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Match Details: Saturday 12th November 2005 Conference North
Attendance: 436 Hyde United: Mark Westhead Lincoln Adams (Paul Jones) Danny Caldecott Carlos Meakin Mike Flynn Chris Lynch Gerry Harrison Steve Brackenridge (Phil Salt) Neil Tolson Jamie Milligan (Wayne Dean) Matty McNeil Subs not used: Sean Pearson Paul Armstrong Leigh RMI: Lamb Atherton Roscoe McDowell Coyne Brockley Drew Smith S Smith N Simm Taylor Subs: Dunne Stoker Mann Settle Ashmore Report by Tony Beard: Ewen Fields is certainly the place to go if you want goals. In twelve games there have been a staggering 47, but the opposition has unfortunately, scored more than half of them. Saturday's game followed the usual pattern - plenty of goals and the Tigers throwing away a two-goal lead. Hyde could claim they had five players out through injury, but they should still have won at a canter. Hyde had Mike Flynn, on loan from Accrington Stanley, making his debut in a bid to shore up the shaky defence and although he did everything you could ask of him, the Tigers still contrived to give away three goals against a mediocre Leigh side low on confidence and without a win since August. All started okay for Hyde as Neil Tolson pressurized a nervous John Lamb in the Leigh goal. The'keeper let the ball squirm out of his grasp and Tolse had the simple task of side-footing into an empty net. However Leigh were back within five minutes when Man of the Match Chris Simm scored with the help of a deflection. Mark Westhead was forced into a couple of smart saves, before Hyde regained the lead through Matty McNeil. He was through on goal as he was hauled down. The only decision for the Officials was a red or yellow card for the errant defender. After a long discussion no card was produced and one could only guess they couldn't decide'who dunnit'. Justice was done as Matty glanced home Jamie Milligan's resultant inch perfect free kick. The Tigers increased their lead on 64 minutes when the persevering McNeil got to the by line and squared across for Tolson to score a simple goal. Hyde's joy was short-lived however as Leigh pulled one back within a minute. Ryan McDowell was completely unmarked as he hammered the ball home with the Hyde defence in disarray claiming for offside. As in previous home games, Hyde lost the plot and allowed the visitors to dominate play and it was no surprise when Leigh equalised with ten minutes to go. Simm received the ball midway inside Hyde's half and ran for goal leaving defenders in his wake before he lashed an unstoppable shot into the net. No dispute this time and Hyde were lucky to survive another couple of close shaves as their game fell apart. With only seven points out of a possible 27 at home, it shows where the problem lies for the Tigers, especially after two years of it being a fortress at Ewen Fields. More games like this and it will cost them dear. |