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Thu 1st January, 2004 |
Dr Martens Premier League |
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Grantham Town 1 - 1 Hinckley United |
| Hinckley: |
 |
Whittle |
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Cartwright |
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Lenton |
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Jackson
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Penny
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Piercewright |
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Storer
(Stone 77mins) |
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Dyer |
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Jenkins |
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Smith |
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Murray
(Crowley 77mins) |
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| team: |
| 1. |
Ziccardi |
| 2. |
Wooding |
| 3. |
Fox |
| 4. |
Minett |
| 5. |
Dakin |
| 6. |
Gould |
| 7. |
Wilson |
| 8. |
Kearns
(P.Wilkin 90mins) |
| 9. |
K.Wilkin
(Slinn 71mins) |
| 10. |
Clarke
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| 11. |
Inman |
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| Goals: |
| Clarke, 27 mins |
1 - 0 |
| Jackson, 87 mins |
1 - 1 |
| |
| Half Time: |
1 - 0 |
| Full Time: |
1 - 1 |
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the Hird Dimension: |
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Hello my darlings, well from my stairlift in heaven I've been looking down on
you all, and in particular that lovely football team in red & blue. Me and
Jimi Hendrix love a bit of 'knitting' of an evening and we really can't wait for
Geri Halliwell to join us for a threesome. Knit one, Perl one, deary. So we
thought what better way to pass our time than to follow the Knitter's football
team.
There isn't that lovely, then. |
Welcome once again, my little darlings, into the knitting lounge for the first
time in 2004. Busy night on New Years Eve in heaven, all the angels dress up as
devils and even St Peter had his fishnets and wig on. Anyway being as it's still
early there's just me and Jimi in the knitting lounge today. The first match of
the new year would be at Grantham. When Jimi told me it was at an Athletics
stadium I was quite looking forward to seeing Fathima Whitbread, Daley Thompson
and that lovely Jonathon Edwards. I was disappointed when Jimi told me it would
only be football, the only way we'd see a long jump was if we were in the dressing
room for a Dean Thomas half time talk.
Hinckley started well enough, even though it was a very heavy pitch, with Chris
Smith forcing a save and Andy Penny's header going over. Jamie Lenton on two
occassions crossed perfectly for Justin Jenkins and then Leon Jackson, but
Ziccardi in the Grantham goal was equal to them and saved from both. Then Tommy
Whittle kept the scores level by tipping a Martin Fox 20 yard 'thunderbolt' onto
the cross bar. This should have been a warning but went unheeded as Grantham then
took the lead against the run of play, according to Jimi. Staurt Wilson crossed
deep to Jamie Clarke who's first shot was well saved by Whittle, but the rebound
fell straight at the feet of Clarke who calmly slotted home. This lifted Grantham
and before half time could've extended their lead. Jamie Kearns shot wide when
well placed and Martin Fox tried another long range effort only to see it go over
just before the half time whistle.
Jimi's first half thoughts: Hinckley had been doing all the running up to the
goal, they'd had 4 or 5 good chances but failed to convert any. Grantham had kept
plugging away, and lucky or not, had got their goal and began to grow more in
confidence.
Second half was much more scrappy as the playing surface began to cut up and get
heavier. Grantham were content to let Hinckley attack and try and hit them on the
break. Justin Jenkins did well to make space for himself in the area, but slipped
at the crucial moment and the lovely young Neil Cartwright saw his goal bound
effort blocked on the line. Jenkins had a sublime moment on the hour when he
caught Ziccardi stranded only to see his 'lob' clear the keeper but also just
over the bar. Jackson and again Jenkins were both guilty of wasting headers before
Hinckley finally got the equaliser they deserved. Jamie Lenton had his 'light on'
full beam and put in another perfect cross for the lovely young Neil Cartwright
to head back across the goal. Leon Jackson was on hand at the far post to power
the ball home from close range. Unbelievably Hinckley might have won it with the
last kick of the game. Chris Smith turned his man in the area and one on one with
Ziccardi, the keeper managed to get just enough leg on the ball to stop it going
in the goal. The final whistle went and the first match of the year had ended in
a 1 - 1 draw.
Jimi's overall opinion: Grantham had let Hinckley back in after their goal and
breakaway's were never going to come to anything. Even so Hinckley couldn't break
down a packed defence and even when they did Ziccardi was on top form. After all
the approach work an equaliser was deserved but it would have been unjust to have
scored a winner with the last kick. But then again... |
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