The morning started with a light covering of snow over the pitch but it very quickly melted prior to the kick off. The weather was dry but a wind made it feel very cold.
Tenth Lock got off to a very positive start and created several early chances before a lapse in Tenths defence left Hadcrofts striker through on goal after 3 minutes to score 0 – 1. Hadcroft then had the bit between their teeth and sent in wave after wave on the Tenths Goal but were unable to convert any chances because of Tenth Keeper Martin Fletcher and the back four, the woodwork and very poor finishing from Hadcroft. The Tenth lock started to get back into the match and equalised on 36 minutes when James Alliband launched a screamer from outside the box that struck the inside of the left hand post and was deflected by the Hadcrofts right back into the back of the net 1 – 1. From this point it was all Tenth Lock and their determination finally paid off right on the stroke of half time when the ever running James McAllister split open the Hadcroft defence and scored 2 – 1.
Half Time 2 – 1
The second half started in a similar way to the end of the first half with The Tenth giving up on nothing chasing down everything. James Alliband was replaced by Craig Hunt who started to make an impact immediately, if it had not been for 2 excellent saves from the Hadcroft keeper the Tenth could have been 2 or 3 goals clear however their persistency finally paid off when Craig Hunt sprung through the Hadcroft defence and planted the ball into the back of the net on 75 minutes 3 – 1. Lee Ledington was replaced by Haydon Baker and everything looked to be going the Tenths way but the players started to run out of steam and allowed Hadcroft back into the match. Hadcroft scored on 80 minutes 3 – 2. Hadcroft then equalised on 85 minutes 3 – 3. Not to be outdone Tenth had one final surge with James McAlister hitting right back on 86 minutes 4 – 3. The lack of stamina in the Tenth Lock players was showing and the fitter Hadcroft players were putting all the pressure on the Tenths Defence and equalised again on 88 minutes 4 – 4. With only seconds to go another attack saw the Hadcroft striker bought down in the area a penalty was awarded and converted 4 – 5. This was a bitter blow to the Tenths players who had been more than a match for the Hadcroft.
Full Time 4 – 5
Next Match Sunday 26th February 2012 10.30am KO at Wordsley Park against Dudley Red Cow in the League.
