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17th
February
2004
Latest AFC Gornal News by John Gornal Gavin Parkes and Manager Richard Upton are back on the same wavelength following problems reported earlier this month. Striker Dave Jones is now banned from action for eight weeks after his red card earlier in the season. John Magher has received a 21 day ban following his sending off in the recent home match against Blakedown. Rumours of a new signing at the club are rife and the player in question is believed to be Former Gornal sports striker Adam Beadles. Beadles is currently without a club following the folding of Gornal Sports, whilst Dave jones's Ban leaves upton with only two fit Strikers. Afc Gornal 1 Tenth lock Harrriers 2 (15/2/04) Afc Gornal played host to Tenth Lock Harriers in the ‘Hospital minor cup’ on Sunday. It was the first time this season that the top two sides in division three of the Kidderminster league locked horns and as expected it was a tight and nervy game with very little between them. Richard Upton went into the game with a few problems, most notably the virus that kept john Magher from taking his place in the starting eleven. Luke Middleton, Gavin Atkins and Ben Small also failed to show. Upton also took the decision to relegate top scorer Dave Jones to the bench ahead of his 8 week ban and replace him with Gav Parkes. As to be expected the match was frenzied and tackles were flying in as neither side wanted to lose this encounter - it could give a physiological advantage to the other in the current league battle. The two sides were evenly matched throughout the half and it looked as though the game could be decided on a piece of individual skill or a mistake. As the half wore on though Afc gornal became a little sluggish and Tenth Lock began to create a few chances. Twice they were kept at bay by the brilliance of Shaun Flynn in the Afc Goal, whilst defensive trio Ian Palmer, Simon Flavell and Mart Collingride all made telling interceptions towards the break. Afc did threaten on occasions; Adam Checketts delivered a cross from the left to an unmarked Scott Palmer but the wingback completely missed his kick. Nick Cockburn was in the thick of most Gornal moves and his quick feet deceived his marker close on half time, only to be savagely taken out by a high and wild tackle. This forced his retirement at half time. After a half time re-shuffle due to Cockburn’s injury, where Jones was brought on, Adam Checketts pushed out wide and Andy Checketts asked to play a central role, Gornal began the half brighter and should have gone ahead after only a couple of minutes. Rob Bates delivered a perfect cross from the right only to see Adam Checketts misjudge the flight of the ball and miss his header. Further efforts followed through Bates and Lee Harrison, but it was the visitors who took the lead on the hour - a neat passing move which carved open the Gornal defence led to a easy tap in for the Tenth Lock striker. Afc gornal responded almost immediately through Gavin Parkes. Parkes held the ball up on the half way line, Jones switched the play to Rob Bates and his pass found Parkes again, who made no mistake when through 1 on 1 with the keeper. As the game wore on Gornal again began to look tired and a combination of that and some sloppy passing led to further chances for the visitors. Collingride providing some heroic blocks at times, while keeper Shaun Flynn was again proving his worth between the sticks. It was almost |a true heroe's performance from Collingride with 15 minutes to go when he went forward for a Robbie Bates corner and saw his header crash against the underside of the bar, hacked to safety by the Tenth Lock defence. The visitors then stole victory. Allowed too much time in the Afc penalty area, the ball was turned home from close range despite the best efforts of Flynn. So for the second successive week afc gornal have tasted defeat and Rich Upton will have to rally his troops for next weeks league encounter with bottom of the table Burlish Olympic. Team: S.Flynn: M.Collingride, S.Flavell, I.Palmer: A.Checketts, L. Harrison, R.Bates, N.Cockburn (D.Jones 45), S.Palmer: G.Parkes Adam Checketts. Man Of the Match: Martin Collingride Goalscorer: Gavin Parkes (1) --> |
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