Slazenger 4’s lost their previous encounter against Barnsley so it was very encouraging that Slazengers started this match with a high tempo and built penetrating attacks from the start. Using both flanks, the home side managed to get behind the Barnsley defence several times before one of these attacks resulted in a goal when Harry Bullock fortuitously managed to reverse hit the ball into the far corner. The keeper was undone by the speed of the shot and was expecting something a little harder than the tame shot that sneaked over the goal line.
Barnsley tried to get back into the game but resolute defending and tight marking throughout the team denied the opposition time on the ball. Aidan Hopkinson enjoyed a titanic struggle against one of the adult players and despite being up ended a couple of times kept on returning back to his defensive duties with renewed vigour. This galvanised the rest of the team to follow his example.
The game ebbed and flowed in midfield but the home team continued to create the better goalscoring opportunities either side of half-time, without increasing the single goal advantage.
The game turned in the space of ten minutes in the second half when Barnsley conceded 3 goals in quick succession.
Two goals were very similar with Ian Hedges and Matthew Stacey on either wing putting good crosses at pace into the goalmouth and the third came from a penalty corner.
The scorers were Tim Hunter, Aidan Hopkinson and Harry added to his earlier conversion.
Final score was 4-0 to the home side and just to mention Dave Gascoigne, at left half, making his league debut for the team who sufficiently gained in confidence in the second half to go on a skillful run down the wing in front of an appreciative crowd.
Slazenger 4’s next fixture is away at Airedale.
