HOOK NORTON FC v TYTHERINGTON ROCKS FC

                                                            3.12.2011

                                                           MATCH REPORT

On a heavy pitch at The Bourne with a swirling south westerly wind, the conditions

were always slightly in favour of the team kicking uphill towards the clubhouse. Accordingly, Rocks just about edged the play in the first half when they effectively employed looping high balls to both wings in making attacks on the home penalty area. For their part, Hooky probably played the more attractive football but rarely if ever looked penetrative in the last third of the pitch. With each team cancelling out the efforts of the opposition, it looked as if there would be stalemate at the halfway stage but, with just one minute of the first period remaining, home keeper Joe Murrell found himself stranded in no man’s land on the edge of the penalty area when the visitors’ left winger Jack Smyth received a high cross ball which he deftly controlled before he advanced and then coolly lobbed Murrell to put Rocks ahead.

Half Time: Hook Norton FC 0 Tytherington Rocks 1

The second half continued very much in the same vein as the first half  but with the difference being that Hooky were continually taking the play to the visitors who nevertheless remained effective in withstanding such pressure by the employment of their obvious experience, their guile and their level of teamwork. Be that as it may, Marlon Kabi went close for Hooky in the 50^th minute when he burst into the opposing penalty area only to see his shot into the right hand corner well saved by Tom Sheppard.

Increasingly as the match progressed, Hooky advanced onto the away goal but they

were unable to  break down a resolute defence, well marshalled by centre half Andy Criddle. So, in the end it was Murrell’s slip which made the difference between

two well matched teams.

Full Time: Hook Norton FC 0 Tytherington Rocks 1

Geoff James