With another week of postponements in the Craven League, Crosshills were one of only two league games to ahead in the Division – the other being last weeks opponents Sutton, who smashed Skipton Town 5-0 away from home. This week’s opponents were Horton, who despite being 3rdin the league and played the same amount of games as Crosshills, hadn’t had a league fixture since November 5th.
With star marksman and predator Stephenson unavailable due to illness and Wilson crying off at the last minute, last weeks hero Skelton was given a starting berth up front. The only other change was in defence, with Osadzenko unluckily on the bench after heroics last week – Lee Newton coming in at centre half.
On a surface that was beginning to cut up during the warm up, Hills found the going quite tough in the opening spell, made even more awkward by the driving wind and hail blowing straight back in their faces. Tackles were at a premium in midfield and Kildunne and Hall were immediately involved, throwing themselves into everything that moved.
With both sides missing early chances in the first ten minutes – H Peacock and Skelton firing wide in good positions and S Smith being called upon to make a couple of block with his legs – it was the away side that broke the deadlock. The wind playing its part as the striker broke free from a long ball and finished one-on-one smartly for the opener. With Hills on the ropes and the away side dominating, Hills equalised against the run of play. Kildunne aimed a cross to the back post and the Horton stand-in keeper could only palm the cross into the far corner.
With Skelton running the defence ragged and O Peacock beginning to dictate the tempo, both teams traded shots at goal and despite the home side starting to get a hold in the midfield, the away side struck again. Sloppy defending allowed the striker time and space and he finished smartly into the far corner for a 2-1. With the wind and hail forcing the fans to take shelter inside, the half had no more incidents and the away side took the lead into the break.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom, as the weather was playing a huge part in the game and Manager Harrison made the players clear of this during his teamtalk at half time.
The Hills came out in confident mood in the second half and immediately got stuck into their opponents. Sean Kildunne and Curtis Hall were both flying into tackles and Billy Skelton was proving to be nightmare up front for the home side. This was beginning to wear down the away side and after another period of strong pressure and outstanding football, the Reds drew level again. The outstanding Skelton was completely wiped out in the area, leaving the ref no choice but to award the spot kick which skipper H Peacock buried into the bottom left corner.
This goal took the wind out of the tiring away sides’ sails and the Hills started to dominate proceedings. Newton, Duncan, C Smith and Lockyer were repelling any opposition attack and barring a couple of crosses and shots, keeper S Smith had little to do in the second half.
Hills then got the crucial third goal; a move started by a great tackle by Hall at the back began a superb flowing move which saw last weeks star Skelton smashing into the corner, giving the keeper no chance following an outstanding piece of dribbling by Matthews.
A fourth followed soon after. The deflated Horton side allowing H Peacock time and space to deliver a pinpoint cross to the back post and Oliver Peacock slotted home after another defensive error.
Osadzenko was then introduced for the tiring Skipper and Hills saw out the remaining minutes to hang on to a priceless 3 points which puts them top by 4 points from Ingrow and crucially 8 points from Horton.
Oliver Peacock was MOM but there were standout performances from Skelton (who ran that much he threw up at the end) and Kildunne who both had their best games in a red shirt.
No game this coming week, week after (4th Feb) its Pendle Renegades at home.
Team: SPN. Smith; W. Lockyer, T. Duncan, L. Newton, C. Smith; C. Hall, S. Kildunne, O. Peacock; B. Skelton, H. Peacock (capt) (R. Osadzenko), R. Matthews. Sub not used: M. Jennings.
