Hellenic League Division One West

Tytherington Rocks 1 North Leigh United 5

TYTHERINGTON Rocks were facing another team from the top four in the Hellenic League Division One West and the clash with North Leigh United was always going to be a test.

But, to their credit, the determination of Tytherington was once again in evidence.

Despite eventually going down 5-1, the home spectators were treated to a rare brief spell when their team led by a goal.

That came in the 19th minute, when Rocks’ Ebou Touray, after a jinking run, drove a shot low to the right of the North Leigh United’s keeper.

The home team should actually have taken the lead earlier when the visiting keeper parried a shot to the feet of a Rocks forward who, with the keeper on the ground, missed the open target.

North Leigh stepped up the pressure and on 23rd minutes, their efforts were rewarded with a penalty which Ben Green converted to level the score.

For the next half-hour, the play rapidly moved from end-to-end.

The Rocks defenders pressed up-field to frustrate the visiting attack whilst the North Leigh forwards ran ahead of the ball in their enthusiasm to home in on goal.

On 39 minutes, an accurate corner from the right gave an easy header which was gratefully netted by Matt Spooner for the visitor’s second score.

A competitive first 45 minutes left Tytherington Rocks with a rare chance to take something from the game, finely balanced at 2-1 as it was.

The second-half started with both teams searching for the crucial next goal.

An hour elapsed and Rocks subs were used to reinforce a new aggression rarely seen at the Hardwicke Field this season.

It was North Leigh, however, who broke the deadlock on 73 minutes when slack marking at another corner allowed North Leigh’s Tom Harvey a soft header to open a 3-1 gap.

Goals from Jamie Mcuaig a minute later, and Jon Roberts on 89 minutes completed the scoring and although the statistics record a convincing win, it was an improved performance which, as is often the case, is difficult to appreciate on paper.

Tytherington Rocks next Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West game is this Saturday against Cirencester Town Development, kick-off 3pm.