Post by Dave on Nov 17, 2012 10:17:34 GMT
Hookhills V Kingsteighton Athletic 2nds 27/10/2012
South Devon League 2nd Division Venue Whiterock Kick-Off 2.30pm
Memo to self, the sky may well look blue and the sun shinning brightly looking through the window, but that does not mean it’s a nice warm day outside. Boy was that wind blowing in from the sea cold today, I think I’m getting to old to be standing out in some park on a Saturday afternoon, just to watch a game of football. The problem was I needed the sun at my back to take the pictures I wanted and that meant on the side of the pitch I was standing, it was in the shade and standing there I just felt bitterly cold. My poor little fingers wished they could have been inside my fleece pockets, rather than having to be out operating my camera.
But I’m glad I braved the cold because I was treated to one of the best quality games of football at this level I have watched in a good number of years. I do think the new Hookhill pitches have helped as far as being able to play good football on them is concerned, but in saying that, Hookhills are a very good passing side who won today’s fixture with ease.
The first twenty or so minutes of the first half were pretty uneventful; Hookhills looked the far better side, but never really created any clear cut chances. They should have taken an early lead when they were awarded a penalty, but their number six put the spot kick wide of the left hand post.
But they took the lead soon after that missed spot kick and it was my man of the match number ten (Gasser) who got the opening goal. He was in the box with the ball at his feet and the keeper came rushing out, Gasser coolly took the ball around him and rolled it into the empty net.
Hookhills number four made it two nil after some very poor goal keeping from the Kingsteighton keeper. The ball was heading his way high in the air with no real pace on it and it looked an easy jump into the air and catch. He caught the ball just above his crossbar but seemed to drop it on the way down. Looking at my pictures I could not really make my mind up if Hookhills number four headed the lose ball home, or if the keeper put it into his own net. But all the players went and congratulated number four so I suppose he must have put the ball into the net.
Goal number three for Hookhills was not too long in coming, one of the Kingsteighton players looked like he may have been fouled some 30 or so yards from goal. For a split second everyone seemed to stop expecting the ref to blow for the foul, but Hookhills number ten carried on and with the keeper off his line some way, lobbed him from just outside the box.
It was all one way traffic and the only question was would Hookhills get a forth goal before the break. They did just that aftar a low cross came into the box from the left hand side and their number four was perfectly placed to fire the ball home.
The ref blew for halftime and I decided to wonder around to the other side of the pitch to try and warm up in the sun a bit. While it was certainly much warmer over that side, the low sun made taking pictures from there impossible, so I had to wonder back to the cols side of the pitch.
What ever the KIngsteighton manager said to his players at halftime it seemed to have worked as they started the second half much better than they did the first one. For a good while they pressed Hookhills back into their own half and looked the more likely of the two sides to get the next goal.
They then won a spot kick after there was a clear push on one of their players in the box, it was not a hard push but the ref had no choice but to give it, despite the loud protests from the Hookhills keeper. The ref rightly had a word in the keeper’s ear and when the spot kick was taken the keeper was sent the wrong way with the ball flying high into the top hand opposite corner of the goal.
Was this going to be a game of two half’s with a remarkable comeback from the Kingsteighton side? NO as Hookhills once again took full control of the match with some wonderful passing and good movement off the ball. Gasser was put through clean in on goal from a long ball and looked certain to score, but put his shot just wide of the far hand post.
But when Hookhills number ten found himself in the same position, he made no mistake what so ever. To be fair his job was made so much easier as the Kingsteighton keeper came rushing out of his box into no mans land and got nowhere near the ball. It was a simple shot into the empty net for number ten.
Very soon after this Hookhills made it five goals to one and this time the goal came after the ball was swung in deep to the far post from a corner and their number five was left with the easy job of just drilling the ball over the line
The Kingsteighton keeper then made a number of fine saves but could do nothing when Gasser was put through on another long ball. This time Gasser made no mistake and slotted the ball past the keeper and into the net.
Do not think I have ever been so glad to hear a the final whistle from the ref and I quickly put my camera away and with hands now firmly in my fleece pockets, headed back to my car and the first thing I did was put the heater on then tune the radio to the Radio Devon Station.
I was happy to learn we were one goal up, but having now read PeteF thoughts on the Torquay game, I think I’m glad I’m broke and having to get my football fix on our local parks. Winning is the name of the game, but on such bitterly cold afternoons, being entertained is a vial factor as well.
Some match pictures.
