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

DROYLSDEN 5 – 1 HUCKNALL TOWN

Blue Square North – Monday 13 April 2009

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods put already relegated Hucknall Town to the sword on a sunny Easter Monday in what seemed like a stroll in the park for Dave Pace's men, with five different individuals getting on the score-sheet.

The only blight of the afternoon was a failure to keep a clean sheet when Hucknall stalwart and leading scorer Danny Bacon registered a consolation mid-way through the second half, by which time Hucknall were already five down.

The Bloods got off to a flyer through Rory Patterson, who started where he had left-off against Hyde 48 hours earlier, by turning a defender on the edge of the box and shooting low into the corner, despite James Lindley getting a hand to it. This was inside the first two minutes, and given that the game kicked-off a few minutes early, some of the Butcher's faithful missed the goal!

However, only another 12 minutes had passed when the crowd had another goal to cheer, this time from an unlikely source as Carl Ruffer let fly with a dipping volley from outside the area, which beat Lindley all ends up.

Two minutes later and it was 3-0, when Jake Speight shot on the turn from the edge of the box, and many feared the worst for Hucknall.

However, to their credit, they re-grouped somewhat and introduced Bacon, who shot over on 36 minutes.

Steve Beck shot wide for the hosts before a Liam Brownhill back-header sold Craig Mawson short, and Rueben Wiggins-Thomas almost benefitted for Hucknall.

After the turn around, Steve Halford headed over from Jamie McGuire's corner, but Tony Gray made it 4-0 on 53 minutes when he converted from close range after Speight had returned McGuire's cross back into the danger area.

A mistake by Ruffer allowed Dave Kettle a run at goal, but he shot wastefully wide.

Nevertheless, usual service was resumed as Patterson volleyed straight at Lindley, but Ian Fitzpatrick reminded him how to do it on 69 minutes with a looping volley into the far corner over the ‘keeper to notch his first goal in his return to a Bloods' shirt following his move from Ashton United.

Then came Bacon's consolation with 14 minutes remaining, which meant there was still time for another Halford header to go too high, and Fitzpatrick twice went close with Deon Meikle shooting straight at Mawson in between times.

The result now sees the Bloods lying on the shoulders of AFC Telford United – two points behind, but with the Bucks having one game more to play. However, Telford have yet to play both Tamworth and Southport, and are only four goals to the better, so it's all to play for in The Bloods' final three league fixtures, commencing at Wetherby Road, Harrogate on Saturday.

With Stalybridge still in the mix for a play-off place, there promises to be a humdinger of a Tameside derby on Tuesday (21 April)!

TEAMS:

Droylsden

Mawson, Roche, Brownhill, Halford, Ruffer, Brown, Beck, McGuire (Morris, 58'), Gray (Fitzpatrick, 60'), Speight (Lamb, 60'), Patterson.

Unused Subs: Byron, Sorvel.

Hucknall Town

Lindley, Spriggs, Baxter, Meikle, Timons, Hawes, Wilson, Mitchell (Kettle, 58'), Bonnick (Bacon, 21'), Ward, Walters (Wiggins-Thomas, 37')

Unused Subs.: Frost, Sucharewycz

Referee: Mr. A. J. Madley (Ossett, West Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 307