HOPFLOWER UNITED...0 BOYTHORPE...2.
With the recent run of league games beginning to take its toll on his team, Benny found himself with the mother of a selection headache to put a side together here at Hopflower Utd tonight. Injuries, work and absenteeism left him with JUST 12 PLAYERS including HIMSELF and several players carrying an injury had to be put on the teamsheet, which also had Martyn Higginbottom on it, although he was trapped in the car park at Alton Towers as the players met for the short journey to Hady Lane for the 6-30 kick off.
Rain had fell quite heavilly the previous night and had drizzled for most of the day, making the surface very slick, with the ball skidding off the pitch at great pace, it was going to make it VERY interesting for the players, and everybody who braved the weather to watch. Benny opted to start himself as sweeper, the reason being at the age of 52 and playing against a VERY young team, he just didnt know how long he was going to last, so it was seen as the best of the deals he had on the table as Boythorpe were going for a FIFTH win on the bounce, and are STILL in a very good position to take the League Title.
With Hopflower kicking downhill the defence were called into action straight away with Hardy and Bennett clearing the lines. Furniss turned a good effort away for a corner as the young players from Hopflower pushed forward. Miles and Whitehead were proving very capable full backs, but were restricted going forward too far and leaving the centre backs exposed to quick breaks. Goodwin was winning many of the ariel duels in the middle of the park and the two Bennett brothers worked well together, with Scott holding the ball up well up front. Whitehead, who was carrying an injury from the start had to leave the pitch after just 10 minutes, Benny played him short with a ball with both players under pressure, he overstretched going to win the ball, and after treatment had to be replaced with the only substitute available at the time. Phil Cartwright who came on and after a quick reshuffle was put into midfield with Goodwin dropping back slightly to cover his defenders. Boythorpe began to create chances, Megyesi began to threaten with Widerman and Wright forcing the home keeper into some good saves. Just after the half hour the Blues took a deserved lead following a series of corners, Shane Bennett swung the corner towards the near post and GOODWIN outjumped the home defence to head home his FIFTH league goal this season.
Boythorpe pushed forward spurred on by this and added to the lead just 6 mins later, a direct free kick was given away some 30 yards from goal, and although the home keeper set his wall, SHANE BENNETT blasted an unstopable shot into the top left hand corner of the net with the keeper grasping at fresh air given NO CHANCE. Benny at this time also found he needed to be replaced by Martyn Higginbottom, who had eventually arrived some 37 mins late. this gave the defence a little more mobility and they saw out the last 8 mins to the break. HALF TIME Hopflower United...0 Boythorpe...2.
As they started the second half it was obvious it was going to be a struggle as Widerman and Wright's injuries were playing them up and thier mobility was very restricted. They were instructed to play the ball down the lines at every opportunity and to clear thier lines and not too dally about inviting pressure. Widerman was still running at the hosts defence with Megyesi and Miles pushing down the left flank. As the game wore on Shane Bennett also began to limp as his groin starteds to play up. The Blues players were starting to feel the pressure as a combination of tirednes and injuries began to take its toll. They were starting to get over run and as they cleared the ball it kept coming back at them. Overall it was a full blooded no nonsense performance and EVERY player played thier part. All of them deserved the 9 out of 10 marks and they have just TWO more games to play, and after this result there is clear water between Boythorpe and THIRD placed Holmebrook Tavern Reserves. FULL TIME Hopflower United...0 Boythorpe...2 The players nw have a welcome FIVE days rest till meeting Hopflower AGAIN this time at Somersall Park.
