The Blues were downed by a goal in each half in this dogfight of a game against NPL Premier Division opposition but it certainly wasn’t a Hyde-ing! (I’ll get my coat…)
Tom Jackson’s busy afternoon started in the 6th minute with Hyde’s first break, Jacko palming away a stinging drive.
Les Bleus went straight down the other end, for Sam Cable to hit an angled shot that the Hyde keeper, listed as Triallist A, caught comfortably.
Jacko kept the Blues on level terms with two more smart stops before Hyde took the lead in the 17th minute. Traillist C got on the end of a diagonal ball to score from about 8 yards out. It was already a proud day for the Triallist family with four of their lads in the Hyde lineup, so C getting on the scoresheet must have been the icing on the cake.
Three minutes later, Jacko was there again to foil the Hyde attack, chesting a shot away. And not long after, the Blues were saved by the woodwork, Hyde hitting the angle of the goal before blazing the rebound well over.
The following quarter of an hour saw a war off attrition as the Frickley defence and midfield fought a rearguard action against Hyde pressure, preventing any clear cut chances.
The best of Les Bleus attempts came from a Brad Mears cross to Jack Mc but the challenge from a towering Hyde centre half averted the danger. HT 1-0.
The Azzurri came out on the front foot, Haze and Sam C linked up well on two occasions in the first three minutes of the half. The first was well defended and the second ended with a venomous Cable volley going just wide of the back post.
Hyde hit back with a quick move in the 54th minute, that set up Jack Dyche on the edge of the box to slip the ball past Jacko for Hyde’s second.
More midfield scrapping was the order of much of the rest of the second period, both sides largely cancelling each other out.
The Blues did have the ball in the net late on when Haze put in a crunching challenge on the keeper but the ref adjudged it to be an unfair one and gave a free kick instead.
Jacko came to the rescue for a final time, seconds before the final whistle, making yet another fine save to prevent Hyde extending their lead. FT 2-0.
This was a physical pre season affair that the Blues ultimately lost, but they were resolute and were never overawed by quality opponents from a higher division, rumoured to contain a triallist from Manchester United and definitely containing Bailey Gooda, formerly of this parish. Also, considering what a quick game this was on Hyde’s plastic pitch, the Azzurri really weren’t too far away from where they want to be. The hard work continues…
WEBMASTER MOTM – The Azzurri put in a decent showing with plenty of individual performances of note. Toddy, Sam L, Liam Carrick and Jack Harrison were industrious in their shepherding of a mobile Hyde attack. Nenad and Hoggy constantly mixed it in midfield. The front three of Haze, Jack Mc and Sam C plugged away against a very solid and muscular Hyde back four. However, the Glitterball has to go to Tom Jackson, his shot stopping was superb from first to last. Congrats Jacko!
We thank all those that travelled for their support. Our final pre season game is next Saturday at Ponte Colls, 3pm ko. We hope you can make it for the next instalment of the ‘El Clasicoal’ derby!
