Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

HYDE UNITED 3 - 4 DROYLSDEN

Manchester Premier Challenge Cup S/F, Monday 12th February 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Droylsden won through to the final of this year's competition following this humdinger of a cup tie at Ewen Fields.

However, for the opening twenty minutes or so it looked as though it could have been a long an tortuous night for the Bloods, as Hyde took a firm grip and an early lead on a matters.

Terry Fearns threatened briefly for the visitors, but the Tigers were swooping forward at every oppotunity, and on five minutes Gerry Harrison made progress down the inside left channel before feeding Gareth Seddon in space on the edge of the box, who made no mistake in slotting past Paul Phillips.

Nicky Clee then left fly, but was wide, and Clee was again involved on 15 minutes, but the resultant 'goal' was ruled-out by an offside flag.

Dave German, playing at left back, then cut inside to his favoured right foot, and the ball seemed to be dipping under the bar before Phillips thrust out a hand to tip over.

Phillips then saved well from Johnson as the Tigers went nap.

Hence, it was against the run of play when the Bloods hit two goals in the space of ninety seconds. Firstly, Blake Norton chested down the ball and beat Quigley in one sweet movement, before volleying past Craig Dootson with the aid of a deflection, which the official announcer ensured everyone in the ground was aware of. "It was a deflection" pronounced the amplified voice from the stands, but some of the noise emanating from that particular section of said erection was, on reflection, probably borne out of disaffection that his beloved Tigers' custodian had failed to gain any significant connection to Blake's classy projection!

Anyhow, the Bloods took the lead within seconds when Steve Daly bundled the ball home after good work by Norton and Fearns to make it two goals from two shots on target.

Just after the half hour mark, Dootson pulled-off a super save to his right to deny Steve Halford as Hyde failed to clear a Droylsden corner as the Bloods took more of a hold on the game.

Gareth Morris struck just wide as the Bloods finished the first half on the ascendancy, and they began the second in the same way by extending their lead. Fearns left Lincoln Adams for dead on the wing and crossed for Daly to steer a header away from Dootson and into the far corner.

On 65 minutes, though, Paul Gedman was presented with a great chance to reduce the arrears for the Tigers, but he could only shoot straight at Phillips, before Phillips denied Seddon with a fine double save as the Tigers finally woke up to the prospect of losing a grip on the trophy they won last year.

Dale Johnson then shot over when well placed after good work by Nathan Wharton, but Gedman did reduce the arrears on 71 minutes when the Bloods failed to fully clear a free kick into the box.

Eleven minutes from time, Fearns ran at Adams once again, this time from a pass by Daniel Warner. Adams seemed to be in control of the situation, but then gifted possession to Fearns, and the ball fell to Daly, who made no mistake in restoring the Bloods' two goal cushion.

Seddon should have responded almost immediately, but Phillips smothered the ball on the line, but Hyde did set-up a tense finished when Seddon notched his brace with six minutes remaining, but the Bloods held firm to secure a final date with either Flixton or Oldham Town.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 8, Vaughan 6, Warner 7, Halford 7, Burke 7, Morris 7, Norton 8, Lynch K. 6, Fearns 8, DALY 9, Williams 7.

SUBS: Robinson (not used), Jagielka 6 (for Lynch, 60), Tandy 7 (for Vaughan, 54), Rapley (not used), Ruffer (not used).

HYDE UNITED: Dootson, German, Quigley, Adams, Taylor, Wharton, Harrison, Howarth, Johnson, Seddon, Clee.

SUBS: Gedman (for Howarth, 46), Rick (for Wharton, 91), Lynch C. (for Quigley, 54), Brackenridge (not used), Davis (not used).

SCORERS:

DROYLSDEN - Norton (22), Daly (23,53 and 79)

HYDE UNITED - Seddon (5), Gedman (71 and 84)

REFEREE: Mr. C. Harwood (Manchester)

ATTENDANCE: 298