Premier Division
Fairford Town 0 North Leigh FC 0
Saturday, 05 October 2002
Fairford Town faced last season?s Hellenic Premier Division champions and this season?s early table toppers North Leigh. Fairford, guarding a 6 game unbeaten run, and with one of the best defensive records in the league this was going to be a good test for Fairford, as key midfielder and captain Lee Clark was away preparing for the ?Great North Run? and regular team member Jamie Webb and Dave Tyler out with injury. Reserve team regulars Alan Stratford and Steve Owen were drafted in to the squad and sat on the bench.
The game started with North Leigh the first to attempt a shot at goal on 15 minutes when Adam Hamp hoofed the ball over the Fairford cross bar with only the keeper to beat. The first 25 minutes North Leigh were showing why they are sitting on top of the Hellenic League, playing the better football of the two teams and restricting Fairford to their own half, and frustrating them when they did come forward with the off side trap. The first half was delayed while two North Leigh players received treatment, resulting in 2 substitutions in the half when Craig Pearman and Harry Burnley were replaced by Mark Jackson and ex Fairford Town striker Chris Panter respectively. Chances came and went for both sides for the rest of the half, as both teams defence stood firm especially James Price in the Fairford goal who looked in fine form and looking for his 6th clean sheet of the season.
Half Time: 0 - 0
Fairford started the second half as North Leigh started the first, dominating the play. With chances falling to Paul Johnson on 51 minutes and Neil Matthews on 52 minutes Fairford started to stamp some authority on this game. Sean Bott was booked for North Leigh on 57 minutes as North Leigh were looking frustrated. A minute later a North Leigh free kick resulted in James Price being felled by a North Leigh elbow with nothing seen by either referee or his assistant. A Fairford chance on 61 minutes saw a Carl Stevenson shot fly over the bar and three minutes later North Leigh?s Nick Hughes attempted a 30 yard shot which James Price saved with a finger tip save over the bar. Another chance fell to Fairford when Gareth Davies sailed his shot over the bar on 71 minutes. With too many long balls both teams defence was doing their job on the day.
The 80th minute saw Russell Jones shown a yellow card and a minute later a goal mouth scramble in ensued as the pressure from Fairford continued and North Leigh started to show signs of tiring.
Fairford then introduced some fresh legs on 85 minutes as David Legg came on for the previously booked Russell Jones. The late winner never came and the teams shared the points, with Fairford disappointed they didn?t snatch all three points.
Saturday 5th October Fairford face a tough trip to Yate Town in the League who are unbeaten and have scored 23 goals in 8 games. It will also be a chance to catch up with Kevin Coles Fairford Town captain last season, who left pre-season to joint Yate Town for a larger wage packet.
Russell Jones is suspended for a week and misses the Tuffley Rovers Floodlit Cup tie on Wednesday and Yate Town in the League next Saturday.
Teams:
Fairford Town
James Price, Phil Ward, Andy Morris, Russell Jones, Lee Kilfoyle, Carl Stevenson, Gareth Davies, Paul Johnson, Lee Stoddart, Neil Matthews, Courteney Chessell, David Legg, Alan Stratford, Steve Owen, Subs: David Legg for Russell Jones.
North Leigh
Kevin Alder, Garry Murphy, Craig Pearman, Mark Lewis, Stuart Huxley, Joe Burnell, Matty Ellis, Shaun Bott, Adam Hamp, Harry Burnley, Nick Hughes, Chris Panter, Mark Jackson, Mark Gee, Subs: Harry Burnley for Chris Panter, Craig Pearman for Mark Jackson.
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