by BruiseLee » Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:20 am
Here's the report on the Halifax website...
Hyde United: Report
Posted on: Sat 31 Jul 2010
Due to Hyde's link-up with Manchester City Reserves, their ground is plastered with advertising boards featuring Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways, which look rather out of place among the tower blocks and red brick housing of Greater Manchester.
The planes flying to and from Manchester Airport above the stadium wouldn't have seen too much in the way of excitement had they peered out of their windows as both sides battled to a hard fought 1-1 draw at Ewen Fields.
Hyde have looked like they were due for the Blue Square North departure lounge in recent seasons, with two disappointing campaigns under manager Neil Tolson, and they didn't do much to suggest otherwise for the season ahead after a resolute if unspectacular display.
On the day before Yorkshire day, it was Halifax who looked more at home across the pennines in the early stages of this war of the roses clash. Their 4-3-3 formation worked a treat for the first half-an-hour as the visitors outnumbered Hyde in the centre of midfield.
Jamie Vardy joined James Dean on the absentee list, while Mark Bower took the captain's armband and continued his promising centre-back partnership with Liam Hogan.
Danny Holland almost put the Shaymen into an early lead after four minutes but was denied by a good save from former Town stopper Craig Mawson. The 'keeper was on hand again after 37 minutes to spectacularly tip over Harry Winter's curling effort from 25 yards.
Triallist Ben Procter was busier though as he was given another chance to earn a contract, and impressed when saving from another former Halifax man, Ashley Stott, after 10 minutes. His strike partner Kyle Wilson fired across goal 10 minutes later after linking up well with Stott.
Procter pulled off another save from a Stott header after 35 minutes as Hyde assumed superiority before the inevitable happened and Stott found the net against his former club. After Tom Baker gave away possession in midfield, the ball was worked through to Stott who placed the ball calmly past the on-rushing Procter.
Simon Garner was then saved being sent-off as he was substituted on the referee's insistence just before half-time after hauling down Stott, who was clean through on goal.
Nick Gray had been previously brought on after 30 minutes for the injured Nathan Taylor, and the winger helped Town dominate proceedings early in the second-half as a series of long-range efforts were fired inaccurately in Mawson's direction.
There were certainly more shots coming from the visitors, but Mawson remained largely untested as the home side's defence held firm. Holland continued his hard work up-front, but without much reward, while Stott went close again when he fired just wide from the edge of the box after 70 minutes.
The hosts continued to be snappy in the tackle though, and kept a threat in attack with good movement from Stott and Wilson. Town's fitness levels were certainly tested with a sprinkling of crunching tackles before a melee ensued as Tom Baker's frustrating afternoon carried on.
Halifax maintained their pressure to the end though and were finally rewarded after a superb run from Hogan forced a penalty, and Holland tucked away a thoroughly deserved goal both personally and collectively.
Hyde: Mawson, D Stott, Smart, Lynch, Taylor, Burke, Lees, Thompson, A Stott, Wilson, Kay. Subs Not Used: McNiven, Burns (GK), Rick, Mooney, Lea, Traynor, Pollitt
Goalscorers: A Stott (41)
Shots On Target: 6, Shots Off Target: 4, Corners: 6
FC Halifax Town: Proctor, Hardy, Garner Plummer 44), Baker, Hogan, Bower (Riley 45), Taylor (Gray 30), Winter, Holland, Phelan (Marshall 45), Metcalfe. Subs Not Used:
Goalscorers: Holland (87), Shots On Target: 4, Shots Off Target: 10, Corners: 5
Attendance: 401
Tom Scargill
