First Team Match Reports

Saturday 5th May 2001. WisbechTown Res. 0 Hadleigh
United 1

Team Line Up: 1)M.Paisley 2)J.Chinnery 3)B.Willingham 4)A.Arnold 5)J.Gaston
6)M.Donovan 7)D.Pritchard 8)S.Crawford 9)J.Rush 10)A.Cracknell 11)S.Thorn
12)M.Goulbourn 14)L.Newman

A coach, full of Hadleigh supporters, made the long haul up to Wisbech for this
final game of the season. On a bumpy pitch, Hadleigh made the early running
with good efforts from Cracknell and Gaston just missing out.
Veteran Jackie Gallagher nearly opened the scoring with a well taken free kick
which scraped past the post. Brooks was even unluckier when his shot hit the
base of the post and out to safety. Hadleigh were now looking subdued and at
times, weren't firing on any cylinders at all ! Gallagher finished a mazy run
through the defence with a shot that went over the bar and into the next
county! After the break, Hadleigh looked marginally more interested and started
to put home team under pressure. Although it was Gallagher again who came
closest to scoring. After another good run, his shot was saved by Paisley
and Pritchard then cleared to safety. Cracknell had a goal
bound shot saved, before Hadleigh began a succession of corners. The 5th one,
found Willingham, whose hard driven shot into the goal area, was
deflected off Hillier for an own goal. The last half hour was played out with
neither side looking capable of scoring, although Cracknell was unlucky
when his free kick crashed against the bar. Another 3 points for a fortuitous
Hadleigh, who may well finish in 6th position if Cambs City oblige by losing
their remaining 2 games. At the start of the season, a lot of supporters would
have settled for that final position, but they have now become accustomed to
winning ways over the past 2 seasons. What they hope to see now, is for the
club to launch into 'promotion mode' to progress into the Premier league. This
would obviously require strengthening the present squad to sustain a consistent
push to the top. The Millfield will look resplendent next season, with it's new
car park surface and will provide a good impression to all who visit us. With
the best playing surface in the league and other improvements planned for the
future, things are decidedly on the up at H.U.F.C. Roll on next season!!!