After a very disappointing performance on Sunday, Sacriston had an immediate chance to put things right against Hilda Park in the Premier League. The gaffer made a couple of changes to the line-up with Davey Wardle and Adam Wilson going into the defence and Gavin Bowen starting in centre midfield.
Sacriston started the brighter of the two sides and were looking a threat all over the park. This threat led to a few corners where Sacriston were looking dangerous with Winter and Renwick winning most headers that came into the box. On 15 minutes this early pressure resulted in a goal. Cute Chris Mordue floated a corner in that was cleared by Hilda. Davey Wardle read the clearance and pinched the ball off their striker before playing a good ball back to the corner taker Mordue - who was wearing some dazzling new yellow boots. The little bobby dazzler took a touch before whipping a delightful ball into the box where David Winter bulleted a header into the bottom corner to give Sacriston a 1-0 lead.
Sacriston continued to pressurise Hilda Park with Sam Renwick bullying the two centre halves who could not handle his sheer power and pace. Sam then created the next opportunity on 20 minutes when he floated a lovely ball across the pitch to Winter who cut in on his left foot before firing high and wide.
In stark contrast to Sunday, the defence was looking very comfortable, with Wardle and White looking solid alongside each other at centre half. The work rate all over the park was exceptional and it was clear to see the lads wanted to make amends for their last performance. On 25 minutes Sacriston got a deserved second goal. The phenomenally beautiful Chris Mordue played in another dangerous corner which dropped to the back post where Winter controlled and crossed the ball back into the box. Luckily, the ball just curled over the keeper and dropped into the back of the net and gave Sacriston a 2-0 lead.
The game then turned scrappy, and Hilda Park managed to force a few free kicks in dangerous positions. On 33 minutes a Hilda Park winger played a good ball into the box but Sacriston’s very own Park was at hand to dive and punch the ball away before the opposition striker could get his head on the ball.
The half-time whistle was blown and gaffer Forster and assistant gaffer Summers were delighted with the performance and urged the lads to continue the same in the second half.
Sacriston continued to boss the game and Winter had his chance to get a hat trick but his goal-bound shot was blocked after good work down the wing from Ryan Bell. To freshen things up, on 60 minutes Teddy Murphy and Sam Fenwick came on to replace Gav Bowen and Ryan Bell. Sacriston finally got their third goal of the game on 65 minutes when Sam Renwick muscled his way into the box and blasted a shot towards goal that the keeper could only parry out. The ball was picked up by Winter, who took his time, copied his brother by doing a little cha-cha-cha before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net for his hat-trick.
On 70 minutes Sacriston made a triple substitution, with Sanderson, Winter and Lisa Renwick replaced by McCauley, debutant Walton and club superstar Gav Richardson.
The remainder of the game was totally dominated by Sacriston and the score-line could have been increased. The Hilda Park defence at this point were becoming tired of the beautiful brothers Renwick and Mordue tormenting them upfront. On 75 minutes the fine tin was left smiling after Sam Fenwick missed a good opportunity at the back post following a good one-two from Adam Wilson and Chris Mordue down the left. Sam Renwick was unlucky not to extend his goal tally for the season as the opposition goalkeeper kept the score at 3-0.
On 85 minutes Mordue almost scored a goal of the season contender, but his 30 yard volley was smartly saved from the Hilda Park keeper. On 90 minutes Hilda Park broke clear of the Sacriston defence for the first time in the entire match but the impressive Park was at hand to dive at the feet of their striker to keep his clean sheet that he and the defence deserved.
The full-time whistle went and a very confident performance from Sacriston earned them their first three points in the Premier League. What was pleasing about this performance was how dangerous Sacriston looked on the attack and really they should have scored more on the day. The defence was also very impressive, with Davey Wardle leading the troops to victory. Next up for Sacriston is a short trip to rivals The Britannia on Sunday – always an entertaining encounter!
