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Match report: Old Headingley v Campion FC
Old Headingley were taught County Cup lesson against Campion FC.
Old Headingley 0
Campion FC 4
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On a day when gale force winds left West Yorkshire's landscape battered and bruised, Old Headingley's players arrived at their Woodhall Lane home to find their path to the next round of the County Cup blocked not only by a fallen tree outside the changing rooms, but by the strong playing squad and reputation of Campion FC.
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With the two sides having met in the same competition in 2006/2007 and Campion prevailing en route to lifting the cup that season, Old Headingley were out for a measure of revenge but faced a tough task against opponents flying high at a more advanced level of the local footballing pyramid.
With nothing to lose, Richard Hamilton took the opportunity to re-jig his team's lineup and gave a first start of the season to Mike Smith in midfield, whilst also restoring Sam Pickup and Phil Harrington to the starting eleven.
The gusting wind blowing across the pitch made conditions difficult for both sides, but the visitors quickly set about moving the ball quickly across an immaculate playing surface and within minutes George Clark in the Headingley goal was being called into action.
The deadlock was broken on fifteen minutes when a free kick from Campion's left flank was not properly cleared and with the swirling wind causing confusion amidst Headingley's static defence, a desperate challenge from Mark Davies could not prevent the ball being forced home from close range.
This strike set the pattern for much of the first half, with marauding Campion midfielders linking well with their forwards and Clark being called on to make fine stops on numerous occasions.
At the other end, Headingley were not without their chances. Although finding it hard going against the visitors' strong midfield, Headingley's trio of Smith, Finch and Calvert were able to release frontman Liam Taylor on more than one occasion, providing the home side with attacking hope even if the Campion goalkeeper remained untested.
Although Headingley were applying themselves well, the number of saves that Clark was being asked to make and the number of times Headingley's defence was saved by marginal offside decisions meant that a second goal was likely, and as it came midway through the half it left gaffer Hamilton with a tough halftime teamtalk.
Introducing Steve Beck into the midfield for the second half and shifting formation, Headingley began with a renewed belief and sought to play with more width, linking Smith with Phil Harrington on the right and getting more options from Beck and Danny Keating on the left. With Taylor and Sam Pickup continuing to work tirelessly in attack and centre halves Andy Williams and Callum Butcher coping slightly more comfortably with Campion's strikers, Headingley put up a strong fight against their relentless opponents.
With the second period proving a relatively even contest, it was unfortunate errors from two of the home side's best performers that allowed Campion to double their two-goal advantage. Firstly, losing sight of a high ball in glaring sunlight, man of the match George Clark was beaten to his punch by an onrushing attacker who knew little about it but managed to deflect the ball in from six yards.
Minutes later, skipper Williams valiantly stretched to meet defend a cross just inside his own penalty area, but with a striker waiting to pounce behind him, his header wrong footed Clark and looped slowly into the top corner.
Headingley refused to lie down and still had time to create one fine chance to reward Mike Smith's box to box running. However, the image of one final sprawling save from Clark in the last minute, diverting the ball onto the crossbar and preventing the visitors from netting a fifth, summed up a tough afternoon for Old Headingley's players.
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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
