MHYFC & AMHFC

 Date

9th November 2008 

League 

Needham Market A 

 Date

9th November 2008 

 HT

1 

0 

Fleur 3, Betts, Warner                    

 FT

5 

3 

 Competition

League 

 AET

 

 

 Venue

Away 

 PENS

 

 

 

Well done to both teams for respecting the fallen on Remembrance Sunday.  The first ten minutes was a very even affair with both sides attacking and defending well. White went close after Rookyard left the ball to him.  Bevan was soon asked to protect Mills in goal by covering well.  Fleur, ever lively up front, broke clear but shot just wide, before Warner put White through only to see the keeper save well.  Fleur wasn’t to be denied long and soon got one on one with the keeper, rounding him brilliantly to slot home.  Needham then dominated procession.  Hall defended well and remained resolute in preventing Needham from getting a shot on Mill’s goal, except for a long range effort that, luckily for Hall, hit the cross bar and was cleared.  Half time came with hall one up.

Fleur’s pace and strength was too much for Needham’s defence and soon after the re-start he burst clear again to expertly take his and Hall’s second.  Hall defended further up the park in the second half and looked more comfortable even through Needham dominated the procession again.  Hall looked the more dangerous on the attack however and White was unlucky not to put Hall further ahead.  Hall then made life difficult for themselves with some poor defending.  Needham out muscled and paced Hall’s defence, giving Mills no chance with a strong low right foot finish.  Robinson did well to beat two players, but his long range effort was well saved before Fleur broke again to hit his hat-trick. Firrell made a brilliant defensive tackle and was unfortunate to see the ball squeeze out to a Needham player who couldn’t miss the open goal.  Hall pressed and Betts pushed home his first goal of the season after battling hard in the penalty area (dodgy goal celebration though!).  He soon lost his fiver however when he was unlucky to head an OG past Mills.  Warner soon calmed Hall’s nerves when he hooked in Hall’s fifth.

Hall were again always second to the ball today.  Despite this Hall always looked solid at the back and Mills had few shots to save.  However, if it wasn’t for Man of the Match Fleur the result could have been different.

 Date

2nd November 2008 

 HT

1 

2 

Fleur, Rookyard                                 

Ipswich Valley Rangers A 

 FT

2 

4 

 Competition

League 

 AET

 

 

 Venue

Home 

 PENS

 

 

 

Hall put on a mediocre display and paid the price by losing to Ipswich Valley Rangers A.  After an even start Rangers went ahead after Hall headed a well taken corner into their own net.  Hall soon leveled when Betts through ball was well finished by Rookyard. Hall dominated the next ten minutes but couldn’t find the necessary finish.  Warner worked the ball down the left crossing for Rookyard but he was unable to get his shot away.  White’s run through the middle and shot went just wide which was quickly followed in a similar fashion by a typical Firrell run and shot.  Mills saved well from a long range effort but could do nothing about Ranger’s second, a long range bullet from 25 yds.  Amps went close and Betts thought he’d scored but the keeper just stopped the ball on the line.  His goal celebration was a joy to watch however! 

After the break Hall moved to a flat back four and as a result didn’t look like getting caught on the break.  Hall pressed but chances went begging.  Fleur showed great pose in front of goal to level the scores injuring himself in the process.  Bevan, Scarfe, Henwood and Young covered well for each other but could do nothing when another long range effort passed over Mills reach.  Rangers went further ahead when a lopping cross was headed over Mills.  Hall had plenty of chances to draw the game level, White, Firrell and Robinson all went close but it was one of those days when the finishing deserted Hall.

Hall were always second best to the ball today, maybe frightened of the more physical Rangers side.  This is the third week running where Hall have not been at their best.  Manager Robinson will have to work hard to get their appetite for the game back.  Picking Man of the match was difficult today as no one was exceptional.  However Scrafe stood out above the rest being ever reliable and dependable at the back and doing all that was asked of him in midfield.

 Date

26th October 2008 

 HT

5 

1 

Firrell 2, Fleur 2, White 2           

 FT

6 

1 

 Competition

League 

 AET

 

 

 Venue

Away 

 PENS

 

 

 

Yet another day more suited to ducks saw Hall beat Needham Market B for the second time this season.

Hall went ahead not long after the kick-off when Fleur raced away from Needham’s defence to slot home.  Despite being warned of complacency before the game Hall were not at the races and soon found themselves paying the price when Needham scored from a corner.   This seemed to spark Hall into action.  Hall dominated from there on in.  Fleur and Warner were denied by goal line clearances and Fleur fired just wide before he finished well when one on one with the keeper.  White got his first as a result of excellent build up play.  Soon after, Robinson worked the ball down the right, passing to Firrell who volleyed home for his first of two.  To Needham’s credit they didn’t give up and would have pulled one back on two separate occasions if it hadn’t been for expert goalkeeping by Mills and covering by White.  Firrell got his second when he met a cross field ball on the spin. 

Despite the score line Hall didn’t play particularly well in the first half and manager Robinson asked for more attractive football which was duly delivered.  Dodd and Amps continue to work hard. The midfield of Betts, Scrafe, White, Robinson and Warner together with the front pairing of Fleur and Rookyard worked the ball well between them on numerous occasions.  It was surprising therefore that Hall only added one more to their goal tally when White scored.  Needham packed the defence and goal mouth scrambles and goal line clearances became the norm.  Needham did break out though and if it wasn’t for some neat covering play by Young, Bevan and Henwood , Mills would have been tested again.

Needham were much improved from the previous encounter and provided they don’t let their heads drop it won’t be long before they pick up their first points.  Despite not scoring Man of the Match Warner was inspirational today.  His ball control, poise and passing ability were a joy to watch.  He went close to scoring on many occasions but didn’t get the rub of the green to see the ball hit the back of the net.  With performances like this his first goal will come soon.

 Date

19th October 2008 

 HT

0 

0 

White                                   

Tollgate 

 FT

1 

0 

 Competition

League 

 AET

 

 

 Venue

Away 

 PENS

 

 

 

Hall managed to scrape the win in a very tight encounter with Tollgate.  Hall took ten minutes to get into the game and were awarded a dubious penalty after Gauld was well tackled in the box.  Tollgate’s keeper saved well to keep honours even. The game then moved into a scrappy encounter with little passing football being played.   Both sides defended well especially from corners and Mills and Tollagte’s keeper were a match for everything that came their way.  Amps was unlucky not to score just before the break.

Hall attacked from the restart and Gauld would have been celebrating if it hadn’t been for Tollgate’s keeper.  Rookyard, working hard up front, crossed in for Gauld to fire just wide.  Tollgate had defended well up until White picked the ball up just outside the box and hit a hopeful effort towards goal which couldn’t be held by the keeper and nestled into the back of the net.  The game remained tight especially in midfield.  Robinson’s pace was necessary to deny Tollgate on the break before Scrafe went close with another long range shot (he needs to work out his goal celebration for future games).  Henwood’s last ditch tackle kept all three points for Hall.

Although Hall forgot how to pass today the lads work rate couldn’t be faltered. Special mention to Mills, Robinson and Henwood who’s energy levels were superb but Captain Betts, for the second week running, led from the front and was rewarded with the Man of the Match.

 Date

12th October 2008 

 HT

0 

2 

Fleur                                           

 FT

1 

5 

 Competition

KO Cup R1 

 AET

 

 

 Venue

Away 

 PENS

 

 

 

Manager Robinson didn’t miss much this week as Hall crashed out of the Knock Out Cup. 

Hall never really got going and in the end were well beaten by some good passing by Tigers.

 Date

28th September 2008 

 HT

1 

2 

Robinson, Rookyard, Fleur, Gauld                

 

Ipswich Valley Rangers A 

 FT

4 

2 

 Competition

League 

 AET

 

 

 Venue

Home 

 PENS

 

 

 Like the weather Hall were good today and continued their fine run with a win against a good passing Ipswich Valley Rangers A side.

The first half was particularly tight but it was Hall that had all the early pressure. Amps saw his shot blocked and Williams, showing good form on the left, and Rookyard went close early on. Hall couldn’t capitalise on a number of corners. Both Scrafe and Bevan got in some strong tackles to deny Rangers and Young had to cut off the Rangers coming down the right. Hall’s back line was eventually caught for pace and Mills could do little but pick the ball out of the back of his net. Hall pushed forward and it wasn’t long before Fleur got his well deserved goal to draw Hall level. Hall conceded an own goal when Mills was troubled by a Rangers near post corner. Half time came with Hall trailing.

After the break Hall learnt how to play against a speedy front line. Henwood‘s pace matched that of his opponents and as a defensive unit Hall looked much more solid. Betts held to his defensive midfield task well which allowed Hall to push on further. Fleur showed a turn of pace that Rangers couldn’t match but was denied by the feet of the Rangers keeper. Unfortunately Fleur sustained an injury in the process that brought on Gauld for his debut. Rookyard popped up again to slot home Hall’s second. Gauld and Williams linked up well and Gauld’s well timed shot was well saved, but the following up Firrell couldn’t keep his shot down. It was Robinson who finally put Hall into the lead when he hooked the ball from a corner into the top right hand side of the goal. White , working hard in midfield, saw an effort go just wide. With so many players pushing so high up the pitch Hall were always going to be vulnerable on the break. However Mills was alert to the danger pulling off a fine save just before coming out bravely to smother the ball at the Rangers attackers feet. Hall needed another gaol to ensure the points. Warner won the ball at the back, looked up and put in an inch perfect ball for Gauld to show his pace and slot home his debut goal.

Hall played with confidence today and all the players deserve praise. Scrafe, Henwood and Mills stood out but Man of the Match Robinson’s work rate was exceptional. Not only did he ensure he got the ball into the opponents box but chased back to win the ball in Hall’s box and set up many attacks as a result.