jones strikes, then the deluge!
NLP
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THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER, Sunday, July 8, 2012
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES Hepplewhite saves it for Chester DURHAM 2 CHESTER-LE-STREET 2 By Jeff Bowron DURHAM CITY took an early lead when they were awarded a freekick on the corner of the box and former Port Vale man Stephen Thompson drove the ball around the wall into the far corner. Chester equalised five minutes later when a ball into the area was controlled by Olly Forsyth, who turned well to fire home. Then City’s Elliott Cutts broke clear but Chris Rookes was quickly out to save at his feet. Cestrians keeper Rookes suffered a leg injury and had to be replaced by Stephen Kennedy, whose first touch was to pick the ball out of the net when Dan Madden scored from a free-kick. Durham had the better of the rest of the first half with Jack Pounder and Thompson both hitting the inside of the post while Connor Winter produced a good save from sub keeper Kennedy. Ten minutes into the second half Doyle squared the ball to fellow sub Hepplewhite to strike a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
KETTERING TOWN 1 SOUTHEND MANOR 0
BY GEORGE! THE POPPIES ROLL ON By David Binder IN THE midst of yet another winding up petition and the banning of George Rolls from football for five years, Kettering fans at least gained some comfort as they saw their team overcome Essex Senior League side Southend Manor at Nene Park.
STAR MAN: Stephen Thompson (Durham) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
Cray hit by Slade double BECKENHAM 3 CRAY WANDERERS 2 By Jerry Dowlen A MUCH-IMPROVED Cray team after the interval narrowly failed to wipe out Beckenham’s 3-0 half time lead. Ryman Premier side Cray began the game with nine new trialists, and it showed as the home side raced into a two-goal lead through Elstrom Die and Ben Slade on three and 12 minutes. Beckenham manager Jason Huntley’s starting eleven looked the more settled team with Slade netting again in the 38th minute. Cray beefed up their team with several experienced substitutes for the second half, and Laurent Hamici reduced the arrears on 53 minutes. Hamici has returned to the Wands from Carshalton Athletic, and it was another returning striker who found the net for Cray in the 67th minute when Guyanese international Shawn Beveney made it 3-2. Cray’s late pressure couldn’t produce an equaliser in an entertaining friendly game watched by 85 spectators. STAR MAN: Ben Slade (Beckenham) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
HOPEFUL: Trialists tussle for the ball at Nene Park PICTURE: Mike Capps
Priddie from six yards. Kettering did not have things all their own way and, following good hold up play from Manor forward Garry Patterson, midfielder Bradley Vaughan found himself with time and space inside the box, only to shoot his low effort into the midriff of grateful Poppies keeper Roy Gill. Into the second half, excellent work from Elliot Bent forced a free kick from an excellent position just outside the penalty area. King, the stand out player in the 90 minutes, saw his curling shot force a fine save from Priddie. Yet it was the Essex side who had the game’s best opportunity to open the scoring as fast, flowing midfield play saw second half substitute Tom Welsh shoot straight at Gill from 12 yards. The miss was to prove vital as the Poppies struck just as the game seemed to be petering out into a draw. A well-delivered corner from the left was not cleared by Manor and, following some frantic penalty area action, the ball fell to Hughes, whose low drive from 19 yards squirmed underneath Priddie. Despite seeing his side – filled with a number of trialists – gain victory, Beck was damning: “We were hopeless all over the park today, “ he said. “We played like a Sunday League Team.” And on his side’s promotion credentials, he was equally blunt: “We won’t get promoted with any of that team.”
The decisive goal from winger Chris Hughes in the 90th minute helped the Poppies secure their first pre-season win. Yet matters off the pitch continue to shroud the Northamptonshire club in uncertainty. Despite being banned, Rolls could be seen chatting and joking in the club bar before the match, while Poppies manager John Beck did nothing to quell the confusion surrounding the club by saying after the match: “I will not be commenting about that (Rolls’ ban) and anything else off the field.” Regarding the match itself, Manor quickly settled, matching the Poppies across the park. Yet they can count themselves fortunate not to have gone behind when the industrious Michael King instigated a short corner, which gave left back Liam McDonald time and space to fire a curling effort over the bar 10 minutes into the game. Manor were lucky again not to go behind when, on 30 minutes, right back Ben Long sent a dangerous long throw into the penalty area and Chris Hughes headed the ball straight at Southend STAR MAN: Michael King (Kettering) goalkeeper Lawrence ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
JONES STRIKES, THEN THE DELUGE! A CLINICAL finish after just seven minutes was the difference between Conference South Havant & Waterlooville and last season’s Wessex League Champions Winchester, newly promoted to the Southern League. In monsoon-like conditions, referee Andy Laver abandoned the match at half-time following continuous heavy
WINCHESTER CITY 0 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 1 (abandoned at half time, rain)
By Trevor Brock rain.The Hawks’ front two of Jones and Alex Baldacchino started well, the diminutive Baldacchino displaying great technique. Baldacchino won the ball in midfield,
sending Steve Ramsey away down the wing. His fierce low shot was deflected and then pushed clear by keeper Roly Anderson, but Jones reacted quickly and had a simple task from ten yards. Ramsey was being allowed to dictate the pace of the game, moving forward at will and driving his team on. However, from 20 minutes on, a torrential down-
pour slowed the game. Just before the interval, a swift Winchester counter should have levelled the score. Adam Roberts’ sweetlystruck shot beat keeper Dan Thomas, but Hawks’ skipper Sam Pearce hacked the ball clear off the line. STAR MAN: Scott James (Havant) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
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THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER, Sunday, July 8, 2012
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES Hepplewhite saves it for Chester DURHAM 2 CHESTER-LE-STREET 2 By Jeff Bowron DURHAM CITY took an early lead when they were awarded a freekick on the corner of the box and former Port Vale man Stephen Thompson drove the ball around the wall into the far corner. Chester equalised five minutes later when a ball into the area was controlled by Olly Forsyth, who turned well to fire home. Then City’s Elliott Cutts broke clear but Chris Rookes was quickly out to save at his feet. Cestrians keeper Rookes suffered a leg injury and had to be replaced by Stephen Kennedy, whose first touch was to pick the ball out of the net when Dan Madden scored from a free-kick. Durham had the better of the rest of the first half with Jack Pounder and Thompson both hitting the inside of the post while Connor Winter produced a good save from sub keeper Kennedy. Ten minutes into the second half Doyle squared the ball to fellow sub Hepplewhite to strike a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
KETTERING TOWN 1 SOUTHEND MANOR 0
BY GEORGE! THE POPPIES ROLL ON By David Binder IN THE midst of yet another winding up petition and the banning of George Rolls from football for five years, Kettering fans at least gained some comfort as they saw their team overcome Essex Senior League side Southend Manor at Nene Park.
STAR MAN: Stephen Thompson (Durham) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
Cray hit by Slade double BECKENHAM 3 CRAY WANDERERS 2 By Jerry Dowlen A MUCH-IMPROVED Cray team after the interval narrowly failed to wipe out Beckenham’s 3-0 half time lead. Ryman Premier side Cray began the game with nine new trialists, and it showed as the home side raced into a two-goal lead through Elstrom Die and Ben Slade on three and 12 minutes. Beckenham manager Jason Huntley’s starting eleven looked the more settled team with Slade netting again in the 38th minute. Cray beefed up their team with several experienced substitutes for the second half, and Laurent Hamici reduced the arrears on 53 minutes. Hamici has returned to the Wands from Carshalton Athletic, and it was another returning striker who found the net for Cray in the 67th minute when Guyanese international Shawn Beveney made it 3-2. Cray’s late pressure couldn’t produce an equaliser in an entertaining friendly game watched by 85 spectators. STAR MAN: Ben Slade (Beckenham) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
HOPEFUL: Trialists tussle for the ball at Nene Park PICTURE: Mike Capps
Priddie from six yards. Kettering did not have things all their own way and, following good hold up play from Manor forward Garry Patterson, midfielder Bradley Vaughan found himself with time and space inside the box, only to shoot his low effort into the midriff of grateful Poppies keeper Roy Gill. Into the second half, excellent work from Elliot Bent forced a free kick from an excellent position just outside the penalty area. King, the stand out player in the 90 minutes, saw his curling shot force a fine save from Priddie. Yet it was the Essex side who had the game’s best opportunity to open the scoring as fast, flowing midfield play saw second half substitute Tom Welsh shoot straight at Gill from 12 yards. The miss was to prove vital as the Poppies struck just as the game seemed to be petering out into a draw. A well-delivered corner from the left was not cleared by Manor and, following some frantic penalty area action, the ball fell to Hughes, whose low drive from 19 yards squirmed underneath Priddie. Despite seeing his side – filled with a number of trialists – gain victory, Beck was damning: “We were hopeless all over the park today, “ he said. “We played like a Sunday League Team.” And on his side’s promotion credentials, he was equally blunt: “We won’t get promoted with any of that team.”
The decisive goal from winger Chris Hughes in the 90th minute helped the Poppies secure their first pre-season win. Yet matters off the pitch continue to shroud the Northamptonshire club in uncertainty. Despite being banned, Rolls could be seen chatting and joking in the club bar before the match, while Poppies manager John Beck did nothing to quell the confusion surrounding the club by saying after the match: “I will not be commenting about that (Rolls’ ban) and anything else off the field.” Regarding the match itself, Manor quickly settled, matching the Poppies across the park. Yet they can count themselves fortunate not to have gone behind when the industrious Michael King instigated a short corner, which gave left back Liam McDonald time and space to fire a curling effort over the bar 10 minutes into the game. Manor were lucky again not to go behind when, on 30 minutes, right back Ben Long sent a dangerous long throw into the penalty area and Chris Hughes headed the ball straight at Southend STAR MAN: Michael King (Kettering) goalkeeper Lawrence ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
JONES STRIKES, THEN THE DELUGE! A CLINICAL finish after just seven minutes was the difference between Conference South Havant & Waterlooville and last season’s Wessex League Champions Winchester, newly promoted to the Southern League. In monsoon-like conditions, referee Andy Laver abandoned the match at half-time following continuous heavy
WINCHESTER CITY 0 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE 1 (abandoned at half time, rain)
By Trevor Brock rain.The Hawks’ front two of Jones and Alex Baldacchino started well, the diminutive Baldacchino displaying great technique. Baldacchino won the ball in midfield,
sending Steve Ramsey away down the wing. His fierce low shot was deflected and then pushed clear by keeper Roly Anderson, but Jones reacted quickly and had a simple task from ten yards. Ramsey was being allowed to dictate the pace of the game, moving forward at will and driving his team on. However, from 20 minutes on, a torrential down-
pour slowed the game. Just before the interval, a swift Winchester counter should have levelled the score. Adam Roberts’ sweetlystruck shot beat keeper Dan Thomas, but Hawks’ skipper Sam Pearce hacked the ball clear off the line. STAR MAN: Scott James (Havant) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
