Eagle Bitter United Counties Football League

Division One

 Saturday 1^st September 2007

Huntingdon Town 2 - Daventry United 3

 

Daventry: Andy Millard, Jerry Moss, Ady Pestell, Jamie Moss, Duncan Harris, Jamie Jollands Allan Haynes, Richard Pannell, Tommy Waldock, Tony Burt, Joel Young. Subs; Ryan Waldock, Ben Collins, Paul Currier, Darran Foster

Huntingdon : Carl Yezek, Billie McLuckie, Domonic Piggot, Joe Cossey, Lee Boorek, Carl Foreman, Nick Young, David Robertson, Richard Moore, Alyou Corney, Lee Garvie. Subs; Jordan Gault, Danny White, Darryl Palmer, Steph Collins

With a draw the previous week under their belts, United were desperate for a victory against Huntingdon. With a game still in hand, victory would keep them in touch at the top of the table, United started against the notorious Jubilee Park wind.

On twenty minutes Andy Millard scuffed his clearance then made amends with a great near post save to deny Huntingdon the lead,  Huntingdon then took the lead as the United keeper lost track of the corner and the ball went straight in from the corner kick, United dug deep and against the strong wind pushed Huntingdon back. Tommy Waldock and Tony Burt had chances to level the match and Millard made two excellent saves, one at full stretch to his right the other a reaction save from a bullet shot ten yards out to keep Huntingdon's lead to one.

The second half saw a rejuvenated United come out and within minutes Richard Pannell hit the post, Tommy Waldock's mazy run ended with Jerry Moss shooting over the bar. All this possession and still no goal but United were gradually taking control of this game. Ady Pestell and Jerry Moss combined well to put Waldock through again but his shot was saved by the keeper's feet, then on 22 minutes the breakthrough, the ball broke to Pannell and he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the net.

The onslaught continued as Jamie Jollands' free-kick found Jerry Moss and his header struck the bar, then Moss again was through on his own and shot straight at the keeper, Panell then had to leave the field with an ankle injury and was replaced by Ben Collins.

In the 32^nd minute, Duncan Harris won a challenge on the edge of his area collected the ball and put Tom Waldock through on goal, Waldock composed himself and delightfully chipped the advancing keeper from 30 yards out to give United a deserved lead. No sooner had they restarted, United were caught napping, Collins was bundled off the ball, Huntingdon broke down, the left centred the ball and scored with an easy tap in.

United were not finished though as they continued to push forward and with ten minutes remaining Waldock was through on goal again only to be bundled over and the referee awarded a penalty. Captain Alan Haynes stepped up and made no mistake to give United the victory they deserved.

A hard working victory which saw Duncan Harris return to form with a Man of the Match performance and Tony Burt putting in an impressive debut for his new club.