Post by Dave on Mar 14, 2015 9:36:03 GMT
Lidstone Cup Quarter Final
Hookhills United V Harbertonford
Saturday 14th March 2015 Kick-Off 2pm
Venue Galmpton Memorial Ground
Match Referee Keith Hawkins
Final Score Hookhills United 0 Harbertonford 1
I decided to cover another Lidstone quarter final match today; two weeks ago I covered a game from the other side of the draw that saw Ashburton thrash Abbotskerswell by nine goals to nil.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/462/lidstone-abbotskerswell-ashburton-28th-2015
I have not covered any Hookhills games this season, in fact you have to go back to the 26th October 2013 to find the last time I watched them play. That match was against Stoke Gabriel 3rds played at Whiterock and a game they lost by four goals to one
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/364/hookhills-united-stoke-gabriel-october
I have covered one Harbertonford game this season, a Herald Cup 2nd Round match against the mighty Waldon Athletic from the premier division on the 29th November 2014. They lost by two goals to one. I was impressed that day with how well Harbertonford played against a team two division higher, they were unlucky to lose that day and showed what a good side they can be.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/430/herald-harbertonford-waldon-29th-2014
Both teams are not doing to well in the league this season, so I’m sure a chance to play in a cup final, must be very welcoming. Hookhills United are in eleventh place in the league, they have played thirteen games winning five of them, drawing none and losing eight. They have scored a total of twenty eight goals and have conceded forty nine.
Harbertonford are in tenth place in the league, but have played three more games than Hookhills. They have won five, drawn one and lost ten. They have scored thirty five goals and conceded thirty eight.
Both teams enjoyed fine away wins in the league last Saturday. Hookhills did well to beat Waldon Athletic 3nds by three goals to two, a team higher up the league table. Harbertonford were able to leapfrog lowly South Brent in the table by beating them one nil.
The sun was out at 2pm but by the time the match ended, it was bitterly cold and dull. I’m sure one of the teams would not have cared about the conditions if the game had gone to extra time and it so nearly did. My thanks to the ref for all his help today and thanks to both sets of managers for putting the correct numbers on the team sheet.
I half expected a game full of goals but that was not the case and for such a long time, I was not sure where any goal were coming from. Both sets of players were working hard and there were many battles that needed to be won and were, but there were so few real goal scoring opportunities. Lots of names ended up in the referees book, but this was not a dirty game by any stretch of the imagination, the referee simply was not allowing any backchat.
Right from the off Hookhills went on the attack and a good shot was hit from the edge of the box that flew over the crossbar. But as the half wore on Harbertonford slowly but surely were getting on top. Their right winger number seven Daniel Bovey was a constant threat to the Hookhills defence.
Hookhills number seven Jason Bunicott hit a fine shot from the edge of the Fords box but he had to stand and watch as the ball just went over the crossbar.
Up the other end and Fords number nine Tom Weymouth was played in on a one on one with Hooks keeper Stepiton Broome and maybe should have put his side in front. But much credit has to be given to the keeper who stood up big and strong and made a fine blocking save.
That was it for the first half, plenty of hard work and nothing to show for it for either side. Fords started the second half much the better team but failed to create very much in front of goal. Tom Weymouth would have been better off wearing a hi vis jacket and a flashing light on his head as his team mates constantly failed to look up and see the space he had made for himself deep in the Hookhills half. If they had them I’m sure he would have put his team in front.
The Hookhills lads were still very much in the tie and thought they had scored only to see the goal ruled out for offside. Harbertonford brought on number seventeen Robin Dart, a big strong lad who soon found out he was the first name going into the ref’s book. He had been spoken too twice before committing another foul on the halfway line.
Hookhills came close to getting that first and all important goal when Paul Bramwell hit a fine shot that just went wide of the post. But shortly after this a bad defensive mistake saw Harbertonford take the lead.
It looked a simple and easy back pass to the Hookhills keeper to deal with, but he was slow to deal with it and did not seem aware that Robin Dart was close by. Robin robbed the lose ball from the keeper and fired the ball home into the empty net. It was a shame for the Hooks keeper who had up until that point a good game.
Then four players found their names going into the book after one foul was committed that resulted in one of those handbag moments. Fords Benjamin Palmer along with Hookhills Gary Muens and Mark Feesby went straight into the book and then the ref booked Tom Weymouth before he resumed the match.
Two more Ford players ended up getting booked, Adam Goodliffe and Daniel Bovey and the ref had not finished taking names. Three minutes into injury time added onto the second half, Hookhills thought they had equalised. The ball was headed home from close range but the lineman had put his flag straight up for offside. For his protests Liam O’Sullivon then found his name being added into the book.
A good game to watch and good luck to Harbertonford in the semi final.
