LEAGUE SEASON 2007 - 08
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
11-08-07 WORCESTER CITY 0 HYDE UNITED 2 Lge att. 842
The Tigers started their 2007 League
campaign with a comfortable victory against fancied Worcester
City at St George’s Road. The Blue Square odds favoured the
home side, but it was Hyde who took the points and the
plaudits after an excellent team display despite having Matty
Tipton sent off with thirty five minutes to go.
After an entertaining opening in which
both sides had chances, man of the match, Earl Davis headed
goalwards for Tipton to apply the
finishing touch on 24 minutes. Dale Johnson was through seven
minutes later but finished weakly before Danny McDonell tipped
over Tipton’s header. Craig Dootson then made a brilliant
double save as the game ebbed and flowed.
The pitch was in perfect condition with
the sun blazing down and floods seemed a distant memory as
Hyde snatched a second five minutes after the break. Davis
met Nathan Wharton’s corner with a powerful header into the
top corner. But the Tiger’s joy was shortlived as Tipton,
already booked, showed petulance on the touchline and received
a second yellow.
Dale Johnson was immediately sacrificed
upfront to be replaced by the lively Chris Simm. The ploy
worked as Simm caused all sorts of problems to the Worcester
back line as they attempted to push forward. Hyde defended
resolutely but still looked the more likely to score. Simm
should have had a penalty when he was held in the area in the
final minutes.
The home side threw men forward in the
closing stages, but the Tiger’s back four held firm with a
tremendous display. Dootson was commanding behind them as Hyde
fully deserved the points.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Cowan, Davis, Band, Wharton, Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Johnson, Clee. Subs – Gedman, Simm, Taylor, Lynch, George.
Worcester City – Mc Donnell, Hodnett, Burley, Smith, Clarke, Gill, ward, Nwadike, Danks, Webster, Clegg. Subs – Walker, Wilding, Wood, Colley, Abbassi.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
13-08-07 HYDE UNITED 6 VAUXHALL MOTORS 3 Lge att. 370
This was an absolutely
sensational game in anybody’s books. Even the Referee
admitted it was the best game he had ever officiated in.
Past the hour mark, Hyde
were 3-0 down, despite playing reasonably well and then it all
changed. Firstly, on 66 minutes, Matthew
Tipton headed home after Earl Davis had headed across
goal. Hyde suddenly had a lifeline and six minutes later Nicky
Clee curled in a free kick with the help of a
deflection. The Tigers were now in full flow and four minutes
later Davis headed what earlier
had seemed an unlikely equaliser.
Vauxhall didn’t know
what had hit them and the stage was set for substitute Chris
Simm to notch a hat-trick in just six minutes. His
first was a header after a brilliant cross from Tipton, his
second a shot across goal and his third a deft lob over the
‘keeper. Three superb finishes to end what had been an
unbelievable game with the Tigers grabbing six goals in just
23 astonishing minutes.
In the first half there
was no indication of what was to come later. Paul
Taylor had outstripped the Hyde defence to put Vauxhall
ahead on 9 minutes and was then on hand after 30 minutes to
grab number two after Davis had played a backpass short to
Craig Dootson. When Tom Field
scored a third on 39 minutes, it looked all over for Hyde. The
Tigers had actually played pretty well but found Sean Lake in
terrific form in the Vauxhall goal. They did get the ball in
the net right on half time but the referee adjudged the
‘keeper had been fouled
Manager Steve Waywell
introduced Chris Lynch and Simm at the interval, followed by
Paul Gedman fifteen minutes later as the Tigers went three
upfront. The rest is history as Hyde made it two wins out of
two.
Hyde
United – Dootson, Brass, Scott, Davis, Band, Wharton,
Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Johnson, Clee.
Vauxhall
– Lake, Moogan, Dames, Griffiths, McMahon, Holmes, Field,
Page, Furlong, Smith, Taylor.
REPORT BY TONY BEARD
18-08-07
HYDE UNITED 1
TAMWORTH 2 Lge att. 511
For the second time in the
week Hyde staged a dramatic fightback, but this time Tamworth
held out due to a fair share of fortune and some excellent
goalkeeping from Jose Veiga.
The Tigers were
desperately unlucky by the end, but they can only blame
themselves for giving the title favourites a two goal start in
this pulsating game.
The game was marred by an
horrendous two footed challenge on Tom Cowan by Anthony
Robinson on thirty nine minutes. He was shown an immediate red
card as was the injured Cowan for retaliation as he was
carried from the pitch. One had to feel some sympathy for
Cowan as he was the innocent party with the tackle totally
unnecessary in an otherwise excellent game.
Both sides had earlier
claims for penalties, but Hyde’s looked the stronger as
Chris Simm appeared to be pushed in the area before Gary
Mills volleyed Tamworth ahead on twenty four minutes.
Tamworth had marginally
shaded the first half, but it was the Tigers who stormed back
after the interval. Simms brought a superb save from Veiga,
but the Tigers were still vulnerable at the back and Mills
missed an open goal on 62 minutes. He atoned two minutes later
when he set up Dave Bampton to
slot home a second for the visitors.
Substitute Dale
Johnson immediately pulled one back for Hyde and Simms
then had the ball in the net only to be penalised for a foul.
The game was now end to end with both ‘keepers making
brilliant saves. Nicky Clee clipped the bar as the Tigers
staged a grandstand finish.
Veiga made another great
save from a Matthew Tipton free kick as Hyde piled forward in
the closing minutes. There were plenty of close shaves, but
Tamworth held out for the points much to the disappointment of
the Hyde faithful.
Hyde
United – Dootson, Brass, Cowan, Davis, Band, Wharton,
Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Simm, Clee.
Tamworth
– Veiga, Lyttle, Langdon, Briscoe, Bains, Mills, Storer,
Smith, Robinson, Thorpe, Sheldon.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
25-08-07 BLYTH SPARTANS 0 HYDE UNITED 2 Lge att. 563
The Tigers made the long journey up to
the North East with a weakened team but still produced an
excellent performance and fully deserved the points. Gareth
Seddon and Matthew Tipton were out suspended, whilst Paul
Gedman and Steve Pickford were injured.
On a bright and breezy day in
Northumberland, Craig Dootson was called into action in the
first minute when he saved superbly from Michael Maidens. It
was the first of a number of great saves as Blyth were always
a danger, especially when the impressive Robert Dale had the
ball.
Hyde took the lead on 17 minutes when
Dale Johnson set up Chris Simm
with an easy chance to score. The Tigers increased their lead
on 35 minutes when Peter Band
headed home a Nathan Wharton corner. It was a fine way to
celebrate his 200th appearance for Hyde as he was
commanding throughout. In keeping with tradition he also
suffered a gashed head but refused to leave the field in the
later stages, but nothing was going to stop him celebrating a
fine personal and team performance.
In the second period, Hyde defended
deeply, but still produced a number of chances which should
have been put away. Dale was still causing problems at the
other end, but the Hyde defence stood firm.
Former Port Vale midfielder, Mark Innes
was introduced for the last five minutes and he immediately
showed his class by setting up Nicky Clee. When the absentees
return over the coming weeks, Hyde will have a formidable
squad in their pursuit of promotion. They will need plenty
more performances like this.
Hyde – Dootson,
Brass, Cowan, Davis, Band, Wharton, Cartwright, Warner, Simm,
Johnson, Clee. Subs – Innes, Harrison, Caldecott, Lynch,
George.
Blyth Spartans – Bartlett, Christensen, Leeson, Coulthard, Forster, Snowdon, McCabe, Williams, Dale, Maidens, Hodgson.Subs – Bell, Graham, Hedley, Thompson, Fenton.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
27-08-07 HARROGATE TOWN 2 HYDE UNITED 1 Lge att. 554
Hyde were desperately unlucky at Wetherby
Road as they hit the woodwork four times and had another shot
cleared off the line as they battled to the end against
an Harrogate side who headed the league with four
straight wins, but ultimately they came away with nothing.
Harrogate just about shaded the first
half even though Dale Johnson struck the post after a good
move on thirty eight minutes. It was to prove costly as three
minutes later Mark Hume headed in
a corner after Earl Davis had slipped. The half ended on a sad
note with Tom Cowan led off and immediately taken to hospital
after Roy Hunter had followed through catching him on the
throat. Cowan has already been booked for an innocuous tackle,
whilst Hunter was not even spoken to by the inconsistent
referee.
Immediately after half time the referee
booked Harrogate’s Dave Merris for another run of the mill
tackle and this was to prove costly later as he booked the
player for time-wasting in the last few minutes and ordered
him from the field.
Within ten minutes of the restart Gareth
Seddon, free from suspension, was introduced, closely followed
by Matthew Tipton as Hyde surged forward down the slope.
Tipton had an immediate impact hitting the post twice and then
having a shot of the line, but it was to no avail as Darren
Dunning hammered home a beauty on 86 minutes in a rare
Harrogate attack. This was literally a bolt out of the blue as
the second half had belonged to Hyde. A minute later Johnson
headed against the post, when he should really have scored.
Merris had already gone for an early bath
when Seddon marked his return
with an absolute screamer from twenty five yards to pull a
goal back. It was the last real action in a game which the
Tigers should have had a point if not three, but once again
they had given the opposition a two goal start.
Hyde – Dootson,
Brass, Cowan, Davis, Band, Wharton, Cartwright, Warner, Simm,
Johnson, Clee. Subs – Innes, Seddon, Tipton, Harrison,
Lynch.
Harrogate Town – Aspden, Price, Peat, Ingram, Hume, Dunning, Hunter, James, Whittington, Holland, Merris . Subs – Bettney, Jackson, Wood, Musslewaite.
REPORT BY TONY BEARD
01-09-07 HYDE UNITED 4 REDDITCH UTD 0 Lge att. 339
Steve Waywell made six changes for the
visit of Redditch United, but his selections were vindicated
as the Tigers strolled to a 4-0 victory. Mark Innes and Craig
Robinson made their debuts, whilst Gareth Seddon started for
the first time after suspension.
It was not all one way traffic however as
the visitors did create some chances, but they couldn’t
compete with Hyde’s clinical finishing. Before the game, the
Redditch manager indicated he had a plan to stop Seddon. That
went out of the window on 9 minutes as Gareth
hammered home Steve Pickford’s inch perfect cross!
The Tigers increased their lead on 29
minutes when Robinson stooped low
to head home Nicky Clee’s corner. Minutes later Matthew
Tipton was inches over with a sublime chip.
Howard Forinton had an early chance for
the visitors just after half-time, but it was still Hyde on
the offensive and Seddon twice went close before being brought
off to rapturous applause on 68 minutes. He was replaced by
the lively Chris Simm who gave the Redditch back line no
respite.
Simm had two good chances before Tipton
grabbed Hyde’s third with a delicate clip over the advancing
Danny Lewis on 74 minutes. Substitute Dale
Johnson slid home the fourth with three minutes
remaining after an inch perfect cross from Pickford.
After the game Waywell felt Hyde had
played well in patches and was satisfied with the result as
well as the performances of the debutants. Robinson notched a
goal whilst Innes rightly won the Man of the Match Award for
his performance in midfield.
Hyde – Dootson,
Brass, Lynch, Robinson, Band, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford,
Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Harrison, Davis,
Wharton.
Redditch United –
Lewis, Walker,
Whitcombe, Rea, Geoghaghon, Softley, Cowley, Murphy, Ball,
Taylor, Forinton. Subs – Standley, Markman, Johnson, Deakin,
Clarke.
Referee: S. A Oldham
Shammah Nichols Man of the Match – Mark Innes
REPORT BY TONY BEARD
09-09-07
GAINSBOROUGH 3 HYDE UNITED
3 Lge att. 442
It was a pleasant sunny Sunday afternoon in Lincolnshire and
the Tigers were strolling to a 3-1 victory as the game entered
added time. A silly free kick was given away, the ball was
swung in and Lewis McMahon slid
the ball home. Still no major panic as there were only seconds
remaining. Hyde took the restart, made a complete hash of it,
the ball was knocked forward for substitute Dave
Taylor to score an unlikely equaliser and Hyde had
managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory.
It was an unbelievable finish to a game
Hyde seemingly had in the bag. The Tigers had taken the lead
on eight minutes when a superb turn and cross from Matthew
Tipton allowed Nicky Clee to head
home. On 21 minutes, Arran Reid in the Gainsborough goal made
a mess of a clearance and Steve Pickford
lobbed the ball home from fully forty yards.
A minute later Clee burst through only to
be taken out by the goalkeeper. A clear penalty, but the
referee gave a corner which was probably the only decision it
could not have been. He later admitted he did not have a good
view of the incident.
The home side made a triple substitution
and pulled a goal back on 60 minutes through Liam
Needham, but the Tigers restored their two goal cushion
within a minute as Clee burst
through to score a great solo opportunist goal.
Hyde still looked comfortable despite
losing Gareth Seddon with a dead-leg and always looked likely
to add to their tally until those fateful last two minutes and
the rest is history.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Lynch, Robinson, Band, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Johnson, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Davis, Warner, Wharton.
Gainsborough Trinity – Reid, Callery, Drury, Ellis, Pell, Needham, Graves, McMahon, Clayton, Mallon, Hall. Subs – Bird, Smith, Taylor, Forbes-Swindells.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
15-09-07 HYDE UNITED
1 BURSCOUGH 0 Lge att. 351
Two free scoring teams and sixteen goals
in the three games so far at Ewen Fields suggested this would
be another goal feast. How wrong predictions can be. This was
a dreadful game devoid of any meaningful action until the
second minute of injury time when Dale Johnson edged the ball
over the line for an unlikely winner.
It somewhat made up for the previous game
at Gainsborough when the Tigers contrived to concede two goals
in injury time, but it is the result that matters rather than
the performance as they say. Steve Waywell commented
afterwards that it is a sign of a good side who can play badly
yet still secure the points, but Hyde certainly left it late.
Local MP James Purnell had opened
proceedings by awarding the FA Groundsman of the Year award to
Hyde’s James (Charlie) Skatchill. As expected the pitch was
in perfect shape, so there can be no excuses for such a poor
game.
Burscough were content to sit back and
never showed any real urgency even when Hyde were reduced to
10 men with fifteen minutes remaining when Steve Pickford was
sent off for a high tackle on his former team-mate Kevin
Leadbetter. Pickford immediately apologised and despite a plea
from the recipient, referee Adrian Madley produced a red card.
It was a harsh decision in a game without a serious tackle,
but perhaps he was appeasing the assessor in the crowd?
Chances were few and far between. Nicky
Clee went close early in the second half whilst Neil Robinson
should have done better with an header at the other end. As
the half progressed, Waywell introduced all three substitutes
in an attempt to get the Tigers moving. Johnson added much
needed spark upfront, but the game still looked a certain no
score draw, until Dale popped up at the death to grab the
points for the Tigers.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Lynch, Robinson,
Band, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Johnson, Clee. Subs
– Simm, Johnson, Davis, Warner, Wharton.
Burscough – Mc
Millan, Tomlinson, Mc Ginn, Flynn, Kilbane, Morley, Booth,
Moogan, Robinson, Kilheeney, Leadbetter. Subs – Smart,
Hibbert, Roberts, Bowen, Owens
Man of Match – Craig Dootson
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
18-09-07 SOUTHPORT
2 HYDE UNITED
1 Lge att. 802
The Tigers were desperately unlucky at
Haig Avenue on Tuesday as they conceded twice in the last five
minutes after leading for much of the game. On Saturday it was
Hyde who scored right at the death but this time it was
Southport centre half, Kevin Lee
who grabbed the points for the home side in the third minute
of injury time.
For the second successive away game the
Tigers looked comfortable once Matthew
Tipton had put them in front after 30 minutes. They
were the better team for the first half with some excellent
flowing football but after the interval Southport stepped up
the pace and Hyde started to give the ball away cheaply.
Hyde’s defence stood firm with some
excellent individual performances, especially against a
succession of corners, but were not helped by an injury to
Craig Dootson which restricted his movement and ability to
kick.
The Tigers could have increased their
lead on 75 minutes when Richard Whiteside failed to hold
Tipton’s free kick, but Gareth Seddon was just unable to
score the rebound.
With five minutes remaining, substitute Karl
Noon scored with his first touch after Hyde were forced
to defend a corner with 10 men with Chris Brass off the field
following treatment. Southport piled forward and then Lee
broke the travelling fans hearts with his last gasp header
well into the five minutes added time.
Another what might have been for the
Tigers, but now Hyde have lost by the odd goal to three teams
likely to up there come the end of the season. With their next
two games against teams yet to lose, the Tigers have plenty to
do.
Hyde United –
Dootson, Brass, Lynch, Robinson, Band, Innes, Cartwright,
Pickford, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs Simm, Johnson, Warner,
Davis, Wharton.
Southport – Whiteside, Beeley, Newton, Hocking, Lee, Holland, Duffy, Blakeman, Gray, Powell, Prince. Subs – Prout, Smith, Houghton, Watt, Noon
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
22-09-07 HYDE UNITED
1 AFC TELFORD 0 Lge att. 567
A superb Gareth
Seddon goal fourteen minutes from time settled this
closely fought encounter at Ewen Fields, and in the process
inflicted the first defeat of the season on AFC Telford. It
was a goal worthy of settling any game after He picked up a
through ball from Mark Innes and struck a tremendous shot into
the top corner from fully 25 yards.
This was a tough game for the Tigers
against newly promoted Telford with little to choose between
the two sides, apart from Seddon’s finishing of course. The
visitors staged a late fight-back, but for once Hyde’s back
line stood firm with Peter Band and Craig Robinson
outstanding. Craig Dootson, behind them, made crucial saves
when it mattered and the Tiger’s hung on for the three
points.
The first half was pretty even and end to
end. Seddon and Nicky Clee went close for Hyde, whilst Jimmy
Turner posed a continual threat for the visitors, who were
cheered on by more than 200 travelling fans. Although the game
was entertaining, clear –cut chances were in short supply.
Carl Rodgers had a good chance for the
visitors at the start of the second half, but Dootson saved
well. Clee and Seddon again went closest for Hyde and it
became clear something special was needed to settle the tie.
Seddon duly obliged and his strike can’t fail to have
impressed the watching England FA officials.
Telford threw everything at Hyde in the
last 15 minutes, with Dootson making a couple of good saves,
but the Tigers held on for three priceless points in a
thoroughly good game played in excellent spirit. On these
performances, both teams can expect to be near the play-off
positions, come the end of the season.
After the game, Hyde’s assistant
manager, Neil Tolson said “ it was great game between two
very good sides, who were only separated by a Premier League
finish from Gareth (Seddon). We were very pleased to get the
win after a couple of disappointments away from home recently.
Hyde – Dootson,
Brass, Lynch, Robinson, Band, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford,
Tipton, Johnson, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Davis, Warner,
Humphries.
AFC Telford – Taylor, Turner, Charlton, Khela, Pacey, Rodgers, Jagielka, Vermiglio, Lewis, Moore, Forsdick. Subs – Reymolds, Teesdale, Fitzpatrick, Adams, Cornes.
Shammah Nichols Man of Match – Matthew Tipton
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
24-09-07 HYDE UNITED 0 NANTWICH TOWN 2 CSC att. 148
This was a pretty dreadful game on a
dreadful night in front of a pitifully small crowd. The Tigers
never really got going, but still had enough opportunities to
win the game, whilst the visitors made the most of what came
their way. Both sides could probably have done without the
game with important FA Cup ties looming on Saturday.
Steve Waywell made six changes, some of
them forced as Gareth Seddon was injured and Dale Johnson
unavailable, but Hyde still should have had enough quality in
the team to have forced a victory.
As the rain lashed down, Hyde had the
better of the first half with Peter Band twice going close to
putting them in front. After the break substitute Matthew
Tipton had a free kick inches over, whilst Chris Simm also had
a good shot just wide.
Nantwich took the lead on 60 minutes when
the enigmatic Pavol Suhas headed
past Hyde’s debutant goalkeeper, Richard Humphries. The game
then became more open and both sides had chances before Steve
Pickford struck a post for Hyde as they threw men forward in
the hope of an equaliser.
After a long period of treatment, Suhas
returned to go down in the area in the last minute after an
innocuous challenge from Earl Davis. The referee was persuaded
by his assistant to award a penalty and Danny
Griggs made no mistake from the spot to end any hopes
Hyde had of forcing extra time.
Hyde – Humphries,
Davis, Lynch, Harrison, Band, Innes, Rick, Pickford, Warner,
Simm, Clee. Subs: Tipton, Cartwright, Robinson, Bryan,
Williams.
Nantwich – Williams, Taylor(A), Kiss, Donnelly, Taylor(P), Linford, Carter, Blackhurst, Suhas, Beasley, Griggs.Subs: Parkinson, Freeman, Hancock, Davis, Hackney.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
29-09-07 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1 HYDE UNITED 0 FAC att. 790
The Tigers made their second Cup exit in a week
as they contrived to lose at Bower Fold in a game they should have
had won in the first quarter. As
it was they faded badly and in the second period never really looked
like pulling the goal back.
All started so well for Hyde. In the first five minutes a couple of flowing moves should have had the Tigers ahead. Nicky Clee brought the best out of Paddy Gamble in the Celtic goal, but he probably should have scored. Gareth Seddon then went close
before Celtic got a free kick midway inside
Hyde’s half. Carlos Roca took it to perfection and Chris
Hall was on hand to head a good goal on twelve minutes.
Hyde stormed forward down the hill with Dale
Johnson, playing as one of three forwards, causing all sorts of
problems for former Tiger Simon Garner at left back. Time after time
Dale was brought down and it was not until the fifth foul and 43
minutes that referee Mr Edwards produced a yellow card. He had
already produced one for Chris Lynch after an aerial clash before
booking Ashley Winn and Paul Sykes in quick succession as the
temperature rose with tackles flying in.
More flowing moves from Hyde saw Johnson bring
out a great save from Gamble and then he produced another to keep
out a Matthew Tipton header. Tipton was also close with a screamer
just over the bar. However Hyde’s set pieces were poor and this is
an area that Steve Waywell will need to concentrate on.
In the second period the game threatened to get
out of hand with arms flying in many challenges and Terry Barwick
was booked for a nasty challenge on Chris Brass, the third time he
had been left prostrate on the floor. However Celtic were now
winning the 50/50 balls as their confidence grew.
Johnson was still causing problems for Garner
and after two more fouls he was given a final warning from the
inconsistent referee, who should have got to grips with the game
earlier. Peter Band and Craig Robinson were both then booked to
bring the tally to seven.
Johnson was ultimately substituted and replaced
by Chris Simm. He was immediately in the action and was clearly
pushed by the luckless Garner in the area. He caught the defenders
knee in falling and was left with a very bloody nose, which brought
a new dimension to this blood and thunder tie. He twice had to
change his shirt as the blood continued to flow. Hyde’s only
reward was a corner.
Hyde threw men forward but the early impetus
had long gone and it was Craig Dootson who was the busiest of the
‘keepers in the final quarter with a couple of excellent saves.
The Tigers dream of an FA Cup run is over and
how they will rue those early missed chances.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass,
Lynch, Robinson, Band, Innes, Cartwright, Johnson, Tipton, Johnson,
Clee. Subs – Simm, Davis, Warner, Harrison, Humphries.
Stalybridge Celtic – Gamble, Barwick, Warner, Dudgeon, Haran, Sykes, Ellington, Winn, Hall, Barlow, Roca. Subs – Parr, Burbeary, Paves, Middleton, Pearson.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD