Saturday 29th January 2005
Old Hill Town 4 Leamington Hibernian 1
Midland Combination Division One
At: Hingleys, Bluebell Road
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £1
Attendance: 25 (headcount)
Weather: cold, dry
Duration: first-half: 47:05; second-half:-
A devastating fire at The Moorlands earlier in the week forced the postponement of Stafford Rangers’ away game against Moor Green. Instead I headed to The Hingleys to see Old Hil Town entertain Leamington Hibernian in the Midland Combination Division One.
Entrance to the ground was from Bluebell Road and the pitch (orientated north-west–south-east) ran widthways on the near side of a larger playing field which also included a second football pitch and a rugby pitch. The near touchline, with dugouts on halfway, and both ends were railed off with the far touchline roped off. Behind the left-hand goal was a small area of cover and the ground boasted a terrace step behind the dugouts. Programmes and hot drinks were available from the changing rooms building.
Old Hill got the game underway attacking the cover end in the first half and took the lead just before the half-hour mark. Put clear by Wayne Dickinson, Karl Donneley got clear into the area and hesitated before lifting a rising shot over the keeper into the net as defender Marc Chung challenged.
It wasn’t until the 72nd minute that Old Hill doubled their lead. After Anthony Carter gave the ball away, Danny Pilgrim played a defence-splitting pass through to substitute Ashley Greenaway who got clear on the right and lobbed keeper Neil Thornton from 15 yards out.
The visitors reduced the deficit with a headed goal in the 84th minute. Carter delivered a free-kick into the area from the right for Cecil Godfrey to head across goal into the bottom left corner of the net.
However, Old Hill restored their two-goal advantage within three minutes. Greenaway exchanged passes with Danny Pilgrim before firing home a low shot from 10 yards which Thornton got a hand to.
Old Hill wrapped up the win with a fourth goal in stoppage time. Dickinson got into the area from the left and scored with a deflected shot that deceived Thornton.
Old Hill Town (navy blue / navy blue / sky blue): 1. Andy Tansley, 2. Richard Deeming, 3. Luke Paskin, 4. Mark Fortner (capt), 5. Chris Hickey, 6. Dave Boot, 7. Wayne Dickinson, 8. Karl Donneley, 9. Kyle Hadley, 10. Danny Pilgrim, 11. Chris Hill. Subs: 12. Dave Evans (for Hickey, 58), 14. Ashley Greenaway (for Boot, 67), 15. Stuart Butcher (for Hill, 76).
Leamington Hibernian (green with white sleeves / white / yellow): 1. Neil Thornton, 2. Anthony Carter, 3. Paul Dable, 4. Darren Newby, 5. Marc Chung (capt), 6. Sushi Thind, 7. Ashley Kitchen, 8. Danny Price, 9. Mark Holiday, 10. John Durmer, 11. Yaz Chippo. Subs: 12. Martin Goode (not used), 14. Liam Barry (for Carter, 84), 15. Cecil Godfrey (for Kitchen, 53).
Referee: –
Goals:
1-0 Karl Donneley (28)
2-0 Ashley Greenaway (72)
2-1 Cecil Godfrey (84)
3-1 Ashley Greenaway (87)
4-1 Wayne Dickinson (90+2)
Cards:
