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

DROYLSDEN 2 – 3 HINCKLEY UNITED

Blue Square Bet North – Saturday 17 September 2011

Report by Gary Owen

Hinckley showed great character to once again come back from two goals down, but Droylsden can only have themselves to blame for not securing the win to missed gilt-edged chances late on.

It all seemed plain sailing for the hosts on a pitch suffering from much surface water early on, but Ciaran Kilheeney opened the scoring in the fourth minute from close range after Danny Haystead had complained of a foul by Chris Brown at a Droylsden corner.

Hinckley then registered their first shot on target through Danny Newton, but it was routine stuff for Sean Lake – who at times looked like he was playing on one!

Moments later, though, Dale Johnson doubled the hosts’ lead when a long punt upfield was flicked on, and the ball sat up nicely for him to lift it over the stranded Haystead.

However, Hinckley gave themselves a lifeline when Jermaine Clarke collected a ball in the inside right channel to draw Lake and reduce the arrears from 16 yards.

Hinckley responded as Andre Gray stung Lake’s palms, but they did strike back when Jermaine Clarke kept his head to slot under Lake from 16 yards just two minutes before the break.

The goal clearly buoyed Hinckley after the break, as Lake had to save twice from Gray, and a Newton effort curled just wide of the mark.

Droylsden had their moments, too, and Kilheeney was thwarted by a dash off his line by Haystead, and the Droylsden forward then shot over after the conditions caused a Knitters’ defender to slip.

It was little surprise, though, when Jake Holt levelled matters on 77 minutes with his first touch when a long Hinckley free kick found him beyond the home defence.

Then came more profligacy from the home side, firstly when Johnson challenged Haystead and the ball rolled kindly to Kilheeney, but the usually reliable striker dallied and then stabbed horribly wide from 14 yards when a simple first time side footer looked favourite.

Connor Gudger could then have stole it for Hinckley, but Lake produced a smart one-on-one save, before Johnson inexplicably shot weakly wide from Jordan Gerrard’s pass. The Droylsden forward was probably expecting a flag, but the assistant decided he was onside.

Johnson was then upended in the box, but the referee had a good view and declined the claims, leaving Hinckley to counter and Danny Newton kept his cool to slot home in the fifth minute of added time.

TEAMS

Droylsden:

Lake, Anane, Logan (Holden, 29’), Brown, Hardiker, Hall, Poole, Killeen (Gardner, 64’), Kilheeney, Rowe (Gerrard, 77’), Johnson.

Subs. not used: Vaughan, Phillips.

Hinckley United:

Haystead, Oddy, Gudger, Dean (Holt, 76’), Reynolds, Lister, Newton, Kerry, Jermaine Clarke, Gray, Hendrie (Dudley, 62’).

Subs. not used: Jamal Clarke

ATTENDANCE: 265

REFEREE: Mr. M. Bristow (Prestwich)