Table topping Huntsman travelled to Tommy Crooks Park to take on 4th place Wheatsheaf and recorded a 5-2 victory to maintain their 100% record in the league. The gaffer was forced into 2 changes from the impressive 13-0 victory the week before; Mark Percival replaced the injured Callum Musgrave while Shaun Mackintosh came in at right back for Carl Bates.
The pitch was in poor condition and this hampered the passing style Huntsman like to play but it didn’t stop them breaking the deadlock on 5 minutes. Pete Sproates father of the inform Sproates brothers is to thank for the first goal as he got intoxicated Mike out of his pit in time to make kick off! A long ball forward by Steven Williams was met by Sproates who rounded the keeper before passing into the empty net.
The second goal soon followed, which was against the run of play, Wheatsheaf were piling bodies forward and this allowed them to be picked off on the break, a good interchange of passing in the middle of the park freed Anth Cox who drove at the opposition defence from the left before hitting an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
The game was put out of sight on 30 minutes when Dave Neale made in 5 goals in 4 games from centre midfield, a high ball forward saw a mix up between the defender and keeper, Neale nipped in and flicked it over both players’ heads and walked the ball in the net. It got better for the Huntsman before half time when Jamie Herd scrambled home from close range after the home team failed to clear a corner.
The second half was a poor affair and sloppy defending allowed the Wheatsheaf a way back into the game a long ball forward wasn’t dealt with and right wing cross fell to the feet of the winger who fired home into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
The Huntsman controlled the game there after but missed plenty of chances before they added a 5th substitute Andrew Richardson set up the goal with his first touch playing in Shaun Sproates who fired home into the bottom corner. Chances continued to come and go for the Huntsman but the final goal of the game went to the Wheatsheaf, goalkeeper Dodds failed to deal with a cross ball he parried into the feet of the centre forward who fired home from 2 yards out.
Huntsman had a chance to score a 6th when Michael Sproates was brought down inside of the box but captain and man of the match Lee Redpath couldn’t get his first Huntsman goal as his tame penalty was saved ….safe to say he won’t be taking another!
The game finished 5-2 a good result despite playing poorly. They will be looking for an improved performance when they return to home action against Tompkins at Simpasture Park on December 8th 10.30 kick off.