The UNITS travelled to the best pitch in Kiddy, Lea Castle, to take on an always dangerous Hare & Hounds side which was potentially a season defining double header on a sunny bank holiday Sunday. The UNITS found themselves without skipper Taylor for the crucial two games as well as influential midfielders Newton and Ashton but still had a strong 17 players available as we lined up for game one: Tom, DJ, Ryan, Sean, Ben, Gilo, Azza, Coco, Jay, Seeks and Pountney. Subs were Si, Chinner, Baker, Greavesy and Trigger.
Both sides used the pitch well early, both playing good football and passing through the midfield. The movement of Seeks & Lewis were causing the H&H defence problems and Lewis had the game’s first chance, beating his man and firing inches wide from just inside the box. Hare & Hounds were making a game of it and Tom made two good but comfortable saves from shots from outside the box as the defence superbly marshalled by skipper for the day Millette kept Hare & Hounds quiet.
Playing only 30 minutes each way the opening goal was crucial and the UNITS opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a superb goal when some slick football down our left resulted in Seeks being threaded in down the flank, he raced into the box and fired a cross shot across the box and Lockhart broke from midfield to get in between the defenders and side foot home from 7 yards out, great team goal. The goal settled the UNITS and we moved the ball well for the rest of the half without getting the 2nd goal we needed, one Lockhart pass to Seeks resulted in our top scorer being clear in the box but the H&H keeper made a great save from Seeks 12 yard shot as we came in at HT 1-0 up.
HT H&H 0v 1 TS UNITS
Cuzer asked the lads for more of the same, 2nd goal was crucial as H&H were still dangerous so we also had to keep up our solid defensive work. We started on the front foot and Seeks, DJ and Lewis all went close in the opening 5 minutes before 5 minutes into the half Seeks beat his man and crossed low for Lewis to side foot home for his 2nd from 10 yards out. Tom then made a great save pushing a 25 yard effort onto the post as Hare & Hounds came back strong but minutes later on the counter we got the all-important 3rd when DJ went on one of his mazy runs before slipping in Lewis who finished clinically for his 2nd of the morning as we gave ourselves the all-important breathing space we needed.
Immediately after the goal Cuzer replaced Seeks and Lewis with Trigger and Greavesy and with 15 left So Hollick replaced Azza all like for like changes. We now controlled the game well playing some good stuff on a great surface and DJ who had a fine game added a 4th when he got away down the right, cut inside and had his shot saved by the keeper at the near post but the ball came back to him and he slotted home 2nd time of asking to complete a superb 4-0 win for the UNITS against a dangerous Hare & Hounds side.
Man of the match could have gone to plenty but with players out Ryan Smith came in and was asked to do a specific job which he did superbly with solid defensive work and excellent distribution from the back.
