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Jordon's goalfest helped the Hurst to a 14-0 victory over 8-man Drofmor |
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Woodhurst |
14-0 |
Drofmor Rovers |
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Parmiters Sport Ground |
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10.30pm, Sunday 7th November 04 |
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Essex Sunday Junior Cup Round 2 |
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Referee: G Thatcher |
After a fortnight of bulging squads, Sunday league football proved once again just how fickle a mistress it can be to Woodhurst with weddings, injuries and late nights depleting the Nelson Road outfit to a paltry 13 for the Essex Sunday Cup Round 2 fixture with former Independent Sunday League rivals Drofmor Rovers.
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Luckily, gaffer Roy Lawley was never any good with numbers anyway and barely noticed, re-shuffling his playing staff in all three departments with consummate ease.
Clifford eased into a central defence partnership with "Crazy Legs" Nick Bashford, alongside Fullerton who made his first start in yellow for many weeks in the right back slot.
The barrel-chested Tony Taylor occupying his usual left full back berth. Lawley also rang the changes in the midfield with Owusu stepping into a wide right role and Hughes filling in next to Ladbury to add some northern bite to the middle of the park, Souleyman completing the compliment on the left.
Upfront saw fresh-faced nancy boy Probert given the nod ahead of Sheppard who looked like he'd been on the tiles with Shane McGowan and George Best the previous evening. The final spot given to the promising Jordon.
Since inheriting the Parmiters hotseat, Roy Lawley has brought something new to Woodhurst, the very real sense that anything less than 100% effort means that any player will face the prospect of a game on the bench the following week. Unless of course the player in question is a centre half and then he's pretty much guaranteed a game.
Armed with the now traditional inspirational Lawley pre-match speech, a pumped-up Woodhurst side took the field only to be faced with a severely weakened Drofmor squad of just 8. Shortly before kick-off the boss warned against complacency, but within seconds of the start of the game it became clear that this was going to be a one horse race throughout with Jordan and Probert both going close.
The space allowed in midfield due to the missing visiting players proved costly with the wide players penetrating down the flanks at will, Ladbury making intelligent runs and Hughes threading in balls behind the Drofmor back line. Inevitably within minutes the goals started coming thick and fast with Jordan, Probert and Ladbury getting in the score sheet in quick succession.
Without the usual playful ribbing from his usual strike partner, Jordan looked like a new player alongside Probert, netting a first half hat trick. Owusu also finding the onion bag before the half time whistle brought a welcome respite for the visitors. 6-0.
The second half was one full of goals, but also full of missed opportunities. The central midfield pairing showing some sloppy finishing, although Hughes saw an effort cannon off the inside of the angle and bounce along the goal line before being cleared. Perhaps the most amusing miss came from young Probert, who having rounded the 'keeper, side stepped the last defender and faced with an open goal, clipped the outside of the post from 3 yards.
Despite these misses, the goals continued to rain in with almost everybody getting in on the act. By full-time the mighty 'Hurst had clocked up a record 14 goals - their most convincing victory of all time. Some tough decisions and sleepless nights lie ahead for Lawley as some big names return for action next week.
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Team
Tom Gray
Jason Fullerton
Tony Taylor
Patrick Ladbury
Jenssen Clifford
Nick Bashford
Simon Probert
Nigel Jordon
Kofi Owusu
Steve Hughes
Jan Souleyman
Subs:
Andrew Sheppard
Roy Lawley
Jimmy Woodham
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Tom Gray
