Despite the mid-week downpour, the tireless efforts of the ground staff ensured Simpasture Park was playable this weekend as Huntsman FC took on Yates. Huntsman were forced into making a couple of changes as Marc Percival and Shaun Mackintosh were replaced by Jamie Herd and the recently engaged Steven Williams.
After a slow start Huntsman got into their stride and on 20 minutes Shaun Sproates squared a ball to Mike Sproates who guided it past the keeper with his weaker left foot. The second soon followed. – a lovely bit of link up play from both strikers gave Jamie Herd the opportunity to slot it into the net. Within minutes, Herd was on the score sheet again, a lovely ball over the top from Anth Cox was plucked out of the air by Herd who gave the keeper the eyes and side footed into the net. Huntsman led 3-0 at half time.
They started the second half in cruise control, Anth Cox nipped in at the front post to convert the low cross on 46 minutes. It wasn’t long before he grabbed his second; the ball played through by Carl Bates and calmly converted by Cox. His hat-trick followed in quick succession as a well-timed through ball from Mike Sproates put Cox in 1 on 1 and the goal was never in doubt.
The 7th saw another hat-trick, for Jamie Herd who picked the ball up and drilled it home from the edge of the area. Dave Neale decided to get in on the action, the tee up from Shaun Sproates was put into the side netting from 18 yards.
Despite being unable to find the net the week before, Shaun Sproates found form with a hat-trick in the space of 5 minutes. Shrugging off the biggest lad on the field to grab the first and a lovely left foot finish made it two. He was then put through one on one before rounding the keeper to tap into the empty net. A quick re-count confirmed it was 11-0 by this point.
Anth Harrison gave the fans something to smile about late on as he was played through on goal. The chasing defender attempted an ambitious shoulder barge but sadly found himself up against a brick wall and was left watching from the floor as Harrison grabbed himself a debut goal. Bryan Durr was itching to get on the score sheet for the third week in a row and managed to do so in the dying minutes, sliding a one on one past the keeper, who clearly just wanted to call it a day. Thankfully, the ref blew 5 minutes early, just as everyone was starting to lose count. Man of the Match deservedly went to Shaun Sproates who set up the majority of goals and grabbed himself a hat-trick.
Huntsman away to Wheatsheaf this week before returning to home action on December 8th against Tompkins.