hallenafc

G.F.A. SENIOR AMATEUR CUP COMES TO HALLEN

TUESDAY 28th APRIL 2009

HALLEN RESERVES 2 HENBURY RESERVES 1

As expected, this was a local derby so it was keenly contested. Even so some challenges bordered on the brutal and, not surprisingly, the referee had six names in his book and it could have been more. That being said, none of the players complained (well, not TOO much anyway). It needed men to stand up and be strong and we had them in abundance which was probably the reason why we won this one. Pritch and Jointy did the destructive things well at the back after combining to give us an early scare when they left the ball for one another. In midfield we had Nicky No Mates and Derv who refused to give an inch.

On just two minutes we were lucky not to go behind when the aforementioned confusion in our defence left the Henbury striker in our box with just Dave Lane to beat but thankfully he put his effort the wrong side of the post. But our opponents were to take the lead after just ten minutes when a misplaced pass meant that we were caught on the break as we pushed forward. A delightful ball played inside Dan Hole say the player run on to it and slide the ball past our advancing keeper. But the reply from Hallen was immediate with Lee Fairman taking the ball deep into the left hand corner from where he did well to deliver a ball into the box that was met thunderously by the head of the determined No Mates and the keeper had no chance. Twenty minutes saw a good cross put in by Matt Davis but Alex Tierney shot over the bar. Three minutes later Graham Joint put in a good free kick from the right that was headed on by Griff to No Mates whose shot was blocked and the ball went to Derv who had a double opportunity one of which hit the post and the other was well blocked by the keeper.

On 27 minutes our pressure paid dividends as we went into the lead when Matty Davis did well in the right hand corner to feed the ball to Griff in the area. Many believed his initial control to be hand ball, but there was no doubting the end result as he swivelled and his sweet strike entered the roof of the net above the keeper who was a spectator.

On the hour, Henbury tried a shot from distance that wasn’t seen by Ebay until late so he did well to get a parry on it and fortunately the ball went to safety. There was now a period of unacceptable challenges which started with Woody’s over-the-top challenge in the right hand corner, and a similar one that resulted in Jointer having to come off. With ten minutes left, Griff shot from the left and the keeper could only parry the effort to No Mates whose shot landed at the feet of Lee Fairman who was ten yards out and the keeper to beat. Lee showed that he has all the qualities to be a first team striker as he fired over the top. From then Hallen fought well to survive the pressure as we endured seven minutes of added time.

Goals: Hallen Res. Summerill 11 mins; Griffiths 27 mins/ Henbury Res. 10 mins

Hallen Cautions: Sarr 18 mins; Pritchard 65 mins; Kondwani 90+4 mins

Hallen Substitutions: Kondwani for Sarr 58 mins; Wood for M Davis 67 mins; Still for Joint 77 mins

Hallen team: Lane 8; Joint 8; Hole 7; Pritchard 8; Summerill 9; S Davies 8; M Davis 7; Sarr 7; Fairman 7; Griffiths 7; Tierney 7 / Subs; Wood; 7 Kondwani 7; Still 7/ Subs not used: Browne; Banderin

M.O.M. Nicky Summerill