A wild windy match

Team: Sam Alsop, Matthew Cheesbrough, Mathew Durrans, Sam Hagen-Steele, Tom Langford, David Leese, Joel Marsden, James Murray, Sam Nunn, Alex Rollinson, Ben Scotcher, Jack Slater, Matthew Sykes.

Honley made the short journey east, to play Skelmanthorpe, at Shelley High School.

Honley were playing against the wind in the first half. For the first 15 minutes Skelmanthorpe were camped in the Honley half and were rewarded, when a 25 yard bullet flew into the top corner, giving goalie Scotcher no chance.

Skelmanthorpe kept up the pressure and should have gone two up, when they were awarded a penalty, after Sykes had wrestled their centre forward to the ground, but Scotcher dived the right way and saved it.

This spurred Honley on and they were now competing much better, limiting Skelmanthorpe’s chances to long range efforts, that Scotcher held comfortably.

Honley were now spending a bit of time in the opposition half, with good work by Nunn and Alsop. With Slater being switched to full back, Honley were looking defensively more solid.

Half time 0-1

The second half got underway with Honley hoping to make the wind advantage count. Most of the play was in the Skelmanthorpe half, but Honley weren’t really creating any chances and Skelmanthorpe looked dangerous on the break.

The equaliser came with a goal kick from Scotcher. The defender mis-judged the kick in the wind, Alsop latched onto the ball and his goal bound shot was deflected into the net.

The game was now getting stretched, but Honley held their shape better and got a second. A good pass from Durrans, in midfield, found Alsop, who raced on to it and fired across the keeper into the net.

Skelmanthorpe pushed forward for an equaliser, but solid tackling from Slater, Marsden, Sykes and Cheesbrough kept Skelmathorpe out.

In midfield Hagen, Durrans, Leese and Murray, were getting the better of their opponents and were starting to pass the ball around neatly, with some nice one two’s. Honley sealed victory when Alsop completed his hat trick.

A throw on the right, from Slater, was headed on by Rollinson to Durrans. His chipped pass, over the defender’s head, fell right into Alsop’s stride and he smashed the ball into the net.

Final whistle 3-1.

A great performance by every player, especially in the second half and a thoroughly deserved the victory.

Next week no game.