Premier Division
Pegasus Juniors 0 North Leigh FC 2
Saturday, 01 March 2003
Playing the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League leaders in successive games is a difficult task for any side but following a two-goal defeat the previous week the Hereford side acquitted themselves well and were unfortunate to lose the game in atrocious conditions.
Both sides made a number of changes from the previous week, with Adriano Girolami, Laurence Helme and Peter Wallace returning for the home side whilst Steve Aubrey and Keith Holmans were unavailable through illness and injury. Danny Moon returned to the club after a spell with Kington Town and slotted in as a direct replacement for Aubrey. For the fourth successive game Pegasus had call on the services a different goalkeeper following injuries to Matt Taylor and John Mahoney and Mark Hopkins, this week 18 years old James Morgan a product of the youth system, made his first team debut. North Leigh welcomed back captain Gary Murphy to provide even more quality to a competent back four with plenty of Dr. Marten?s experience between them. Such was the determination and never say die attitude of the Hereford side Morgan was only called upon to make two decent saves, he could not be faulted for either of the goals conceded. The first period was a tight closely contested even affair with neither goalkeeper being forced into serious action as the players tried in vain to master the very difficult windy conditions. The North Leigh management and supporters were grateful to reach the interval on level terms.
Half Time: 0-0
As the second half began so did the rain, accompanied by thunder and many flashes of lightening, it became so heavy there was a distinct possibility the game would be abandoned due to the monsoon like conditions. This suited the visitors who adapted with a long ball game out of defence for the fast and mobile forwards to chase. They scored in the third minute of the half when Mark Lewis scored with a diving header from a corner kick. It stunned the Hereford side for a few minutes and revitalised North Leigh as the yellow and blacks poured forward in search of another goal to consolidate the game, however, manager Paul Mann has galvanised his players into a resolute solid unit with a commitment that was found wanting earlier in the season. During this period Andy Hamp forced Morgan to make two superb full length saves albeit one was when he was in an offside position. Matt Gray, Darren Braithwaite and man of the match Moon provided the debutant with plenty of support by restricting the leagues leading scorers to less than a handful of goal scoring opportunities. With ten minutes remaining Matty Ellis and Braithwaite tangled on the eighteen yard line; the match official surprisingly pointed to the penalty spot. Sean Bott converted his sixth penalty kick and sixteenth goal of the season. Almost straight from the restart Leigh Harris almost capitalised on a defensive mix up as Kevin Alder pushed the strikers shot away from the foot of the near upright.
North Leigh were obviously relieved when the final whistle was blown, Pegasus Juniors will probably play much worse than this in future games and will gain all three points. There was much for Mann and his charges to take from the two fixtures against the Champions elect, in fact the players felt they should have gained some reward for their efforts, the neutral support would probably agree.
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