Espial 0 v Swallownest 2 HKL NMU19L

Wednesday 23rd March 2016

HKL North Midland U19 League
at Chesterfield Panthers Rugby Club
Espial (0) 0
Swallownest (1) 2
Connor Green 33, Will Hague 58
Admission £2. Programme 50p

Espial:
Jake Finlaw, Jak Moss, Alex Fox, Liam Richardson (C), Josh Perkins, Jonno Woods, Joel Searson, Tyrone Stewart, Alex Sanderson, Roberto Marchetta, Sam Hibberd
Subs - Josh Chatfield, Jay Ritchie
Swallownest:
Jack Hood, Will Hague, Josh Bilson, Luke Kocura, Jack Leitch, Chris Hudson, Junior Gama, Joe Parkin, Connor Green, Callum Mounsey, Sam Goulden
Subs - Patrick Menye, Brandon Ashmore, Steve Nettleship

Will Hague Showed his worth at both ends of the pitch in the opening exchanges, forcing a corner at one end inside the opening minute, before clearing Liam Richardson's downward header off the line at the other just moments later.
Josh Bilson played the ball forward to Connor Green, who evaded his marker with a great turn before crossing to Luke Kocura whose shot tested Jake Finlaw, but the Espial keeper had positioned himself well.
Swallownest enjoyed a spell of pressure, but had a bit of a let off when the home side countered and Jonno Woods crashed a shot against the crossbar and the rebound fell to Joel Searson who fired narrowly over Jack Hood's goal.
In the 33rd minute, the visitors went ahead when Connor Green picked up the ball on the right hand side of Espial's goalmouth and thumped an unstoppable shot past Finlaw.
Junior Gama rode two challenges and delivered a cross from the left wing that found Green but he couldn't quite keep his shot down.
Roberto Marchetta split Swallownest's defence open with a free kick from out on the left flank, but Jak Moss nudged the ball wide from close range at the back post.

Swallownest had imposed themselves on the game for much of the first half, With Connor Green leading the front line to good effect, but as half time approached the home side were in the hunt for an equaliser.
Hood turned Woods shot round the post. Marchetta planted the corner into the visitors six yard box and Moss headed the ball just wide of the upright.
Marchetta combined well with Sam Hibberd as Espial ventured forward again, but Woods broke the attack up with a timely Interception.
HT: Espial 0 v Swallownest 1
Swallownest attacked straight from the restart and Finlaw did well to turn Kocura's angled lob away.
Sam Hibberd, broke at pace down the left wing, but Will Hague got across quickly to stop him in his tracks.
Hood launched a long free kick out wide to Green, who crossed first time to Gama but his shot was deflected wide.
Patrick Meyne held off two challenges in midfield and sprayed the ball to Gama on the left hand side of the box who's shot was diverted away by the arm of an Espial defender, but the ref ruled that it was unintentional.
Jonno Woods homed in on the visitors goal but Jack Leitch had tracked him back and his rushed shot under pressure flew wide of the target.

in the 58th minute, Green switched passes with Joe Parkin in the Espial area and flicked the ball into the path of Will Hague who'd made an overlapping run before burying the ball past Finlaw with an angled shot from eight yards out.
Kocura and Brandon Ashmore, who had only just come on as a substitute, both had shots charged down as 'Swall' looked to finish the game off. Bilson took the resulting corner and picked out Luke Kocura who beat Finlaw but headed narrowly over the bar.
Sam Hibberd forced a corner but Menye headed Marchetta's delivery away.
Espial attacked and as a result of a tangle of legs in the area, the referee awarded the home side a penalty.
But Hood guessed which way Marchetta was going to place the ball and got down well to his left to make a save and preserve his clean sheet.

Perkins hit a speculative shot towards the visitors goal but Leitch blocked it. Alex Fox broke into the goalmouth from on the wing, but Hood was out quickly to narrow his shooting options.
Espial were trying to force their way back into the game, but as the clock ran down, Swallownest were keeping them in check well.
Right at the death, the visitors nearly had a third goal, but having dribbled past two challenges, Gama did his best Johnny Wilkinson impression and put his shot over the goal and the Rugby posts, but you don't get three points for that in this game.
FT: Espial 0 v Swallownest 2
Hi to Bury Paul (legend), Neil from Belper and 'that Man City fan' who'd made the trip into the land of the Crooked Spire tonight, it is always good to see y'all!