Hills made the short journey to Skipton this Saturday to face a Skipton team much changed since their pre-season thrashing by the reds. First team call ups and other changes meant that Lee Newton and Todd Duncan came into central defence following last weeks lesson by Steeton, with Ryan Osadzenko called up to the first team and Liam Daniels dropped to the bench. Manager Harrison was forced to referee after the leagues official failed to show up, leaving Ian Matthews to handle matters from the touchline.
On an unforgiving surface, Hills found themselves under immediate pressure from the physical home side, as they used the wide pitch to their advantage. Despite this, Hills remained strong at the back, with Lockyer and Duncan solid and Newton picking up the pieces to clear. Following another spell of pressure, Hills found the net against the run of play. Smith taking a quick free kick that caught the home defence off guard and Luke Wilson snuck in to dink the ball over the keeper for his second goal in as many games.
The home team continued to apply pressure and Peacock and Stephenson were battling hard up front to keep hold of the ball, but to no avail. Matthews and Kildunne spent a lot of the first half chasing, marking and tackling and its testament to their attitude that they rolled up their sleeves and started to mix it up with the home team.
The half time team talk was fiery and the player went out in the second half to take control of what was a very scrappy game. They immediately had the home team on the back foot and the keeper was called into action early doors, saving from Wilson and Peacock. Hills soon got the second goal they deserved when Rob Matthews went on a mazy run and sprayed the ball out right to the impressive Wilson, who skinned his man and whipped the ball into the far post area where Warhorse Peacock made no mistake from 2 yards out.
Acting manager Matthews then made two changes, bringing on Sean Wood for the tiring Stephenson and Oliver Peacock for his debut for the outstanding Kildunne in midfield. The home side continued to attack and pinned the reds in their own half for long periods, but the away side held strong, with the commanding Smith forced into an outstanding save to tip over a volley at 2-0. the home team pulled one back shortly after, a dreadful blunder by Jennings saw his attempted headed clearance go in the wrong direction to the unmarked striker, leaving him a simple tap in for 2-1.
The away side then began to exert more pressure and a third goal came ten minutes before the end, when Smith collected an attempted long ball by the home side and sent a booming kick upfield that the home defence couldn’t handle, leaving veteran Harry Peacock one-on-one and the skipper didn’t miss. Manager Matthews then sent on Daniels for Hall and he started to pull the strings from midfield, revelling in his ‘number ten’ role.
Overall this was a game that the home side deserved something from, but Hills showed their resilience and character after last weeks thumping. They demonstrated the ruthlessness that was shown to them by Steeton last week and made the home team pay in a game that was very scrappy and we didn’t really deserve to win. It’s a good sign that the young side won without playing well and bodes well for the rest of the season.
Lee Newton was questionably voted MOM, with some good performances coming from Smith, Kildunne and evergreen skipper Peacock.
S Smith; W Lockyer; L Newton, T Duncan, M Jennings; C Hall (L Daniels), R Matthews, S Kildunne (O Peacock); O Stephenson (S Wood), H Peacock (capt), L Wilson