(Click here to view the 2008-09 season results and match reports)
LATEST RESULT
27 August 2016 - Northop Hall Old Boys 1 Hawarden Veterans 5
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27 August 2016 - Northop Hall Old Boys 1 Hawarden Veterans 5
The season finally got underway at the Pavilion with Halkyn Vets the visitors under their new guise of Hawarden. Being a bank holiday weekend, both sides were under-strengthed with players away or downed by pre-season injuries (not least the double leg break suffered by Hawarden's Jason Davies over the summer for which we wish him well). Amongst the Old Boys absentees, last season's double player of the year keeper Gaz Pringle was away, as was his predecessor for the players' player award, Mike Maletta and last campaign's ever-present Dave Henrys instantly lost that tag for 2016/17 missing this opener through injury.
Also without 2015/16's three leading scorers, Darren Brierley, Mike "Saucy" Salusbury and Rich Millington, as well as the continued absence of previous golden boot winner Mark 'Sparky' Ray, the home side were always going to struggle up front and so it proved, although not through lack of effort. Sporting a new kit for the season, the Old Boys set out to at least keep things tight.
However, they left themselves with a mountain to climb by going a goal down inside the first minute of the game, the pace of the two Hawarden strikers catching the home defence off guard and slow to start, stand-in keeper Tim Sproston picking the ball out of the net as his first touch.
The warning signs were there when the same combination again put Tim's goal under threat soon after, but he was out smartish off his line to make the save. However, on quarter of an hour, Halkyn took a two-goal lead when a right wing corner was headed in at the far post totally unopposed with the Old Boys static.
There were efforts at both ends as the half developed. Tim Sproston isn't a natural keeper and he nervously flapped at one cross and was glad to see the chance missed while he could do nothing but watch another low shot hit his left post and ricochet across the line and away to safety.
For the Old Boys, Dan Hicks had a shot just wide, while Steve Buckley came closest with a far post header from Darren Molyneux's deep cross but he couldn't get enough power on it to beat the visiting keeper. Craig Fitzpatrick on his debut for Northop Hall, combined well with Dan Hicks to fashion a decent chance for Craig Jones, but he couldn't get his shot on target from the edge of the box. Mel Barnes and Chris Jones also saw efforts smothered as they tried desperately to find a goal.
Half time:- 0-2
Having been caught flat at the opening to the first half, the manager would have wanted a better start to the second period but amazingly it began in identical fashion, a killer third goal coming as the defence again struggled to deal with the pace of the two strikers and once again Tim Sproston having little chance of keeping it out.
Craig Jones sent a long shot narrowly over the angle soon after, the closest the Old Boys had come to a goal all game, but they went even further behind when possession was given away cheaply from a throw in in their own half and Tim Sproston advanced too far from his line as Hawarden attacked leaving the opportunity to be chipped which was duly taken to make it 4-0.
Chances continued for the visitors, Tim making amends with a couple of decent saves, but were at a premium for Northop Hall, even after the young legs of Damo's lad Jamie replaced Mel Barnes up front. They were undone again as the ball was punted forward, the centre back missing his clearing header and the rest of the defence stood looking for an offside that wasn't there as the striker calmly advanced to goal unchallenged to add the fifth.
With just over ten minutes left the Old Boys registered their first goal of the season, right back Darren Molyneux pouncing on a slack defensive pass across the visitors' penalty area to thump the ball into the top corner for the consolation.
A difficult opener for the Old Boys with key players missing but a decent debut from new boy Craig Fitzpatrick, the return of Damian Molyneux from injury and a busy midfield performance from Craig Jones (for which he earned the first man-of-the-match nomination of the new season) were a few plus points. Oh, and the new kit looked smart!
Team: Tim Sproston, Darren Molyneux, Pete Dessington (Damian Molyneux), Nick Harris, John Weaver, Craig Fitzpatrick, Steve Buckley, Craig Jones, Dan Hicks, Chris Jones (John Edmunds), Mel Barnes (Jamie Wellings)
(Click here to view the 2009-10 season results and match reports)
(Click here to view the 2010-11 season results and match reports)
(Click here to view the 2011-12 season results and match reports)
(Click here to view the 2012-13 season results and match reports)
(Click here to view the 2013-14 season results and match reports)
(Click here to view the 2014-15 season results and match reports)
(Click here to view the 2015-16 season results and match reports)