Crigglestone Sports Club

OVENDEN WEST RIDING            V         HALL GREEN UNITED

Battling United finally quashed any relegation fears with this outstanding victory at Halifax side Ovenden who are deeply embroiled in the relegation battle.

 

It was United who had their backs to the wall in the first 30 mins as Ovenden pinned them back with waves of attacks but poor finishing and outstanding defending kept United in the game. In goals keeper David Turner was outstanding throughout the game and in front of him Martin Scarth and Peter Knighting were both a tower of strength. In fact it was Knighting who scored the only goal in the 31^st minute when United, who were beginning to take hold of the game, were awarded a corner and as the ball ran loose in their opponents penalty box it was him who was first onto the ball to flick it into the net.

 

In the second half United were the dominant force playing good football with confidence and up front Clifton Firth, as usual, chased everything but the star performers for United were defenders James Laughton, Lee Speight, Martin Scarth and the outstanding man of the match Peter Knighting.

 

 

HALL GREEN UNITED                     BRIGHOUSE TOWN

4                                                          2

An ill disciplined Brighouse side came a cropper as United continued their recent good form with their third league win on the run. It was the first time United have beaten the Brighouse side and they did it with conviction taking an early lead when James Laughton headed a corner back into the penalty box where poacher Clifton Firth was waiting to power home a volley.

 

United who were dominating proceedings increased their lead further when Mathew Marsden struck home through a crowded penalty box and then Chris Callaghan got his name on the score sheet when he did the same. At 3-0 up United were coasting but Brighouse were stepping up their game and pulled a goal back before the break just after a player from both sides had been dismissed after tempers had flared.

 

Playing up the slope and against the elements in the second half United were put under pressure but Martin Scarth and Peter Knighting were a tower of strength with keeper David Turner in fine form to back them up. The visitors did pull a goal back but their frustration was beginning to show and mid way through the second period they had two players dismissed for foul play. With a numerical advantage United controlled the remainder of the game and after a fierce shot from Mathew Marsden was blocked substitute Mickey Sunderland pounced onto the loose ball and fired home to give United the three points. 
  

                                         

Having lost to their opponents the week before United gained a satisfactory revenge win at home to Bradford based Wibsey AFC. Playing with the slope and wind United camped in their opponents half but were unable to make the all important break through until the 31^st minute when after good work by Clifton Firth on the right his cross was volley with power into the net for a 1-0 lead. United needed another to consolidate their lead but they had to wait until the very last kick of the half when the lively Clifton Firth squeezed the ball home at the near post.

 

SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE

ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP 2^ND ROUND.

HALL GREEN UNITED                  V         WOMBWELL MAIN FC

1                                                                                                                    4

United  failed to get to grips with their County Senior League opponents and despite holding then in the first half they slipped to a convincing defeat at the end of 90 mins. Their Barnsley visitors were very much an accomplished side that held the ball up well and had a neat passing movement throughout their side. United struggled to contain their lively forward line but with Scarth outstanding they managed to keep them out until the 35^th minute when United conceded a free kick just outside the penalty box. The kick was taken in an audacious manner when the Wombwell striker hit it with the outside of his foot and the ball dipped over Turner’s outstretched arms and into the net. United did however hit back and skipper John Moore forced his way into the penalty box only to be upended and the reliable spot kick taker Martin Scarth stepped up to gleefully convert the kick to put United back on level terms. This was short lived however as some sloppy defending allowed Wombwell to again take the advantage with a goal bang on half time.

United although under the cosh were rather unfortunate to concede a penalty for hand ball  to give Wombwell the chance to further increase their lead which they did with a penalty of their own. The game was rapped up not long after when a long effort found the net to send United out of the County Cup for another year.

Up front Clifton Firth again never stopped running but all round it was a poor United performance with some players failing to raise to the occasion.

WEST RIDING COUNTY AMATEUR PREMIER DIVISION
Lower Hopton  0  -  1  Hall Green United  (Sat 3rd Nov 2007)
A vital three points for United in their battle against relegation but they were made to work hard for their victory and were left clinging on at the end. They bossed the first half playing some splendid football and looked every bit a unit as the ever impressive John Moore dictated play from the midfield. Hard running Danny Empsall and Mathew Marsden were a constant threat to their hosts and Ian Hughes wa always in the thick of the action. The all important goal came from Hughe's pass to the elusive Clifton Firth who popped up behind the home defence to receive the pass and gracefully place the ball past the diving keeper. The second half however was a differant story as fourth placed Lower Hopton stepped up a gear and took the game to United. It was constant pressure and backs to the wall for United's defenders who excelled under the pressure with youngster Brett James, Tom Burms Martin Scarth and Lee Speight outstanding. Hopton went close on several occasions but poor finishing and comanding goalkeeping from David Turner kept them at bay. It was United's fourth clean sheet in five games. As their hosts pushed forward they left gaps at the back which Andy Barker and John Moore nearly capitalised on with Moore only denied as he rounded the keeper by the keepers outstretched arms. United were happy with the result however as they begin to strengthen with the return of long term injured key players.

KEIGHLEY SHAMROCKS 6 - 6 HALL GREEN UNITED
Losing 2-5 at half time United could have been forgiven for expecting the worst in this relegation battle but they hit back in the second period to take a point with an equaliser in the very last minute. Hosts Shamrocks took the lead in the first 5 mins but United after going close several times managed to equalise on 15 mins when Andy Barker forced the ball home from a corner. Their joy was short lived however as the home side took the lead again minutes later. United again hit back and Danny Riley headed home from a corner to give them hope but Keighley took United apart from there on and raced into a 2-5 interval lead after some shocking defending by the visitors.
The half time team talk seemed to do the trick as United stepped up their game and from the re-start Martin Scarth converted a penalty to make it 
3-5. Sloppy defending again by United allowed Shamrocks to increase their lead to 3-6 and then a period of controlled football by United brought them back into the game with John Moore rounding the keeper to make it 4-6. Another penalty by Scarth made it 5-6 with only 5 mins to go and then substitute Danny Empsall (returning from 2 months of injury) was on hand to knock the ball home after a goalmouth scramble in the dying seconds of the game to rescue a point. 














SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE CFA
ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP 1ST ROUND
HALL GREEN UNITED    2  -  0  KIVETON PARK FC

Underdogs United turned on the style as they competently disposed of their Sheffield visitors after a sterling display. Kiveton had won the trophy twice in the last four seasons but they were no match for a United side who are beginning to gel together as a side following disruptions through long term injuries. It was a dominant display for United as veteran John Moore led the way with an industrious midfield display aided by the willing work horse Micky Sunderland and the super fit Mathew Marsden who was making his 200th first team appearance. The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when the hard working Clifton Firth was upended in the penalty box and the reliable Martin Scarth calmly slotted home the spot kick.
Continuing to dominate United increased their lead when the ever impressive Firth was on hand to head home a Chris Callaghan free kick in the 30th minute. The second half saw their visitors step up a gear but they were unable to break down United's solid defence where Tom Burns and Martin Scarth were dominant. In goals David Turner was showing good form and the two backs Brett James and Lee Speight were also impressive. United ran out impressive winners and progressed into the next round with narker and Callaghan showing well but the St Pierre Hotel man of the match award going to Martin Scarth.