MONDAY 13th AUGUST 2007

HYDE UNITED 3 v 6 VAUXHALL MOTORS

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

In an extraordinary nights football, a much-changed Vauxhall line-up stunned the home crowd by establishing a 3-0 interval lead, on the back of a superb first half showing by all concerned.  It was an advantage they held a further 20 minutes into the second period – and then Hyde grabbed the one goal that began an astonishing turnaround as Motors were swept away in a landslide!

There was no denying the quality of Motors’ opening 45, without both midfielders Mike Garrity and Carl Nesbitt plus striker Thomas Rooney, manager Carl Macauley moved Brian Moogan and Tom Field into the heart of the side – and drafted in last season’s top scorer Lee Furlong up front.  And he must have been delighted with what followed in the first half.

Livewire Paul Taylor quickly showed his class again, as he raced onto a fine Furlong knock-on to fire a powerful drive just inside the far post from the edge of the area after 10 minutes to give the visitors the lead.  If that surprised the hosts, it was nothing to what followed, because Hyde looked positive and the game was played at a fast and furious pace. On 31 minutes, Taylor netted his third goal of the season when he took full advantage of an under-hit backpass from Earl Davis and five minutes before the break, a wonderful back-heel by Furlong helped set up Field for an excellent left foot strike from 22 yards and Motors’ third of the night.

It had not been all one-way traffic by any means, despite the strong closing down by Motors from the start.  Sean Lake had to make three important saves in that first period, two from Dale Johnson and one from Nicky Clee, whilst other decent home chances went begging.

At the start of the second half, Taylor twice went close to adding to the visitors strike rate, but there were ominous signs at the other end too and once the Tigers got one, you fancied them to storm back into the game.  And that’s exactly what happened – with a vengeance!

Former Macclesfield striker Matthew Tipton struck the crucial goal on 66 minutes, prodding home a close range effort, following a long throw and head-on at the near post. And suddenly their tails were up!  Five minutes later, it was 2-3, when a Clee free kick grazed the shirt of a Vauxhall defender and arrowed into the top corner.

And just three minutes on, it was all-square, when Davis glanced a fine header from another set piece.  Then former Wrexham man Chris Simm took over center stage, by completing a stunning hat-trick in the final ten minutes to ease Hyde to victory.

The first was a brilliantly executed breakaway goal, which Simm headed home in style on 81 minutes.  Three minutes later, he struck a second from the inside right channel and another three minutes elapsed before his lobbed effort ended an incredible evenings football.

Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan, Dames, Griffiths, McMahon, Holmes, Field, Page, Furlong, Smith (Johnston 85), Taylor.  Sub not used: Macauley, O’Hare, Johnson, Longrigg.