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Match report: Altofts v Old Headingley
A scruffy goal and the self-confidence that comes from winning games was all that separated two evenly matched teams at Altofts as Headingley succumbed to a disappointing defeat.
Altofts 1
Old Headingley 0
With both sides playing their first fixtures after an enforced fortnight's break due to the arctic conditions in West Yorkshire, Altofts found their stride quicker than their opponents and saw off Headingley's threat by coping with the elements the better of the two teams during the decisive opening half hour.
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With Paul Harrington making his first start of the season in midfield and Callum Butcher, Tim Manuel and Oli Hubbard back in the defensive unit, Richard Hamilton rang the changes in his lineup.
However, playing the first half against a strong wind and on a bouncy surface, Headingley found themselves on the back foot against a team keen to get the ball forward quickly in an effort to utilise their 'little and large' strike partnership.
After stout defending from Headingley's back line had snuffed out numerous Altofts raids and the referee had turned a deaf ear to more than one claim for a penalty from the home side, it was no surprise when they took the lead after a corner was not fully cleared by Headingley and amidst the bodies pushing out from the penalty area a slightly scuffed drive left Leigh Fearn wrong footed and ended up in the net from twenty yards out.
Approaching halftime, Headingley did begin to enjoy a bit of success, mainly prospering down their left flank as first Andy Hallam found space in the penalty area only to be crowded out before he could shoot, and then a freekick was won 25 yards from goal which after being blocked by the defensive wall fell to Callum Butcher eight yards out. As his shot on the turn bounced agonisingly wide of the leaded footed goalkeeper's left hand post Headingley's best chance of the half went begging.
In the second half the visitors had the wind in their favour and enjoyed more territorial dominance. With Harrington, Gillick & Kempton coming into the game more in midfield and substitute Oli Seed running the channels profitably, Altofts found themselves penned back.
A succession of corners and set pieces were won but repelled by the home team's defence and with Altofts still threatening on the break through their pacy attack, Headingley could never completely throw caution to the wind.
A stretching header from Seed proved the visitors' best opportunity of the game, and as the game entered the closing stages Altofts again resumed control of the game, with Leigh Fearn forced into a fine save from a free kick and Andy Williams perhaps fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after an uncompromising challenge on an attacker who seemed to be through on goal.
Two years ago a confident Old Headingley team may have come here and won this close contest.
With their league campaign a bit more stop/start this time around, Hamilton's men were found to be ever so slightly lacking in belief and came off second best to a team who seemed to have that quality in abundance.
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
