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Match report: East End Park v Old Headingley
Old Headingley enjoyed a 5-3 win against East End Park in their latest league game.
East End Park 3
Old Headingley 5
Playing their first midweek fixture of the season, Old Headingley rebounded from a poor defeat in their opening game at Ilkley and emerged victorious from a rollercoaster encounter with a notoriously competitive East End Park side.
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Showing great character to recover from the setback of losing an early goal, Richard Hamilton's side set about restoring some much needed self-belief with a five goal salvo which would have given the scoreline an even more convincing gloss were it not for a strong comeback from the hosts.
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Making four changes from the side that lost at the weekend, Headingley set about attacking their opponents from the outset and only the width of the crossbar denied them a dream start in the opening moments. However, after five minutes the visitors failed to deal with a routine cross and the ball was bundled home from close range past George Clark to give East End Park the lead.
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Old Headingley's response was instant, with Andy Hallam beating the home team's offside trap only to see his effort bobble wide. After wasting a couple more promising dead ball situations Headingley drew level midway through the half when midfielder Pete Gillick burst beyond the home side's defence and held off a chasing defender to finish with his right foot. No sooner had they drawn level than the visitors took the lead. Seizing the opportunity to drive at retreating defenders, Ashley Austin burst through from midfield, rounded the goalkeeper, and then found Andy Hallam on hand to ram home the loose ball as it trickled towards the open goal with a defender in hot pursuit.
There was still time for the visitors to net a third before the interval, Austin this time on hand to finish off someone else's approach play as he finished with his right foot after a fine cutback from Gavin Johnstone.
Sensing that their opponents would come at them with renewed vigour after halftime, Hamilton sent his team out intent on increasing their lead and this approach was rewarded as another fine delivery from Johnstone was met with a classic centre forward's header from Sam Pickup who registered his first goal for the club.
When Andy Hallam skipped around East End Park's increasingly beleaguered defenders to set up Pickup for an easy finish for his second and Old Headingley's fifth goal with twenty five minutes still remaining, it seemed that the only question that remained to be answered was how many the visitors might end up scoring. However, a combination of renewed attacking fervour from the home side and some tired defending from the visitors saw Headingley's four goal lead halved to two by the time the final whistle was blown.
All in all, this was a vastly improved performance from the visiting Old Headingley team and one which should give the team confidence that on their day they can win at the toughest away venues in the league. The next challenge they must face though is that of producing their very best on the consistent basis that their league demands.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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