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
15-12-07 HYDE UNITED 2 NUNEATON BOROUGH 0 LGE att.408
Hyde stormed to the top of Blue Square
North with an emphatic victory over in-form Nuneaton Borough
at Ewen Fields. The visitors struggled throughout being unable
to control the lively Hyde forwards and could have been five
goals down by half-time had the Tigers had a bit more luck in
front of goal.
On a superb playing surface and an
excellent referee in charge this was a thrilling game from
start to finish/ Although Nuneaton came up against the Tigers
at their best, they showed glimpses of the team which had
recently won the Team of the Month and may well be play-off
contenders come the end of the season.
In a one sided first half, it was very
much the Gareth Seddon show. He opened the scoring for Hyde on
nine minutes when he picked up a pinpoint pass from Matthew
Tipton and hammered the ball past Darren Acton into the corner
of the net. He had already twice gone close and then on twenty
one minutes had the ball in the net, but was foiled by an
offside flag.
However five minutes later he broke clear
and smashed his shot against the crossbar, but Tipton
following up cracked the ball home for Hyde’s second. Before
half time the Tigers hit the woodwork three more times. First
Chris Lynch hit the bar with
a cross from the left before the irrepressible Seddon
broke clear again to strike the base of a post. Right on half
time Nicky Clee had a fierce shot against the bar. It had been
pretty much one way traffic although Craig Dootson in the Hyde
goal still had to make two terrific saves as the game ebbed
and flowed.
The visitors stepped up the pace after
the break but they found the Hyde defence in resolute form
with David Morley outstanding. Brian Quailey and Danny
Williams were introduced upfront for Nuneaton but it was still
Hyde more likely to score. Seddon and Tipton both went close
as the visitors continued to find the Hyde forwards too hot to
handle. All afternoon they struggled to cope with the pace of
Seddon and the great support play from Tipton and Clee and in
all honesty they did well to only concede two goals.
In the final minute, man of the match,
Dootson made a superb save from Andy Brown to end an
entertaining and pulsating afternoon and send the home fans
home happy.
On this sort of form, Hyde are certainly
serious championship contenders. There were plenty of
excellent individual performances which added to an impressive
overall team showing on a bitterly cold afternoon.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Lynch, Morley, Band, Innes, Stephens, Pickford, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Cartwright, Wharton, Harrison.
Wharton for Seddon
89, Johnson for Lynch 50
Nuneaton –
Acton, Collins,
Franklin, Curtis, Moore, Cowan, Palmer, Pritchard, Brown,
Jordan, Mc Ilwain. Subs – Quailey, Oddy, Williams, Edmund,
Burgess.
Quailey for Jordan
70, Williams for Pritchard 70
Man of the match – Craig Dootson
Referee – P Bankes, Liverpool
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
26-12-07 HYDE UNITED 1 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 3 LGE att.1,038
This was very much ‘after the Lord
Mayor’s Show’ for the Tigers after they had stormed to the
top of the league in the previous home game but after
Stalybridge had scored two early goals, Hyde never looked
likely to get back into the game. The visitors were impressive
throughout keeping close tabs on the Hyde forwards, whilst
breaking with electrifying pace which frequently exposed the
Tiger’s rearguard.
‘Bridge came out of the blocks much
quicker and Craig Dootson had to be at his best after just ten
minutes to thwart Andy Smart. Gareth Seddon went close at the
other end before Alex Meechan
scored with a deft flick on sixteen minutes after the ball had
travelled a long way across the Hyde penalty area.
The game was as good as over eight
minutes later when Chris Hall outstripped
the Tigers defence to put Celtic two up. There was a hint of
offside but nobody could argue about his pace as he ran clear
and finished superbly.
Meechan who had caused all sorts of
problems in the first half hour limped off but the Tigers
could not take advantage although Seddon was just inches over
with a free kick right on half-time.
After the break Hyde needed an early
goal, but despite forcing a succession of corners, Paddy
Gamble’s goal was never seriously threatened. Dale Johnson
and Chris Simm were introduced to add some fire power, but it
never materialised as the Stalybridge defence stood firm.
In this fixture last season there were
eleven bookings and three sending offs, but this year it was a
much more muted affair with only Chris Lynch booked for a
heavy tackle on Matty Barlow. To be fair, referee Mr Conway
had a decent game, but it was the visitor’s two goals which
had taken the real sting out of the game. It is interesting to
note that Hyde had just four players left from last year in
their starting line up, whilst Stalybridge only had Paul Sykes
and Barrie Keeling.
Hyde went three at the back as they tried to claw their way back into the game,
but it was Celtic who grabbed the all
important third goal when Smart
rifled home on 78 minutes past an unsighted Dootson. Hall
should have scored again a couple of minutes later but he
contrived to hit the bar from three yards out. Barlow did find
the net a minute later but was just offside.
More corners for Hyde in the closing stages, and there was some consolation as Steve Payne, who had been outstanding, slid the ball into his own goal in the closing stages. It was too little too late for the Tigers and not for the first time this season they had been found wanting in a crucial game.
Hyde – Dootson,
Brass, Lynch, Morley, Band, Innes, Stephens, Pickford, Tipton,
Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Robinson, Cartwright,
Wharton.
Stalybridge –
Gamble,
Woolliscroft, Smart, Payne, Keeling, Sykes, Dean, Barwick,
Hall, Barlow, Meechan. Subs – Garner, Roca, Ellington,
Oakes, Pearson.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
29-12-07
HYDE UNITED 2 HARROGATE
TOWN 2 LGE att.511
In the Blue Square North
top of the table clash, honours finished even after Hyde
failed to capitalise on a strong second half performance by
allowing visitors Harrogate to grab a last minute equaliser in
a tremendous match at Ewen Fields.
Harrogate welcomed back
Mark Hume after suspension, whilst the Tigers brought in Dale
Johnson for Chris Lynch as the only change from the Boxing day
team which lost to Stalybridge Celtic.
The game kicked off in
driving rain but the conditions did not dampen the excitement
as the visitors stormed forward with the wind behind them. In
the first minute Craig Dootson had to save superbly to
fingertip Darren Dunning’s shot onto the crossbar, whilst
Gareth Seddon was only inches wide at the other before Chris
Bettney put Harrogate in front after just three minutes
following good link up play.
Hyde equalised on fifteen
minutes when centre half Peter Band
pounced on hesitancy in the Harrogate defence to slot the ball
home. Chances were coming thick and fast on the slippery
surface.
Matthew Tipton went close
for the Tigers on thirty one minutes and was again involved on
forty two minutes when he appeared to be brought down by Paul
Musselwhite in the Harrogate goal. In the build up Seddon had
been clearly fouled on the edge of the area, but referee
Heywood played ‘advantage’ but then turned down appeals
for a penalty. This was just one of a number of debatable
decisions from the official.
In the second period, Hyde
stepped up the pace and Mr Heywood was again the centre of
attention on fifty seven minutes when Seddon was clearly
brought down on the edge of the box but he waved away any
appeals. A minute later Tipton brought a superb save from
Musselwhite as the Tigers pressed forward.
Seddon
headed Hyde in front on sixty seven minutes after a great
cross from Nicky Clee. It was now all Hyde and they should
have increased their lead when first Band shot over from ten
yards and then Tipton headed inches wide when well placed.
Harrogate were using the offside game to try and contain the
pace of the Hyde forwards, but they were living dangerously
with the Tigers being thwarted by a number of close calls.
In a grandstand finish
both teams had chances to score before substitute Steve
Burton equalised for the visitors by volleying home
right at the death to end a superb advertisement for Non
League football and give Harrogate a point they barely
deserved.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Pickford, Morley, Band, Innes, Stephens, Johnson, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Lynch, Robinson, Cartwright, Wharton.
Harrogate
Town – Musselwhite,
Price, Merris, Ingram, Hume, Wood, Hunter, Dunning, Hackworth,
Holland, Bettney.Subs – Whittington, Mc Laughlin, Burton,
Ellerker, Peat.
Whittington
for Bettney 61 Burton for Wood 74
Referee – M. Heywood,
Cheshire.
Man of the Match – Dave
Morley, Hyde
Match rating - * * * * *
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
01-01-08 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 3 HYDE UNITED 1 LGE att.946
They say goals change games and this was
certainly true at Bower Fold today. For the first hour or so,
the Tigers were comfortably a goal up thanks to Gareth
Seddon’s strike on twenty five minutes after a
mistake by Paul Sykes Then it all changed as Celtic grabbed
two goals in four minutes and they never looked back.
Hyde can point to some indifferent and
inconsistent refereeing decisions from Mr Nolan, including a
disputed penalty, but the bottom line is that once they went
behind, they never looked like getting back into the game.
Effort cannot be faulted, but defending, organisation and
application can.
Celtic equalised when Peter Band was
adjudged to have brought down Chris Hall in the box. It was a
close call but then Bandy was caught on the wrong side of his
man and was forced into a last ditch tackle. Matty
Barlow made no mistake from the spot. Four minutes
later more mayhem in the defence and a free kick conceded on
the edge of the box. Andy Smart
strode up and hammered it straight through the wall and
directly into the net. It was reminiscent of Seddon’s goal
at Barrow last year.
Chris Simm and Nicky Clee were introduced
but it was to no avail as Stalybridge never loosened their
grip although Seddon did go close with a cross shot which
Paddy Gamble scrambled away. Stalybridge should have had a
more clean-cut penalty on eighty minutes, but the referee, not
for the first time, was too far away, but it didn’t matter
as substitute Barry Keeling came
off the bench and strode through the Hyde defence for number
three in the dying minutes.
A brief flare up in the closing stages
saw Steve Pickford and Terry Barwick booked but once again
there was no malice in the game, although the referee
collected five bookings. Perhaps most unlucky was man of the
match Lee Ellington who was booked for his one and only foul
in the game in the last five minutes.
It was a bit hard on the Tigers, but the
facts are that they have now suffered seven defeats in the
League with just about half the season gone and that isn’t
good enough for the talent on show and it is now clear changes
will have to be made, especially in the defence which seems to
be permanently under pressure surviving on last ditch
clearances rather than defending well in the first place.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Lynch, Morley, Band, Innes, Johnson, Pickford, Tipton, Seddon, Wharton. Subs – Simm, Clee, Robinson, Harrison, Cartwright.
Referee – I Nolan, Bury.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
05-01-08 HYDE UNITED 2 BLYTH SPARTANS 4 LGE att.380
After just one point from four games, Hyde’s championship challenge has evaporated and their play-off place in now under threat after another desperate performance at Ewen Fields.
True,
the Tigers dominated much of this game, but could not turn
their supremacy into goals, missing a bagful of chances,
whilst at the other end they were found wanting in defence. By
the close,
After
a very one-sided first half, the visitors amazingly went into
the break two goals to the good thanks to a fair measure of
good fortune and the brilliance of goalkeeper, Adam Bartlett.
Time and time again Hyde were
thwarted by a succession of excellent saves and when he was
beaten,
Chris Mc Cabe put the visitors ahead on 33 minutes in a their first attack and then Martin Houlahan grabbed an unlikely second minutes before half time to stun the home side.
Hyde were on top from the outset in the second period and pulled a goal back after 10 minutes when a brilliant run from Nicky Clee set up an easy chance for Tipton. Hyde were now well on top, but as they pushed forward, there were gaps at the back and they were twice punished by Phillip Bell on the break on 68 and 78 minutes to give the visitors an unlikely three goal cushion as they grew in confidence.
As the Hyde defence went to pieces there could have been punished more before Seddon grabbed a late consolation, but it was too little too late for the home side who have seen their title ambitions disappear by conceding twelve goals in their last four games, three of which have been at home.
Individually Hyde had the better players but the visitors played as a more cohesive unit playing for each other and Steve Waywell now has plenty to do to get his team back on track.
Hyde – Dootson, Brass, Pickford, Morley, Robinson, Innes, Wharton, Bushell, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson (D), Band, Lynch, Cartwright.
Blyth
Spartans –
Bartlett, Christensen, Hedley, Snowdon, Forster,
Williams, Webster, Mc Cabe,
Referee
– W. Trott,
Man
of the Match – Adam Bartlett,
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
08-01-08 TRAFFORD 1 HYDE UNITED 2 MPC att.130
Hyde progressed to the Semi finals thanks
to a late winner from Gareth Seddon in a dramatic and pretty
dreadful game at Trafford on Tuesday.
The sodden pitch only just passed an
inspection before the start and after just seven minutes,
referee Matt Bristow was leading the players off as the rain
became hail and was accompanied by lightning and a
gale–force wind.
After a delay of fifteen minutes, play
resumed on the treacherous surface. The Tigers had most of the
play for the rest of the half, despite playing against the
wind, but couldn’t turn their superiority into goals as the
ball skidded around the Trafford area.
The second half followed a similar
pattern although by now the wind and rain had subsided.
Trafford, in a rare attack, took the lead on 62 minutes when Andy
Lundy scrambled the ball home. The Tigers responded
immediately when Man of the Match, Nicky
Clee, rifled home from the edge of the area.
As Hyde stormed forward looking for a
winner, Craig Dootson was injured by a reckless challenge from
Lundy and was carried off. Matthew Tipton came on to take over
in goal. Coincidently his previous appearance in goal was in
the last round.
The ever confident Tipton soon made an
impact when his long clearance found Clee who set up Seddon
for Hyde’s winner with just four minutes left. There was
still time for Tipton to make a dramatic late save and the
Tigers were home and dry, metaphorically speaking.
Lee Cartwright and Tom Cowan both came
through ninety minutes after recent injuries, whilst Dootson
fortunately only suffered bruising and should be okay for
Hyde’s trip to Redditch next Tuesday.
Hyde – Dootson,
Lynch, Cowan, Morley, Robinson, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford,
Simm, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Brass, Tipton, Rick, Band,
Wharton.
Brass for Lynch 66 Tipton for Dootson
80Wharton for Innes 46
Trafford – Read, Thomas, Bushell, Southwood, Maclean, Ahern, Mackay, Winter, Lundy, Depeiaza, Metcalfe. Subs – Barlow, Halligan, Woodford, Kielty, Harrold.
Barlow for Depeiaza 66 Woodford for Bushell 53
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
19-01-08 HYDE UNITED
0 ALFRETON TOWN 2 LGE att.509
After just one point from five games,
four of which have been at home, Hyde’s Play-off credentials
are seriously under threat after another inept performance at
Ewen Fields.
This was another horror show from the
Tigers after a bright start and ultimately Alfreton were
comfortable winners after Paul Clayton
had put them in front right on half-time and then Peter
Knox grabbed a second with just five minutes remaining.
Hyde had Chris Brass back in defence as
Bury’s game was postponed with Danny Warner making his debut
at left back. Lee Cartwright replaced the suspended Steve
Pickford in midfield and it was the Tigers had the better of
the first half hour with Gareth Seddon twice going close,
although Knox should have scored for Alfreton. Nicky Clee
produced an amazing run beating five men in the process but
was thwarted by a brilliant save from Kyle Sutcliffe.
Sutcliffe produced an excellent handling display throughout in
difficult conditions and fully deserved his man of the match
award.
After the break, Alfreton looked stronger
and more determined and were clearly in no mood to relinquish
their lead. Hyde were reduced to playing hopeful balls into
the area despite the introduction of the speedy Chris Simm,
but the visitors defence stood firm, although they appeared to
have some fortune on 61 minutes when the ball appeared to
strike Mark Barnard’s hand in the area.
Hyde never looked likely to break their
duck after that and it was Alfreton who continued to wreak
havoc in the home team’s defence on the break. So it was no
surprise when Knox ran through and slotted the ball home to
seal victory in the dying minutes.
It was the first time the Tigers had
failed to score at home this season but they had come up
against some resolute and well organised defending on the day
and could have no complaints. The defeat leaves Steve Waywell
and his Management team plenty to ponder as Hyde’s play-off
challenge has well and truly come off the rails, since they
stormed to the top of the league in mid December. First
priority has to be the defence which looks like it will
concede every time the opposition attacks.
Hyde – Dootson,
Brass, Warner, Morley, Band, Cartwright, Johnson, Bushell,
Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Innes, Wharton, Lynch,
Robinson.
Wharton for Johnson 65 Simm for Tipton 57
Alfreton Town – Sutcliffe, Mc Fadzean, Barnard, Wilson, Butler, Warne, Law, Walton, Clayton, Knox, Wilson.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
6-01-08 TAMWORTH 2 HYDE UNITED 1 LGE att.1189
This was a much improved performance from
the Tigers, but luck deserted them when they needed it most
and another narrow defeat was all they had to show for their
second trip of the season to Tamworth.
Chris Brass was on duty with Bury, whilst
Dale Johnson and Chris Simm were absent through injury. The
latter having sustained a serious injury at work which may
well keep him out for the season. So it was a much changed
Tigers team who took on full time Tamworth. The pitch was in
good shape and contributed to an excellent game of football.
Tamworth had the early pressure, but
Craig Dootson made a couple of excellent saves before Hyde
settled down and played some neat football. However another
sloppy goal conceded from a corner on thirty two minutes gave
the home side the ascendancy when Jamie
Reed back-heeled home. However the Tigers fought back
strongly and Dave Morley was unlucky with an header which
bounced down off the bar and was then cleared off the line.
Hyde conceded again five minutes after
the break when Danny Warner’s clearance ricocheted off a
Tamworth player, who immediately crossed for the impressive Colin
Marrison to toe poke the ball home. A freak goal but
indicative of Hyde’s luck at the moment.
Steve Pickford had a screamer blocked on
sixty minutes, possibly by a hand, but the referee would have
none of it, although not for the first time, he was too far
away from the action. He was closer two minutes later and spot
on when Gareth Seddon and Matthew Tipton combined before Seddon
was felled in the box. He coolly converted the penalty to get
the Tigers back in the game.
Marrison almost grabbed another for the
home side with a sublime piece of skill, but his shot
rebounded to safety off the bar. With ten minutes remaining,
Neil Tolson was introduced for the Tigers and he immediately
had an impact winning every ball in the air against the
hesitant Tamworth defence. On eighty two minutes he headed on
for Seddon to fire home, but the linesman ruled the goal out
for offside, but it was hard to see who it was and the
official’s hesitancy afterwards suggested he may have got it
wrong.
More pressure in the final minutes from
Hyde, but they had left themselves too much to do and came
away with nothing to show from a pretty reasonable performance
apart from another two poor goals conceded.
Hyde – Dootson, Lynch, Warner, Morley, Band, Cartwright, Bushell, Pickford, Tipton, Seddon, Clee.Subs – Rick, Wharton, Innes, Harrison, Tolson.
REPORT
BY TONY BEARD
03-02-08 HYDE UNITED 2 BOSTON UTD 1 LGE att.477
Hyde grabbed their first win in seven
games with a narrow victory over Boston on Sunday in a pretty
insipid game at Ewen Fields. Whether it was a change to the
pre-match music or the switch to Sunday which helped, it
mattered not as the Tigers registered their first win of the
year but they certainly needed some luck along the way
including goals in the last minute of each half.
Boston had the ball in the net three
times in the second half but two were ruled out for offside by
the sharp female assistant and the referee had seen an
infringement for the other, so there were no major complaints.
Gareth Seddon had suffered a similar fate in the first half
with the assistant on top of her game.
On a cold blustery afternoon the wind
always had an upper hand. Hyde had the advantage in the first
period but couldn’t really make it count and went behind on
31 minutes when Kieran Leabon
fired home after hesitancy in the Tigers defence. Mark
Innes, recalled to the side scored an equaliser right
on half time when his shot found a way through a ruck of
players into the net. His first goal for the Tigers and the
timing couldn’t have been better.
In the second period, the visitors took
advantage of the strengthening wind and camped out in Hyde’s
half for long periods, but chances were few and far between.
Chris Brass replaced the injured Chris Lynch for the final
half hour to bolster the Hyde defence and with Dave Morley
back to his best, for once the back line stood firm.
Seddon and Matthew Tipton both worked
impressively upfront with precious little service and although
both went close in the final ten minutes a draw looked
increasingly likely. However with just one minute remaining
Lee Cartwright headed down for Nicky
Clee to lash the ball home. A goal out of the blue, but
just what Steve Waywell and the rest of the Hyde faithful had
ordered to get the Tigers back on track.
Hyde – Dootson, Lynch, Warner, Morley, Band, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Brass, Johnson, Bushell, Wharton, Tolson.
Boston United – Rayner, Matthews, Bloomer, Ellender, Crane, Weaver, O’Halloran, Gauchran, Leabon, Green, Rowan. Subs – Thompson, Beeson, Wood, Alexander.
REPORT BY TONY
BEARD
09-02-08
HYDE UNITED
1 LEIGH RMI 1 LGE att.404
With many of their play-off contenders
involved in tough games, Hyde failed to make hay in the
glorious sunshine against bottom club, Leigh RMI. Although
they dominated much of the game, they could not turn their
supremacy into goals and were also found wanting in defence.
By the end, the visitors could have secured an unlikely
victory as first substitute Richard Checuti struck a post and
then in the last minute another substitute Robbie Talbot
missed from three yards.
The match didn’t live up to the weather
and failed to ignite despite an excellent surface and both
sides desperately needing a win for different reasons. Hyde
had the best of the early chances with Matthew Tipton and
Gareth Seddon both going close, but Leigh were working hard
getting men behind the ball when possible.
Surprisingly it was Leigh who took the
lead on forty minutes through an exquisite lob from Mark
Smyth after the home defence failed to clear. Their joy
was short-lived as the Tigers equalised just three minutes
later when Nicky Clee crossed from the left and Steve
Pickford scored with a near post header.
After the break, Hyde started strongly
with Lee Cartwright having a goal-bound shot blocked and then
man of the match, David Morley set up Seddon only for Richard
Mottram to save well.
Steve Settle had a sickening collision
with Hyde ‘keeper, Craig Dootson and had to leave the field
to be replaced by the impressive Checuti. He soon made his
mark with a cracking shot which Dootson did well to turn onto
a post after some comedy defending from the home side.
Mottram thwarted Seddon with another good
save before he made an even better save when Clee burst
through. Seddon following up could only hit the ball wide.
Mottram’s only blemish on an otherwise excellent afternoon
was a poor clearance in the final minute which only found
Seddon. However the league’s leading scorer was pulled back
as he headed for goal by Rob Marsh Evans, who was rightly
booked.
It was the visitors who had a couple of
chances in five minutes of injury time before Talbot missed a
sitter in the dying seconds, to leave the home fans wondering
what may have been with a better performance.
Hyde – Dootson, Lynch, Warner, Morley, Band, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Bushell, Wharton, Harrison.
Johnson for Lynch 66
Leigh RMI – Mottram, Goulding, Heald, Carrol, Marsh Evans, Prosser, Settle, Gibson, Salmon, Smyth, Roberts.
REPORT BY TONY BEARD
11-02-08 HYDE UNITED 3 ASHTON UTD 2a.e.t. MPCsf att.178
In an exciting game at Ewen Fields on
Monday, Hyde progressed to the final of the Manchester Premier
Cup, but needed an extra time winner to secure victory and a
tie against FC United of Manchester or Radcliffe Borough in
the final.
The Tigers made hard work of beating
their local rivals by missing a series of chances including a
penalty and should have had victory safely in the bag before
conceding two late goals to take the match into extra-time.
Nathan Wharton
restored to his favoured No 6 shirt opened the scoring for
Hyde on eight minutes when he rifled the ball home from the
edge of the area. Dale Johnson and Gareth Seddon both then
went close as the Tigers looked to increase their lead before
the break.
However it was one minute into the second
period when the goal eventually came. Seddon
rounded Damien Rooney and forced the ball home from the
tightest of angles. Chris Simm, back from injury, went close
for Hyde, but Ashton were dangerous on the break and Iain
Howard struck a post with Craig Dootson beaten.
Dootson produced a brilliant save to
thwart Dean Canning but Ashton received a lifeline on 73
minutes when Steve Pickford’s rash challenge on Howard
allowed Billy McCartney to pull a
goal back from the penalty spot.
Six minutes later, Simm was brought down
in the area by Steve Aspinall as he rounded Rooney, but
Seddon’s spot kick went well wide. The visitors couldn’t
believe their luck and Ian Bennett
equalised with a screamer with six minutes left.
Ashton could have clinched it right at
the death as Ben Deegan’s header went agonising wide after
he beat Dootson to the ball.
Hyde stepped up the tempo in extra time.
Matthew Tipton and Seddon both went close before Dootson made
a great save to stop Deegan. From the resultant punt
downfield, Seddon rounded Rooney
to put Hyde back in front. The chances were now coming thick
and fast. Rooney saved brilliantly from Pickford and Simm
twice went close. Hyde were home, but they certainly did it
the hard way!
Hyde – Dootson, Pickford, Lynch, Morley, Band, Wharton, Johnson, Bushell, Simm, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Rick, Cartwright, Tipton, Cook, Holland.
Tipton for Johnson 65
Cook for Clee 87 Holland for Dootson 120
Ashton United –
Rooney, Aspinall, Caldecott, Bennett, Mc Cartney,
Furnival, O’Neill, Smith, Canning, Howard, Garvey.
REPORT BY TONY
BEARD
16-02-08 AFC TELFORD 2 HYDE UNITED 1 LGE att.2,107
Hyde’s dismal run of form continued at
the impressive New Buck’s Head Stadium on Saturday, where
despite a late rally, the Tigers came away with nothing.
Loan Signing from Huddersfield Town,
Shane Killock made his debut for the Tigers in the heart of
the defence, Steve Pickford moved to right back, whilst Danny
Warner made way for Chris Lynch on the left. The defence had a
more secure look than in recent games, but Pickford’s
influence in midfield was sorely missed.
Time after time Hyde were second best in
midfield and this contributed to their downfall. Telford took
the lead on 32 minutes when Mark Innes gave the ball away with
the Tigers well upfield. The home side capitalised immediately
and Gary Birch with excellent
close control made no mistake.
Hyde replaced Gareth Seddon, who was
feeling unwell, with Chris Simm at the break, but almost
immediately found themselves two down. This time it was Nicky
Clee who surrendered the ball in midfield and former Droylsden
man, Steve Jagielka broke upfield
and scored with a deflected shot which gave Craig Dootson no
chance.
The Tigers were struggling to cope with
the Telford wing-backs who were finding plenty of space, but
slowly clawed their way back into the game and were unlucky on
58 minutes when Matthew Tipton’s free-kick was brilliantly
saved by Ryan Young. As the game progressed and Dale Johnson
on for Nathan Wharton, Hyde began to create chances and Tipton
fired over after Simm had broken clear on eighty minutes. Four
minutes later Simm pulled a goal
back as he rifled home to set up a grandstand finish.
Young again saved well from Simm right at
the death but the Tigers, not for the first time this season,
had left themselves with too much to do and no time to do it.
With the defence looking more solid, Steve Waywell now needs
to focus on his under-achieving midfield, who despite their
abundant skill cannot impose themselves on the game.
Hyde – Dootson, Pickford, Lynch, Morley, Killock, Innes, Wharton, Cartwright, Tipton, Seddon, Clee. Subs – Simm, Johnson, Warner, Band, Harrison.
Simm for Seddon 46 Johnson for Wharton 65
Band for Clee 81
AFC Telford – Young, Jagielka, Forsdick, Turner, Roberts, Whitehead, Adams, Fitzpatrick, Lewis, Birch, Moore. Subs – Marsden, Charlton, Rodgers, Husbands, Durrell.
Rodgers for Birch 68 Charlton for Forsdick 75 Marsden for Moore 79.
Referee – P. Dunn, St Helens
REPORT BY TONY
BEARD
19-02-08 VAUXHALL MOTORS 3 HYDE UNITED 4 LGE att.147
Hyde skated back into a play-off place on
Tuesday night with a deserved victory on an icy and frozen
pitch at Rivacre Park. In keeping with other games, Hyde did
it the hard way allowing Vauxhall to pull back two late goals
to set up a finish tenser than it should have been.
However the Tigers showed tremendous
spirit in adversity after going a goal behind on 22 minutes. Peter
Heler picked up the ball about thirty yards out after a
blatant push. Referee Mr. Newell allowed play to continue and
Heler smashed the ball goalwards. Craig Dootson unsure of his
footing could do nothing as it hit the back of the net.
Mr Newell had already been the centre of
attention ten minutes earlier when Chris Simm was hacked down
by former Tiger Craig Robinson as he burst clear. A yellow
card was produced, when it could have been red.
The Tigers had the ball in the net on 31
minutes when Matthew Tipton headed home, but it was ruled out
for offside, but the small band of Hyde fans on
a bitterly cold night only had to wait another five
minutes for the equaliser when Tipton and Dave Morley set up Gareth
Seddon to head home.
Three goals in a seven minute spell after
the break sealed victory for the Tigers. First Seddon crossed
for Lee Cartwright to score a
rare headed goal on sixty two minutes before an end to end
flowing move saw Tipton finish
well and it was Tipton again who
grabbed Hyde’s fourth after being set up by Seddon.
As the conditions worsened, Mr Newell
consulted his assistant before agreeing the match could
continue and then Tom Field
scored an absolute screamer for the Motormen. Eight minutes
later Morley got into all sorts of problems and failed to
clear which
allowed substitute David Roberts’
shot to take a deflection and drift over Dootson to set up an
anxious last ten minutes for the Tigers in a game they should
have had comfortably in the bag. Three points nevertheless and
a morale boosting victory on a treacherous surface.
Hyde – Dootson,
Teague, Lynch, Morley, Killock, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford,
Tipton, Seddon, Simm. Subs – Clee, Johnson, Warner, Band,
Wharton.
Wharton for Pickford 72 Band for Teague
72
Vauxhall Motors – Murphy, Holmes, Williams, Field, Robinson, Hitchen, Heler, Griffiths, Reed, Smith, Egerton. Subs – Roberts, Rigby, Gresty, Owens.
Roberts for Reed 78
Referee – A. Newell, Thornton Cleveleys
REPORT BY TONY
BEARD
23-02-08 HYDE UNITED 3 VWORCESTER CITY 1 LGE att.465
Hyde at last discovered their
pre-Christmas form and dominated much of this game and
ultimately took the points against an impressive Worcester
side mainly due to sharper finishing.
The Tigers started the stronger and after
twelve minutes Cameron Belford saved well from Gareth
Seddon’s header. The ‘keeper had no chance six minutes
later when David Morley rose
superbly to head home Mark Innes’ corner. Minutes later
Belford produced a great save after Chris Simm’s shot had
been deflected goalwards. Not to be outdone, Craig Dootson
then produced a brilliant save at the other end from Craig
Wilding.
Simm
increased Hyde’s lead on 35 minutes when he pressurised
Chris Smith into an error and then calmly slotted the ball
into the top corner. Hyde continued to dominate with Morley
and man of the match, Shane Killock outstanding at the heart
of their defence, whilst Steve Pickford and Innes produced
probing runs in midfield.
However they did have a piece of luck
right on half time when Adam Webster’s shot hit the base of
the post and rebounded to safety.
Troy Wood replaced Jamie Price for
Worcester at the break and immediately began to cause Hyde
problems on the left, as the visitors pushed forward, but it
was the Tigers who continued to create chances and after 60
minutes Seddon was just wide with
a screamer before he grabbed Hyde’s third three minutes
later after good work from Simm. Worcester were struggling to
tame the Tiger’s forwards, but came more into the game as
Simm and Tipton tired.
Belford made another excellent save from
Dale Johnson before Worcester burst upfield and pulled back an
opportunist goal on seventy six minutes from substitute Matthew
Dinshore, who had only been on the field three minutes.
It could have been better for Worcester two minutes later,
when Wilding only succeeded in heading against the bar, when
he should have scored.
As the entertaining game finished on a
high tempo, Belford again thwarted Johnson in the closing
stages and at last the Hyde fans had a good performance to
savour on their way home..
Hyde – Dootson,
Teague, Lynch, Morley, Killock, Innes, Cartwright, Pickford,
Tipton, Seddon, Simm. Subs – Clee, Johnson, Band, Warner,
Harrison.
Band for Lynch 56 Johnson for Simm 71
Clee for Tipton 79
Worcester City –
Belford, Clarke, Gill, Smith, Munday, Price, Ward,
Nwadike, Webster, Wilding, Clegg. Subs – Walker, Dinshore,
Wood, Colley, Burtoft.
Wood for Price 46 Dinshore for Webster 73
Referee – D.S. Bond, Wigan
Man of the Match – Shane Killock, Hyde
REPORT BY TONY
BEARD
26-02-08 REDDITCH UTD 3 HYDE UNITED 1 LGE att.312
The Tigers travelled to the inhospitable
surroundings of the Valley Stadium on Tuesday and produced an
inept display by failing to apply themselves on a difficult
pitch and duly came away with nothing.
Craig Dootson and Lee Cartwright were
both ruled out through sickness with Danny Holland making his
League debut in goal and Peter Band recalled in an unfamiliar
midfield role.
Hyde started the stronger and had the
come side on the defensive for large parts of the first
period, but couldn’t turn their superiority into goals.
However the home side were always dangerous on the break with
their direct style and Holland made a fine save as Scott
Rickards burst through. Redditch took the lead on twenty eight
minutes through Chris Murphy
after poor marking in the Tigers’ defence.
Within two minutes Gareth
Seddon had equalised after Andrew Teague had headed on
Chris Simm’s corner, but four minutes before the break, Hyde
conceded another goal when Scott
Rickards’ effort crept in at the far post.
In the second period, Hyde had lost much
of their early momentum and the erratic referee made a
succession of bookings as the game threatened to get out of
control. Matthew Tipton had the best chance of the half when
he rounded ‘Keeper, Danny Lewis but couldn’t find enough
power on his shot and the ball was scrambled away.
Murphy
grabbed his second on seventy two minutes after further poor
defending down the left side to seal the points for Redditch.
Substitute Dale Johnson headed against the bar late on but it
wasn’t enough for the off colour Tigers. The match finished
on a sour note when Nicky Clee was the victim of a bad
challenge for which Richard Softley was lucky only to receive
a yellow card.
Hyde – Holland,
Teague, Lynch, Morley, Killock, Innes, Band, Pickford, Tipton,
Seddon, Simm. Subs – Johnson, Clee, Russo, Warner, Harrison.
Redditch United –
Lewis, Clarke,
Edwards, Daly, Geoghaghon, Murray, Murphy, Downes, Forinton,
Rickards, Deakin. Subs – Softley, Johnson, Markman, Walker,
Evans.
REPORT BY TONY
BEARD