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Saturday 1st December 2007
Conference North
| Hyde United | 5 | Seddon (11, 46), Tipton (12), Simm (80, 84) |
| Hinckley United | 2 | Johnson (81), Edwards (83) |
Attendance: 402
Hyde United: Craig Dootson, Chris Brass, Peter Band, David Morley, Craig Robinson, Mark Innes (Nathan Wharton), Dale Stephens, Steve Pickford (Dale Johnson), Matthew Tipton, Gareth Seddon (Chris Simm), Nicky Clee. Subs not used: Gerry Harrison, Chris Lynch.
Hinckley United: Bowles, Roma, Lenton, Lavery, Byron, Platnauer, Story, Storer, Marrison, Kelly, Edwards. Subs: Jackson, Johnson, Philpott, Shilton, Belford. Sent Off: Marrison
The Tigers bounced back to form after their debacle at Vauxhall last week with an emphatic victory over Hinckley United at windswept Ewen Fields. They made it 12 goals in their last three league games to pose the question, what crisis?
Although this was an exciting match, the game was always simmering just under the surface and Hinckley showed lack of discipline when they needed it. None more so than Colin Marrison. After being given two opportunities to retreat ten yards from a free kick, he was booked. Eventually walking slowly away he uttered an expletive to referee Mr Sheffield and was promptly shown a straight red card. Abject stupidity in the extreme. The referee had an excellent match in a game which always threatened to boil over.
By the time Marrison had gone for an early shower, the visitors were already two goals down. Gareth Seddon, back to his best, put Hyde ahead on 11 minutes after Hinckley had failed to clear Chris Brass’ free kick and then turned provider a minute later when he set up Matthew Tipton to side foot home.
There was no coming back for the visitors and the Tigers should have added to their tally in a one-sided first half. Seddon twice went close, as did on-loan debutant, Dale Stephens from Bury. Luke Edwards was booked on 31 minutes for a bad challenge on Mark Innes as Hinckley seemed content on giving away free kicks. Only ‘keeper Sean Bowles saved them from real hammering as the half drew to a close.
Leon Jackson replaced Owen Story at the break for the visitors, but he hadn’t had a touch before Seddon burst clear to score Hyde’s third with a clinical finish. Leon Kelly then hit the post for Hinckley, but the ball was cleared downfield quickly and Seddon’s hat-trick was only thwarted by Bowles’ fingertips.
As tempers became frayed, Seddon was booked for an unnecessary challenge and was promptly replaced by leading scorer Chris Simm. Man of the match, Nicky Clee had a shot cleared off the line before he set up the irrepressible Simm, who headed home on 80 minutes.
In a crazy five minutes, substitute Alex Johnson then pulled a goal back and two minutes later Edwards added a second. Not to be outdone, Simm then burst through and scored with a delightful twenty five yard chip on the run. A fantastic goal to end a thoroughly entertaining game.
There were plenty of positives for the Tigers. Dave Morley was a tower of strength at the back and Chris Brass managed to avoid a hat-trick of own goals with a solid performance. Stephens added pace and vision to midfield, whilst Clee ran Hinckley ragged. Tipton and Seddon were always a threat and it was no consolation to Hinckley to see Seddon replaced by the League’s leading goal scorer Simm, who wasted no time in grabbing another couple of goals.
Gareth Seddon forces a save. Pic-Chris Hilton
