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Sunday 21st October 2018 (2.00pm)
Beech Farm Playing Fields #4, Victoria Ln, Swinton, M27 0NH
Referee: Leon Bawden
Won: 7-2 (HT 2-0)
Goals: Alfie Rostron (3), Oliver Hall, Dillan Caldwell, Jamie Maher, Joshua Whitehead
MotM: Oliver Hall
In what was potentially their final game in Division 3, the Hurricanes had the unusual challenge of a Sunday afternoon game, against a Maccabi side that they had beaten comfortably towards the end of last season. However, the away side had strengthened over the summer and recently beat a Swinton FC team who were in Division 2 last season, so were expected to present a far greater challenge, especially as the weather conditions were surprisingly difficult with lots of surface water.
The early exchanges were fairly even and, although the Hurricanes had probably edged the majority of possession and territory, the Eagles were proving to be well-organised and difficult to break down. On the odd occasion that the Beechfield strikers did get through on goal, the diminutive visiting goalkeeper proved to be in excellent form.
However, after around 10 minutes of the game had passed, top-scorer Alfie Rostron decided that he’d waited long enough for a goal, as he raced into the opposition area, danced around one defender, rode a foul from another then coolly slotted the ball home, under the onrushing ‘keeper, for a well-deserved opener.
This seemed to spark a response from both teams, as Beechfield began to take control of the game and the Maccabi players began to employ some increasingly dirty tactics. Dillan Caldwell was the first to get clattered, just on the half way line, although he bravely continued and just moments later made a great run down the left that very nearly led to a second goal for the home team.
Oliver Hall was the next to experience some unpleasant treatment, as an Eagles striker forced his hand right into the home team captain’s face, which the referee didn’t even seem to notice?! Oliver responded in the best possible way though, as he battled to win the ball back, broke quickly down the right, stormed into the opposition box and hammered an unstoppable shot into the bottom right corner. It was such a good goal, it almost certainly justified the Ronaldo-style celebration that he treated us to afterwards?!
Despite a couple of further chances from Oliver Williams and Daniel Robinson, and a number of dangerous corners being whipped in by Amaan Khan, the score remained 2-0 as the teams headed into the break. A few wise words from coaches Ben Robinson and Glenn Whitehead, along with the usual half-time sugar rush for the players, had an amazing impact as they completely dominated for the next 20 minutes.
First to strike in the second half was Dillan Caldwell, who got some revenge for the heavy-handed treatment he’d suffered in the first half, as he brilliantly fired the ball home with the outside of his right foot from just inside the area, to put the Hurricanes 3-0 ahead with his first goal of the season, after a great run and pass from Henry Errington.
Next to score was Jamie Maher, who cleverly turned and volleyed home from close range to make it 3-0 to the home team with his first goal of the season, after a smart cross from the right by Joshua Whitehead. The provider then turned goal-scorer, as Joshua Whitehead was on hand to blast home his second goal of the season from point-blank range, to give Beechfield a deserved 5-0 lead, after Oliver Hall had rattled the crossbar with an effort from distance.
Although the visitors’ defence was beginning to look increasingly ragged, they did still pose a threat on the counter-attack and Hurricanes ‘keeper Oliver Dalton-Bunker had to be alert to hold on to a long-range shot from a Maccabi striker. The home goalkeeper’s next involvement was to take a short goal-kick to Oliver Hall, who strode forward and fed the ball into Henry Errington, who then slid a clever pass into the box where Alfie Rostron turned the last defender and hammered home for his second, and the team’s sixth, goal of the afternoon.
Man of the match Oliver Hall then hit a long, cross-field pass to Amaan Khan, who put the ball into the box where the Eagles’ goalkeeper initially made a good save, although Alfie Rostron’s strength and determination helped him to score his third goal of the game, and secure his third hattrick of the season after just six games!
As the final whistle approached, and the weather deteriorated even further, the Beechfield players seemed to take their foot off the gas which allowed the visitors a couple of late chances. Fabio Figueiredo had been solid in defence all afternoon for the home team, but his late withdrawal seemed to leave a gap at the back, which Maccabi exploited as they managed to poach two late goals.
This meant that the final score-line flattered the visiting team a little, as home ‘keeper Oliver Dalton-Bunker conceded his first goals of the season, but it did little to take the gloss off another comprehensive victory for the Hurricanes who have deservedly been promoted to Division 2, after six consecutive wins.
After the game, manager Ben Robinson said "Thanks everyone for making today's game, for and celebrating the win and promotion to Division 2 with us. We played against a very physical team today and we stood up to the challenge very well. We made plenty of chances and the final score-line could have been into double-figures, although I was a bit gutted that we didn’t keep a clean sheet, as we just seemed to switch off in the last 5 minutes. However, I thought we played some great football at times and every single player played their part. Well done boys, and well done to Oliver Hall on his man of the match performance”.
The Hurricanes squad for the match was: Oliver Dalton-Bunker, Fabio Figueiredo, Alfie Rostron, Amaan Khan, Oliver Williams, Oliver Hall, Henry Errington, Dillan Caldwell, Jamie Maher, Daniel Robinson and Joshua Whitehead.