The sun fought through heavy fog to illuminate play on the 22 acres with the gloomy atmosphere
not being reflected in play, with Halifax playing sophisticated football to overwhelm Goodricke 4-2.
Goodricke started the match on the wrong foot having scraped a team together at the last minute
with Matt Whenen, showing great college spirit, having to step in at the last minute. However, they came
out fighting against a strong Halifax side. With Halifax enjoying the majority of the possession both in
the early stages and throughout the game it was only a matter of time before they scored however.
A corner gave them the opportunity they needed. Matt Darling took it, arcing the ball beautifully to
the near post to be finished with a diving header from Tom Patrickson. Goodricke keeper Ed Foster
managing only to get a finger on the ball and help it to its resting place at the back of the net.
The game continued to be enacted over mainly Goodricke territory with the men in green managing only a few
forays into the opposition’s half, kept out by an effective defence and especially effective keeping by
Jonny Sim; catching more shots than a fresher catches viruses.
Goodricke’s play stepped up in the latter stages of the half, working the ball between players with
more refinement shown than before. Credit especially to James Gutteridge who caused the Halifax
defenders a few panicky moments.
The first half closed with the score at 1-0, with both teams still having everything to play
for. Goodricke started the half a man down but was almost unnoticeable amid their drive and
enthusiasm.
Halifax’s eventual man of the match Dan Jones continued an inspired first half to claim the right
wing his own, pushing several ‘Fax attacks up to the goal line. His hard work was soon to pay off.
His determined run past the dumbfounded Goodricke defence culminated in a chip from the by-line
to Hamish Denham on the penalty spot who skilfully found the right corner, giving the keeper no
chance.
A sustained attack from Goodricke resulted in a lucky goal, with a shot from Sam Lewis trickling
under the diving Halifax keeper.
Halifax bit back soon afterwards with a great assist from Jones. Half time sub Adam Saunders fired
the ball from the keeper’s box into the back of the net, parting the defence like Moses at the red
sea. With the score at 3-1 Halifax seemed assured of victory.
However, Goodricke made the score sheet 3-2 with a controversial goal. Debate raged between the
players and ref over whether the ball actually crossed the goal line before clearing the cross bar.
After an emotional response (especially from injured Halifax captain Beadle on the side lines) the
goal was allowed. The dense fog did obscure vision for ref Phil Taylor and it would have been an
incredibly difficult call.
Halifax were awarded a penalty after a foul by Astbury against Jones in the box lit both players’
fuses. Ed Foster calmly stepped between them and added mediator to his duties on the pitch. Tom
Ragan confidently put away the penalty and allowed Halifax to breathe easier in the final minutes of
the game.
Halifax’s Jack Beadle commented on his team’s ‘great win’ and predicting ecstatically that he
believed his team would ‘genuinely not lose another game this year’. A somewhat confident
prediction but in lieu of his team’s grand performance today perhaps not a rash one.