SWINEFLEET FC 6 HENSALL & KELLINGTON 3
A Semi-Final place in the Goole & Thorne Cup now awaits the ‘Fleet’ as they comfortably disposed of their Quarter-Final opponents, as expected.
In a first half totally dominated by Swinefleet, they enjoyed virtually all the possession, but were guilty of spurning good chances in this first half, to put the game well beyond the visitors.
A tremendous run from right back Liam Cooper on 11 minutes was nearly found by the through ball from Aaron Raymond, the Hensall goal-keeper swiftly off his line to collect. The scoring opened for Swinefleet on 15 minutes with Aaron Raymond heading in a near post header, following a Niall barker corner. Barker himself had a good chance on 19 minutes to extend the lead, latching onto a pass from Danny Nicholson, but his effort sailed over the Hensall bar. Swinefleet were close again on 23 minutes, this time a ball from Ryan Whitlam from the flank finding Cohen Vause, but his effort on was cleared off the line by a Hensall defender.
With Hensall mounting a rare attack forward, a penalty was awarded to them following a tackle by Swinefleet centre-half Will Sparkes. A yellow card for Swinefleet centre-back Archie Stephens then followed, and with the score now level at 1-1, the game was not going according to the script. A diagonal ball into the box from Raymond was nearly met by a brave diving header from Dale Noon on 32 minutes, but still Hensall clung on. With just 6 minutes of the half remaining, Whitlam beat his man down the left and fired across the keeper to give Swinefleet a half-time 2-1 lead.
Second half, Hensall came out with a real purpose, and a stunning free-kick on 48 minutes beat Swinefleet keeper Jamie Ward to level the scores. For the next 10 minutes, Swinefleet for the first time in the match, had some real defending to do. Left back Gareth Welsh had to make a last minute block in the penalty area, and both centre-backs Stephens and Sparkes had to make some timely interventions.
This was now the time for Swinefleet to consider introducing the quality from the bench of Keir Vause, Scot Jackson and Regan Allen. The pace of Vause was introduced on 58 minutes up front to replace the injured Noon, and 3 minutes later, Jackson was brought on at right-back following an injury to Cooper. The substitutes made an immediate impact. Vause scored on 63 minutes with a header from close range and scored again on 66 minutes, to put Swine3fleet 4-2 up. A disastrous own goal by the Hensall keeper on 70 minutes after a shot from the young Keir Vause, gave Swinefleet a 5-2 cushion. Further goals looked likely for the home side, but the keeper saved from Barker on 72 minutes, and substitute Regan Allen on for C.Vause, could quite easily have grabbed a hat-trick of goals in the last 20 minutes. A far post header from Hensall on 81 minutes made it a 5-3 score-line, but K. Vause scored Swinefleet’s sixth, and his hat-trick on 85 minutes, all within a 27 minute spell of coming on.
Whilst this was a win, it was not a vintage performance from Swinefleet and they know they will have to step up their performances in the next few weeks if they are to be serious challengers for the major honours this season. Man of the Match went to Keir Vause.
Next week Swinefleet face a tough Challenge Cup Quarter-Final at home against old bitter rivals, Brumby. All Players to meet at South Park for 12.30pm.
