PARK ATHLETIC 1 AFC WOODLANDDS 1
Last Saturday the Woodlands travelled to Hull to face Park Athletic in what was to be the only game on in the league programme. Playing on a 3g pitch Park Athletic grounds man did a great job of clearing the pitch of snow so the game could take place. Woodlands went into this game knowing that a victory would see them leap frog South Cave to go top of the league. Woodlands however came unstuck but not through the lack of trying. The Goole side dominated for most of the game. Woodlands backline of Davidson, Kinghorn and the 2 Harrison's in Lee and Neil limited the Park Athletic strikers to one shot on target in the entire first half. Stannard in goal was more or less a spectator. Captain Gibbon saw himself in the middle of the park with veteran Hoare with Constable unavailable after a late withdrawal through injury. Hoare however didn't let his captain down as he stopped all that came before him leaving Gibbon to roam freely. Heywood and Andrew on the wings terrorised the Park full backs throughout backing up the front two of Huntington and Barker. Heywood however with all the silky skills and neat foot work couldn't hit a barn door. The wing wizard was 3 times clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat, but saw his shots go high, wide and straight at the keeper. frustration was beginning to get the better of the Goole side with manager Munday throwing tantrum after tantrum as he saw his side waste chance after chance. The breakthrough came on the half hour mark as a back pass saw the keeper hand ball the ball to give Woodlands an indirect free kick 6 yards from goal. Gibbon stroked the ball to Barker who smashed the ball home into the net to give the Goole side a deserved lead. Minutes later Davidson looked to have headed home number 2 but somehow the keeper saved it. Huntington then saw his effort blocked by the keepers feet on the goal line after thunderous stinging shot from Barker which the keeper could only parry down. It fell to Huntington who followed up brilliantly only to be defied by the keepers legs on the goal line. Half time saw Park Athletic make changes up front and they started to cause problems for Davidson and Kinghorn but the 2 kingpin men stood firm to deny Park. Park playing on a 3g pitch a great football surface found themselves half the time kicking the ball long. Woodlands on the other hand were playing some great football with Barker been the main threat up front. Gibbon was rallying on his side knowing that one more goal would kill Park off however Park defended like there lives depended on it. Veteran Hoare after a excellent game for the Woodlands gave way for fresh legs with Ramskill been introduced. It was the same old scenario though with chance after chance going begging. You just knew it was going to be one of those days. A lapse saw Woodlands Andrew dispossessed of the ball leaving Woodlands defence exposed at the back even then they defended brilliant but a ricochet of a shot past goal keeper Stannard saw the ball drop kindly for the Park defender who somehow prodded the ball into the empty net for one of the unluckiest goals Woodlands have ever conceded. All the hard work undone in a split second, however Woodlands will look back on this game knowing that the missed chances at the other end cost them a victory which they deserved but in the end the points were shared. Ellwood's Electricals Man of the Match award went to Lee Harrison.
