Hebden B Saints Juniors u132

THIS game had been postponed so many times that, despite the rain and the prospect of a mud bath, both teams were eager to play.

In the conditions subtlety was inevitably discarded for a physically draining hit and run.

Saints pushed for a goal but time after time it was difficult to move the ball anywhere in the mud and both teams struggled to create chances.

Finally Saints managed to gain the advantage when Joe Elwin delivered a superb cross for Josh Highley to shoot into the top corner of the net.

Littleborough fought back and counter-attacked, deep into the first half of extra time, and found the equaliser that they were after.

With some excellent defending from Sam Rowntree, Tom Barclay, Jared Brooks, Nick Murphy and flying saves from goalkeeper, Richard Roberts, Saints managed to keep Littleborough at bay.

As they fought a determined battle in midfield, Seb Holmes and Jay Glover managed to keep the ball going forward, feeding strikers Ryan Roberts and Jas Duncan.

Finally a ball to Roberts saw him sprint through the defence and slide the ball past the advancing keeper into the back of the net.

Roberts had a chance to put the game beyond Littleborough when, having beaten the keeper, he had the ball taken of his toes by a sliding tackle just as he was about to tap in.

As the final whistle brought an end to a gruelling and competitive game the players pledged to return Littleborough’s pitch – once the mud had hardened and could be peeled off them.

Hebden B Saints Ladies u124

Poole u121

SAINTS put on a great display when they travelled to Poole in Wharfedale.

Both teams created plenty of chances but Saints scored first when Amy Sim dribbled round two defenders and slid the ball below the keeper.

Five minutes later and Lauren Murgatroyd launched home the second goal, prompting Poole to pile on the pressure in an attempt to get back into the game.

Despite some solid defending from CheryLea Eliss and Rhiannon Healey, Poole pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Saints replied quickly –, Sim came close to getting her second and Neeve Fisher hit the crossbar, before Murgatroyd took the ball from the halfway line and outpaced the defence to fire her second.

After the interval Poole again tried spiritedly to get back into the game but superb clearances from Luanne Thornton ensured that the Saints keeper was hardly troubled.

Sim, Murgatroyd and Fisher all came close before Healey completed the scoring with a cracking 15-yard shot.

Hebden Bridge Saints u-121

Garforth Villa u-121

SAINTS completed a good weekend’s work on Sunday, drawing a thoroughly entertaining end-to-end thriller.

Garforth scored first when a goal-mouth scramble from a corner could not be cleared effectively. But Saints slowly fought their way back into the game.