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Recent Match Report

PREMIER DIVISION 
Saturday 26th November 2011

HALL GREEN UNITED    2 - 1   STORTHES HALL FC
Neil May, James Laughton, Christopher Tunney, Kyle Schofield, Lee Speight, John Moore (capt), Sean Jesson, James Shirtcliffe, Marcus Williams, Clifton Firth, Axel Keoughan.
Subs: Mathew Marsden, Neil Scholey, Luke Crossley.
Scorer: Luke Crossley, John Moore.

With United welcoming back another long term injury player, Christopher Tunney,
the side at long last is begining to take shape. Tunney added the missing piece to the defence which looked settled and firm for long parts of the game. Keeper May stepped in for the injured Turner and was exceptional in commanding his area. Huddersfield visitors Storthes Hall dominated the early exchanges as United struggled to add some cohesion to their play and it was no surprise really when they took the lead following a goal mouth scramble in the 44th minute. The second half however belonged to United as they rolled up their sleeves and took the game to their visitors. Now playing up the slope United had front men Firth and Williams causing problems with their speedy runs. Firth was outstanding as he consistantly pressurised the visitors defence. The equalising goal came in the 75th minute when the ever improving centre back Kyle Schofield won the ball from a Chris Tunney cross and he headed it down towartds goal at the back post. In a scramble the ball was forced home with perhaps the last touch coming from substitute Luke Crossley. Pushing on from this United looked for the winner and as the visitors players tired it was talisman skipper John Moore who ran towards the tired visitors defence and his low shot went under the advancing keeper for the well deserved winning goal in the 85th minute.

                                  Lee Speight -consistant performer


Kyle Schofield -dominant in defence

Saturday 19th November 2011

LOWER HOPTON FC     2 - 1  HALL GREEN UNITED
David Turner, Lee Speight, Martin Scarth, Kyle Schofield, James Speight, John Moore (capt), Sean Jesson, James Shirtcliffe, Neil Scholey, Marcus Williams, Clifton Firth.
Subs: Mathew Marsden, Axel Keoghan, Luke Crossley.
Not Used: Chris Callaghan.
Scorer: Clifton Firth

Despair for United as they suffered a heart breaking defeat in the closing minutes after doing more than enough to at least share the spoils. Fellow relegation strugglers, Lower Hopton, were given a gift lead in the 6th minute when Jesson lunged in to concede a needless free kick on the 18 yard line which was promptly fired into the net leaving keeper Turner stranded. With their backs to wall so early in the game United showed great charactor to take the game to their hosts. They forced several corners as they pushed forward with skipper John Moore always in the thick of things and with United using the width on the ground speedy Marcus Williams got round the back of the home defence on many occasions. United though were having an off day in front of goal and several good chances went begging. It was 0-1 at the break and both sides upped their game in the second period in an entertaing game for the large crowd. Marsden was introduced to ther game just before half time and he continued his return to form with several good runs up the right. Striker Clifton Firth was again a thorn in the home defence and it was him who equalised with only 10 mins remaining. He won the ball and battled through several tackles to find an open goal for him to walk the ball into the net. Their joy was short lived however as a lapse at the back allowed the home sides front man to run into the box and easily ride the slack tackles to push the ball wide of Turner for a vital three points. Strong performers for United were Moore, Lee Speight and Kyle Schofield.



















Saturday 12th November 2011

CAMPION FC            1 - 3      HALL GREEN UNITED
Dale Crossland, Lee Speight, James Laughton, Martin Scarth, Kyle Schofield, John Moore (capt), Sean Jesson, James Shirtcliffe, Neil Scholey, Marcus Williams, Clifton Firth.
Subs: Mathew Marsden, Axel Keoghan.
Not used: David Turner, Lewis Richardson, James Speight.
Scorers: Martin Scarth (pen), Clifton Firth, John Moore. 

United’s 10 match losing run finally came to an end, at highly placed Bradford side Campion FC, following a workman like team performance. Manager Carl Short will be delighted with United’s show of determination and effort in this well deserved win as for the first time in weeks Carl was able to put out a strong balanced side. United worked overtime, although going behind to an early goal, dominating for long spells with outstanding performances from all the team. United’s defence were solid with James Laughton excelling as he completely locked out the home side’s dangerous left winger. Lee Speight had his usual composed game and in the centre veteran Martin Scarth struck up a good partnership with the young Kyle Schofield who was a tower of strength at the back. Inspirational skipper John Moore led the way in midfield with one of his best performances for some time, with James Shirtcliffe providing the grit required in the engine room.

Up front the energetic Clifton Firth and Marcus Williams caused the slow home defence stacks of problems. Marcus’s speed got United back on level terms, after 30 mins, as he was brought down in the penalty box for the dependable Martin Scarth to slot home the penalty. The second half saw United again dominated and with Sean Jesson and Neil Scholey working overtime Campion struggled to show their usual cohesion in midfield. United introduced substitute Mathew Marsden for his first game since injury, coincidently 10 Matches ago when they last won, and he showed patches of his form prior to the injury to indicate 
that United may just be turning the corner. Striker Clifton Firth continued to harass the home defence and from one such foray he caused the home defence so much panic that the ball dropped at his feet for an easy tap in to give United the lead. The match was finally put to bed when again that man John Moore struck a fine 20 yard shot which went over the keeper and into the net off the underside of the crossbar. The home side tried to rescue the game in the last quarter but United held firm with keeper Dale Crossland, who was making his debut, pulling off an excellent save in a competent performance. A welcome but vital three points for United as they seek to pull away from the relegation fight at the wrong end of the table. Man of the match went to the whole team who all stepped up their game and battled for the United cause.











Penalty as Marcus is brought down







                                                                                                      Celebrations 
                                                                MEMORIAL CUP

HALL GREEN UNITED 3 - 2 GILDERSOME SPUR OB
At: Littletown FC Monday 8th August 2011.
United started brightly in this Challenge match, between the respective Wakefield and Heavy Woollen District Challenge Cup winners,but it was their opponents who took the lead mid way through the first half. It was a well worked goal that saw Gildersome go from their own penalty area to the other end with a string of passes that ended with a headed goal past the stranded keeper Neil May. This after Mathew Marsden had gone close with a header for United that the keeper did well to save. Their lead was short lived however as the lively Clifton Firth eluded the defensive line to hit a low shot into the corner of the net. Taking encouragement from this United pushed on with skipper Sean Jesson leading the way and it was no surprise when United scored another goal this time from the penalty spot when again Firth was involved having been brought down as he headed for goal. Chris Callaghan was the man who converted the spot kick to give United a 2-1 half time lead.
Gildersome upped their game in the second period and put United’s defence under sever pressure and it was only the keeping ability of the second half keeper David Turner who kept them at bay, but the pressure told in the end as United conceded an equliser from again a well executed move and finish.
United had to make several defensive changes in the second half but they recovered well with Callaghan and Marsden prompting from mid field and upfront Firth and Milnes were looking for that opening and it finally came when central defender James Speight hit a peach of a pass down the left where that man Firth latched onto it and put in the perfect cross for Danny Milnes to rifle his shot into the net to give United the lead and finally the winning goal.
As expected Gildersome pressed forward for a late equaliser but United held firm with Stuart Smales and Jack Owen working overtime at the back. An excellent performance from United who regained the Memorial Cup again having won it back in 2006 with Sam Jackson as manager.
 

PREMIER DIVISION



Hall Green United  1  -  2  Kirkburton FC

The return of defenders John Moore, Rick Hamnett and Christian Tunney boosted United's defensive line for this opening game but they still slipped behind in the 20th minute when their visitors striker, Kieran Ryan, cut back inside and 'wellied' the ball past the stranded keeper Neil May. This had been coming for a while with United, who after making a promising start, struggling to cope with a well organised Kirkburton side. Injuries to Rick Hamnett and Chris Tunney caused changes to United with Callaghan and Graham replacing them. The score remained at 0-1 for half time and with the use of the slope United upped their tempo and began to make inroads into the resolute visitors back line. From one such attack striker Clifton Firth was upended and the reliable Chris Callaghan converted the spot kick to level the score on 65 mins. This was short lived however as United failed to deal with a cross which left the Kirburton striker all the time to volley home his second goal and clinch the game for Kirkburton. Despite United putting on the pressure for the last quarter Kirkburton held out for the points. United had good performers in Steve Wales who, despite being on the end of some harsh treatment from the visitors defence, which





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