SATURDAY 29th OCTOBER 2011
Hook Norton travelled to Bristol where they faced league leaders Tytherington Rocks in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 (West) and deserved at least a share of the spoils, however, as we all know in football you don’t always get what you deserve.
This has to be one of Hooky’s best performances in recent years and the players must take great credit for their performance against very good opposition.
The hosts started the better and went close after 8 minutes when Jack Smith hit a post with Ramos Pereira in the Hooky goal well beaten, the hosts continued to have the better of the game with Justin Bishop and Justin Pritchard a constant threat to the visitors goal.
Once Hooky settled and grew in confidence the two sides were very evenly matched and Hooky went close through Jason Tillcock on 17 minutes after good build up play involving James Robbins and Jonny da Silva, Tillcock had his shot on goal blocked by Tony Perry.
On 28 minutes Hooky took the lead after a fine left sided move involving first Jason Tillcock feeding James Robbins with the ball, Robbins ran at the defence and fed a perfectly weighted ball into the 18 yards box splitting the Rocks defence where Chris Tillcock coolly rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net, a deserved lead for the visitors.
Hooky then went close to doubling their lead five minutes later Ben Tew’s cross shot hitting the outside of the post with the keeper beaten.
On 40 minutes the same player did get on the score sheet meeting a James Robbin left wing cross and superbly heading the ball back across the goal into the bottom corner.
Tew also had a golden chance to increase Hooky’s lead just before the break heading wide from six yards out.
Half Time 0-2
Rocks got off to the perfect start in the second half and after a spell of pressure which Hooky failed to clear, the ball was eventually whipped in to the by full back Stuart Nelson for Tony Perry to head in at the near post on 53 minutes.
All be it Hooky created a couple of chances after conceding the goal, you always felt that the tide was turning, Hooky were beginning tire and Rocks had the scent of a victory
And on 80 minutes the inevitable came, a good Rocks move down the right involving Nelson and sub Alex Chapman gave the dangerous Bishop a tap in from six yards out to level the scores.
From then on it was wave after wave of Rocks attacking and Hooky’s brave effort finally came to an end two minutes into injury time as once again Chapman played in Bishop and his shot under pressure from Dan Cleeveley and Ramos Pereira going in the top corner to break Hooky’s hearts.
Full Time 3-2