County 2 Hyde FC 0 ( Conference North) 14 February 2015
I guess that
you will be wanting an update on the Mars One project, which last time I
mentioned it, had 200000 assorted human beings listed as willing to make the
one way trip to the Red Planet!
Well......that
number will be down to 100 on Monday, and ultimately 24, who will set off, in
teams of four, for( but not return from) their final resting place, which at
any one time can be anything twixt 33million and 249 million miles from Earth.
Thus far NASA, who are not running this `once in a lifetime’ gasser, and indeed
every other suitably qualified space agency, have not sorted the small matter of
landing people or masses of equipment or food on the planet as yet ( which
probably accounts for the fact that in aiming to raise £4bn the chancy trip has
only thus far achieved 500k). Even so the organisers ( who will be staying here
on Earth, you may be surprised to learn) have set 2025 as their date for
landing their first team !
So....as
suicide missions go that one`s about the best there is, but there were those in
and around SK3 who fancied Hyde`s mission to Edgeley Park for today`s game was
pretty much in the same vein. However......despite our visitors shipping goals
for fun and sporting a negative goal difference of 43, I was not inclined to
think that anything other than giving our Tameside neighbours maximum respect
would do for County!
To be fair
to County that`s just about how they played it, playing within themselves for
much of the time( or appearing to do so anyway), taking the points relatively comfortably
thanks to a goal each from Kristian Dennis and Danny Glover. Apart from these
strikes not a lot of great significance went on- County were never really
troubled by a side that appeared in precisely the correct
position........namely at the foot of the table, although we were denied a
blatant penalty late on....but more of this later!
But.....a
busy week lies ahead, and this is a good start, and apart from an injury to
Fagbola probably did not over tax our resources too much, and Wilkinson will now
be available, so I am again happy to say
`well done’ to the blues for a workmanlike performance that keeps us in the
promotion hunt with a shout!
The opening
minute saw a minor flurry at both ends, with Duxbury spilling possession to
Hyde, allowing Ben Holmes to get a shot off. It failed to trouble Hurst, but
even so was not a great start. Glover tried his best to immediately put things
right, but his run, whilst taking him clear, also prompted the Pop Side liner
to raise his flag- offside ending the break.
A Moses/
Sharp move came next, but keeper Ed Wilcyznski dealt with Sharp`s cross fairly
easily, and Dennis skimmed the bar with an effort not long after, as County
strove to impose themselves.
County kept
the forward push going via a lovely ball from O`Halloran , but Dennis`s run on
the end of it was curtailed by a neat bit of work by Gregory, whose tackle saw
the County forward off. The County attacking impetus continued however, if
without end product, Perry Ngi hurriedly clearing his lines as Glover struggled
to get a shot off on the turn in the box.
The first
ten minutes ended with a small scare as Duxbury was slow to react with Connor
Hughes ( who I made Hyde`s top man by a mile) latching onto a loose ball. It
was a definite chance of sorts, but Hughes snatched at it, and slammed his
cross much too hard into the box, where it was cleared.
Shortly
after this, the action switched ends with Hurst picking out Sharp with a meaty
clearance. Sharp headed it on giving Woolfe a decent run on goal. He got a shot
in right enough, but the keeper was well positioned and kept it out without
undue difficulty.
The County
pressure continued with Moses combining neatly with Glover who was unlucky to
see his shot deflected past the post.
Meanwhile....Dennis
was working hard ....getting on the end of a through ball from Duxbury....but
that pesky Pop Side liner stopped him again with a wave of his flag. That was
frustrating....as was a move moments later initiated by Woolfe, but laid waste
by Duxbury`s final ball that eluded all comers.
County were
now slowly building up a head of steam, aided a time or two it must be said by
just about the slackest back line I have seen for some time.....and Wilcyznski
did really well to win the race with Woolfe and Dennis for yet another loose
ball in the danger zone!
It went on
in the same vein.....Churchman winning possession ...sending Glover, then Sharp
in. Sharp won a corner from this, but it was wasted.
A Woolfe
run.....a Sharp shot followed.....then a neat link-up between Churchman and
Sharp that won another corner, but when Sharp`s header from this missed by a
foot or so, we had reached the half hour mark with the score still 0-0.
There did
not seem any real need to be alarmed at the blank score line, as County were
playing well enough, but the position is not a secure one, so a goal soon would
be of paramount importance, but the 31 st minute saw Glover`s header just miss
out, with the keeper beaten, after Woolfe had combined nicely with Dennis!
The 34th
minute saw Glover send a free kick down the keeper`s throat, which was
disappointing, but the next action, a couple of minutes later was anything but
disappointing, as another lapse at the back from the men in red saw Dennis home
alone in the box, with just Wilcyznski to beat......he did.....and it was 1-0!
Within
seconds it could well have been 2-0......it certainly should have been a
corner......but Dennis`s shot , from another defensive slip by Hyde, although
having been touched by the keeper before whizzing on over the bar, resulted in
only a goal kick!
County piled
forward after this, and they were grateful to Fagbola who was correctly
positioned to deal with a break from Hughes midst the wave of blue attacks,
which still went on with Sharp picking Woolfe out, and the keeper doing well to
keep his shot out!
Lees and
Fagbola did enough to see Hughes off next, Lees charging forward but being just
unable to get in position for a shot.....it was frustrating, but by no means as
frustrating as what happened next.....
We were into
added time, and County had not been troubled at all thus far by what looked to
be as insipid an attack as any defence could ever wish to be confronted by. But
County have an occasional habit of switching off around break time and this
seemed to be another of those occasions as Boyle and Gregory surged forward
with County standing off to a man. It was alarming and looked a nailed down
equaliser as Boyle made it deep into the box where he blasted his shot off. It
was on its way in....no danger.....it was 1-1....and then it wasn`t as somehow
Hurst got a hand to it and pushed the ball around the post.
The corner
was cleared but not before Fagbola had to be replaced by Todd ,having sustained
an injury in the preceding excitement!
That was that
for the first half though, and with County kicking towards the Cheadle End in
the second half, there was much to look forward to.
It took
County just 2 minutes to increase their lead after the re-start, and again lax
play from Hyde was at the root of it...Pearson surrendering possession lamely
in midfield, sending Woolfe off on a run. At the edge of the box.....Woolfe
released his cross ,and it was a belter ...picking Glover out with something
approaching precision.....Glover then applied the perfect finish...his header
sailing gloriously beyond the keeper`s best attempts to keep it out! It was
2-0, and a promising second half beckoned!
Credit to
Hyde......Holmes did have a go down the right...outpacing both Moses and
Duxbury to test Hurst with a decent cross. County survived that one, and hit
their opponents hard on the break shortly after. Set up by more gloriously
inept defending by Hyde...Woolfe had another opportunity to run at `em down the
flank...again he picked out Glover ...and again a header resulted ,but this
time it rattled the bar- a real escape for the leagues bottom club!
County were
up for it now, and Brizzell did well to keep Dennis from reaching a through
ball from Duxbury .....he did less well several minutes later- upending Glover
as he darted clear. We had a free kick of course, but when Sharp lifted his
shot into our midst in Row R any chance was gone.
I was just
thinking how Hurst might better occupy his time by having a read or a sit down,
when this arrogance was dealt a beefy blow, as Hughes burst clear with blue
shirts parting obligingly as he went. It looked a goal chance.....a really
decent one...but somehow Hurst kept it out with a really brave save. Boyle`s
follow up was deflected for a corner, which O`Halloran headed clear, but that
little period had been a wake- up call for the blues....would they respond to
it?
Well.....Sharp
went close from another Woolfe cross, but both these players were subbed
shortly after....Woolfe replaced by Lofthouse......Sharp by Spencer. Glover
stayed on but was unlucky to see a shot on the turn miss out by an inch or so.
Hughes
remained the one Hyde player capable of doing something, but thankfully Lees
was in good nick and did well to thwart the number eleven and keep him out.
Meanwhile
Spencer was warming up......slamming a shot over the bar on 78
minutes............then inches away from reaching a through ball from Moses
before the keeper two minutes later.
Gyferin did
have a shot charged down after Duxbury had fired an aimless ball up field, but this
was not typical of how it was going, although Hyde were trying to play
themselves back into it.
No.....although
as I say Hyde were trying....the better chances surfaced at the other end where
Spencer again lifted a shot over the bar after being sent clear by Glover.
County were
down to ten for a time when Lees had to go off for a kit change and some
attention to a cut, but they weathered this notional storm well enough.
Soussa
looked lively late on, and Hurst had a rare shot to stop on 89 minutes, but when
Hughes dragged his shot well wide deep into added time, I found myself thinking
that that was the end of the excitement for the afternoon......I was wrong
again!
Back came
County..... Glover....on to Spencer.....and a clumsy challenge from Brizzell had
the County man flat out! It was a penalty and I reached for my camera( having
put the lens cap on) and prepared for a great pic! Bugger me....referee Joe
Johnson was brandishing a card and waving it at Spencer, which was ridiculous.
I know Spencer has previous as far as falling down is concerned, but a foul is
a foul, but I guess the referee remembered him from earlier games and made his
decision accordingly!
I looked on
to see Brizzell consoling Spencer, which spoke volumes, but I guess was
absolutely no consolation.
It
galvanised Hyde a tad though......Hughes picking out Gyferin with a
cross....but not quite enough as the shot that followed missed the target.
Not long
after this, the final whistle brought proceedings to a close...the points were
all ours, and the weekend was made!
So....Runcorn
on Monday......and...notionally.....Bradford Wednesday next week....totally
unmissable !
County line
up;
Hurst,
Fagbola ( Todd 45), Lees, O`Halloran, Duxbury, Moses, Churchman, Woolfe (
Lofthouse ), Sharp ( Spencer 72), Dennis, Glover.
Subs not
used:
Ormson, Baker.
Hyde line
up:
Wilcyznski,
Riley, Brownhill, Brizzell, Perry Ngi ,Gregory( Soussa 73), Gyferin, Pearson,
Boyle( Bentham 71) , Holmes, Hughes.
Subs not
used:
Broadbent,
Masterson, Pritchard.
Attendance: 3041
Ian Brown
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