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Match Details: Monday 11th February 2008 Manchester Premier Cup Semi-Final
Attendance: 178 Hyde United: Craig Dootson (Danny Holland) Steve Pickford Chris Lynch David Morley Peter Band Nathan Wharton Dale Johnson (Matthew Tipton) Steve Bushell Chris Simm Gareth Seddon Nicky Clee (Chris Cooke) Subs not used: Lee Rick Lee Cartwright Ashton United: Rooney Aspinall Caldecott Bennett McCartney Furnival O’Neill Smith Canning Howard Garvey Subs: Coleano Eames Deegan Massay McAllister In an exciting game at Ewen Fields on Monday, Hyde progressed to the final of the Manchester Premier Cup, but needed an extra time winner to secure victory and a tie against FC United of Manchester or Radcliffe Borough in the final. The Tigers made hard work of beating their local rivals by missing a series of chances including a penalty and should have had victory safely in the bag before conceding two late goals to take the match into extra-time. Nathan Wharton restored to his favoured No 6 shirt opened the scoring for Hyde on eight minutes when he rifled the ball home from the edge of the area. Dale Johnson and Gareth Seddon both then went close as the Tigers looked to increase their lead before the break. However it was one minute into the second period when the goal eventually came. Seddon rounded Damien Rooney and forced the ball home from the tightest of angles. Chris Simm, back from injury, went close for Hyde, but Ashton were dangerous on the break and Iain Howard struck a post with Craig Dootson beaten. Dootson produced a brilliant save to thwart Dean Canning but Ashton received a lifeline on 73 minutes when Steve Pickford’s rash challenge on Howard allowed Billy McCartney to pull a goal back from the penalty spot. Six minutes later, Simm was brought down in the area by Steve Aspinall as he rounded Rooney, but Seddon’s spot kick went well wide. The visitors couldn’t believe their luck and Ian Bennett equalised with a screamer with six minutes left. Ashton could have clinched it right at the death as Ben Deegan’s header went agonisingly wide after he beat Dootson to the ball. Hyde stepped up the tempo in extra time. Matthew Tipton and Seddon both went close before Dootson made a great save to stop Deegan. From the resultant punt downfield, Seddon rounded Rooney to put Hyde back in front. The chances were now coming thick and fast. Rooney saved brilliantly from Pickford and Simm twice went close. Hyde were home, but they certainly did it the hard way! |