.Subs – Handyside, Burns, Fox, Moore, Sims.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
14-11-06 HARROGATE
TOWN 1 HYDE UNITED 2 LGE
att.348
Hyde arrived late at Wetherby Road but
soon made up for lost time with an impressive first half
performance. Despite playing up the slope, the Tigers kept the
home side on the defensive with Gareth Seddon twice going
close. The defence again looked solid with the central
defensive pairing of Michael Taylor and Earl Davis looking
formidable. The whole team worked hard to keep high flying
Harrogate at bay.
Nathan Wharton returned for Hyde after
suspension, but Steve Pickford was unavailable through
illness. Paul Armstrong replaced Gerry Harrison in midfield as
the only changes from Saturday’s defeat at Hucknall.
Disaster struck for the Tigers four
minutes after the break when Danny
Holland was not closed down and his shot was deflected
past Craig Dootson. Hyde were still playing well and equalised
after 68 minutes as Seddon rifled
the ball home from fully 25 yards. Yet another candidate for
goal of the season from the striker who specializes in
spectacular goals.
The Tigers continued to put the home side
under pressure, never letting them settle on the ball. The
pressure paid off with just three minutes to go seconds after
Steve Brackenridge had replaced Dale Johnson. Paul
Gedman intercepted a mis-hit back pass and poked the
ball home to give Hyde the victory they deserved. An inspired
substitution or just good fortune? It mattered not as the
large contingent of Hyde fans went home happy.
Hyde moved up to 11th in the
league with this win and despite a patchy start to the season
are still in touch with the leaders. Nuneaton are the visitors
on Saturday and can the Tigers get two wins in a row for the
first time this season?
Hyde – Dootson,
German, Lynch, Davis, Taylor, Wharton, Armstrong, Howarth,
Johnson, Seddon, Gedman. Subs – Rick, Caldecott, Harrison,
Brackenridge
Harrogate – Lindley, Price, Merris, Ellerker, Timons, Dunning, Bettney, Hunter R, Mc Garry, Holland, Philpott. Subs – Wood, Hunter C, Thomas, Wood.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
18-11-06
HYDE UNITED 3 NUNEATON BOROUGH 2 LGE
att.413
Nuneaton’s last two visits to Ewen Fields have resulted in
narrow defeats and this game went the same way after some
dreadful defending by the visitors towards the end of the
first half. A spirited fightback in the second half almost
secured an equaliser, but on the balance of chances, Hyde
deserved to win by some margin. It was a great game and
provided excellent entertainment for the somewhat
disappointing crowd of 413.
Hyde, having won at Harrogate in midweek went into this game with confidence sky high, looking for that elusive two wins in a row, which has eluded them in this erratic season to date.
On a bright and breezy autumn afternoon,
the visitors took the initiative and after 10 minutes Derek
Brown’s header was tipped over by Hyde ‘keeper Craig
Dootson. This gave Hyde some impetus and six minutes later
Paul Gedman crossed from the right and Dale
Johnson neatly headed home. The Tigers could have
increased their lead two minutes later when Gareth Seddon
headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Frustration was setting in for Nuneaton
as David Staff was booked for needlessly kicking the ball
away, but the impressive Jez Murphy
equalised on 28 minutes after beating two men before slotting
the ball in the corner of the net past a surprised Dootson.
Brown had another header just over as the game swung from end
to end.
However, the visitors realistically lost
the game in the last ten minutes of the first half, after some
woeful defending. First, Seddon broke clear down the left and
squared the ball to Nathan Wharton whose shot took two
deflections before entering the net off Paul
Gedman and four minutes later Johnson turned provider
as his cross was neatly headed home by Seddon
with the Nuneaton defence all at sea. It could have
been worse for the visitors as Paul Howarth struck the angle
right on half-time from 25 yards.
Hyde’s 4-3-3 formation continued to
cause problems for Nuneaton’s overworked defence at the
start of the second half and Darren Acton was forced to make a
good save as Seddon burst through. Gedman also went close
before Duane Darby set up Staff,
who hooked the ball home from close range on 65 minutes to
give the visitors some hope.
Nuneaton then had their best spell of the game with plenty of possession, but the three Hyde forwards were still dangerous on the break. Gedman went close and could have clinched it seconds later as he rounded Acton before his weak shot was scrambled away. He had been fouled and could have gone down in the area, but despite stumbling stayed on his feet. It was now end to end stuff, with Dootson having to be at his best in the Hyde goal.
With time running out both Seddon and
Gedman were inches wide for Hyde as Nuneaton threw players
forward in search of an equaliser. There had been plenty of
injuries in this pulsating game and it was no surprise when
the referee indicated an additional five minutes.
There was still time for Gedman to go
close again, before man of the match Chris Lynch was injured
for Hyde and ultimately had to be helped off the pitch. It was
a sad end after he had played so well.
With the clock showing seven minutes of
injury time, Nuneaton forced a corner. Everybody came up,
including Acton, and Neil Moore’s header looked to be
heading for the net before Dootson made a superb save to fully
atone for his earlier error and secure Hyde the points.
Hyde – Dootson,
German, Lynch, Davis, Taylor, Wharton, Howarth, Pickford,
Johnson, Seddon, German. Subs – Rick, Brackenridge,
Armstrong, Caldecott, Harrison.
Nuneaton – Acton, Oddy, Chapman, Denny, Moore, Brown, Burgess O., Noon, Murphy, Darby, Staff. Subs - McPhee, Reeves, Fitzpatrick, Burgess D, Franklin
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
28-11-06 CHASETOWN 0 HYDE UNITED 3 FAT att.418
Hyde progressed to the next round of the
FA Trophy, and an attractive tie at Halifax, with a thoroughly
professional performance in this delayed tricky tie at
Chasetown.
David Flitcroft made his debut and had a
superb game, as did Gerry Harrison standing in for the absent
Michael Taylor. Indeed the whole team played well on a
difficult heavy pitch against physical opposition.
The Tigers started well and never took
their foot off the gas as they took a two goal lead within the
first 25 minutes. First Flitcroft made a great run down the
left to leave Steve Pickford an
easy chance to score at the far post and then Paul Gedman was
brought down in the area and Gareth
Seddon calmly slotted the ball home for number two.
Just before the break, Craig Dootson was
injured by a terrible challenge which went unpunished whilst
David German and Pickford picked up bookings for trivial
tackles in comparison.
Gedman headed home three minutes after
the break, but the goal was disallowed and only the referee
knows why, but seven minutes later Dale
Johnson headed home Nathan Wharton’s corner for
number three as Hyde cruised to victory.
Flitcroft inspired Wharton and Pickford
around him and put through some excellent balls for the three
lively Hyde forwards. Nicky Clee, out all season, came on for
the last 15 minutes with Steve Waywell’s squad now having a
formidable look about it as the Tigers made it three wins in a
row against tough opposition.
Hyde – Dootson,
German, Howarth, Davis, Harrison, Wharton, Flitcroft, Pickford,
Johnson, Seddon, German. Subs – Clee, Brackenridge,
Armstrong, Caldecott, Tolson.
Chasetown –
Bryan, Branch, Huckfield, Slater, Thompson, Wright, parsons,
Newall, Bullimore, Smith, Horler. Subs – Staene, Turner, Thomas, Edwards, Evans
01-12-06 LEIGH RMI 2 HYDE UNITED 0 LGE att.151
After the euphoria of the victory at
Chasetown, Hyde were brought down to earth with bump at
the surreal surroundings of Hilton Park on Friday night. The
Tigers never really recovered from conceding a goal in the
very first minute in front of a Spartan crowd of just 151
housed in just one stand, with three sides of the ground out
of bounds. It was fortunate that the large contingent of Hyde
fans made plenty of noise in the eerie stadium.
Leigh took the lead almost from the
kick-off as a ball was sent across the Hyde area. The
defenders failed to clear as the impressive Chris
Simm slotted home at the far post past the recalled
Jean Paul Ndjebayi as Craig Dootson had failed to recover from
a bad challenge on Tuesday and was still nursing bruised ribs.
The Tigers responded well and a superb
run from Dale Johnson set up Gareth Seddon whose shot was
deflected for a corner. It was Johnson again on 36 minutes who
hit the ‘keepers legs after another brilliant piece of skill
and seconds later David Flitcroft was inches wide with a
free-kick.
In the second period, Leigh slowed the
game down whenever they could to stop Hyde getting up a head
of steam. The referee, Mr Duncan, was completely ineffective
throughout and had a game to forget and although he added on
seven minutes at the end, he should have dealt much earlier
with the blatant time-wasting. He was not helped by his
assistants as the game seemed to pass them by. Frustration set
in for the Tigers with a series of bookings for petty offences
as the referee lost control.
Hyde were still creating chances and
Nathan Wharton missed from three yards with the goal at his
mercy. He was the victim of a bad bounce which had been
evident all evening on the bumpy pitch. As the game wore on,
Hyde frequently gave the ball away, so the lively forwards did
not get the service they needed, whilst the defence just had
one of those nights with a succession of sliced clearances
when quality balls were needed.
In the seventh minute of added time, Leigh broke clear and substitute Kieran Lugsden hammered the ball past Ndjebayi for an unlikely second goal to round off a thoroughly dismal night for Hyde. The travelling fans certainly deserved better and probably wished they had stayed at home and watched Coronation Street instead.
Hyde – Ndjebayi,
German, Armstrong, Davis, Taylor, Wharton, Flitcroft, Pickford,
Johnson, Seddon, German. Subs – Clee, Brackenridge,
Harrison, Caldecott, Lynch.
Leigh RMI – Lamb,
Unsworth, Brockley, Macauley, Maddox, Ellison, Settle, Hussin,
Simm, Jackson, Roscoe. Subs – Lugsden, Mann, Jones, Owen,
Dillon.