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ATTEMPTS ON TARGET
ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET
BLOCKED SHOTS
CORNERS
FREE KICKS
YELLOW CARDS
RED CARDS
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Jimmy Elford
Russell Eldridge
(Y) David Henham
Mark Green
Ryan Peters
(Sub 2) Ricky Spiller
(Sub 1) Mark Goodwin
Kieren Startup
(3) Carl Rook
(1) Chris Honey
Danny Ellis
(Sub 2) Mitchell Sherwood
Charlie Belcher
Simon Stickney
(Sub 1) Greg Nessling
Ben Buckland (Sub 1)
Lee Blakely
Craig Leworthy
Anthony Millerick??
Ian Saunders
Steve Black
Craig Anstey (R)
Richard Mealey
Eddie Smith
Danny Boyle (Sub 2)
Liam Byfield (Sub 1)
Cameron Scammle (Sub 2)
Fleet Town 1 (Henham OG 35 Min)
Attendance
187
No-one knew what to expect tonight, a story of two people, one more important than the other, both sides were alike, both near the foot of the table, both needing three points in this match to keep them alive, both sides were young lads for the future, but it was to be a skilful 21 year old striker that changed the game.
Chris Honey, he returned after his two-week absence, he started the match, and �Honey Monster� was the best man of the pitch by a mile. He must�ve covered every shred of grass on that field tonight, and capped off by a goal, also setting up two of Carl Rook�s hat-trick.
United had a change around, in goal Daniel Knowles (who was to be the other main guy in this story) might�ve been to get practice for when Nessling�s out, Kieren Startup came in at centre midfield for Steve Ringwood who wasn�t even on the bench, Mark Goodwin was at left flank and Honey and Carl Rook were up front, Mitchell Sherwood, Charlie Belcher were amongst the subs.
But United got off to a flyer, Chris Honey took past Buckland, got to the by-line flung the ball low across goal, where it met Carl Rook�s boot that dispatched the ball into the far corner of the net. It looked like to be a white-wash, but it wasn�t to be, Fleet settled and denied United space, Mark Goodwin shot was well saved, but didn�t seem to trouble from 25 yards out.
Then something out of this world, a cross came in, Mark Green won the header, but his header went to the penalty spot where Eddie Smith shot was superbly saved by Knowles, then the ball came down by the goal line, Knowles raced back dragged the ball off the line, and Jimmy Elford cleared. Knowles again was quick to clear his lines twice, and was looking a superb acquisition.
United tried to get into the grove and pushed for a second goal, Ricky Spiller�s free kick was well met by Chris Honey�s head but the header went over the bar. Russell Eldridge took another free kick, it evaded everybody, but Ian Saunders nicked it out for a corner, with Carl Rook going to win the ball if it�d evaded Saunders.
But Fleet played some nice stuff; Danny Boyle�s cross was headed wide by Richard Mealey. Mealey also pressured Henham, but Henham did mess up with the ball and last man, but Henham won possession back on the two occasions. Ryan Peters also got stuck in, but his shot only just went wide of goal. But Fleet were attacking more, Steve Black�s shot from 20 yards out was straight at Knowles, then it took a superb last minute tackle from Russell Eldridge to deny Eddie Smith, after he�d got the ball past the last man, and was in the area ready to shoot.
United made many crosses through the area, Honey missed once, and Rook also, but things got worse on 32 minutes, keeper Knowles came rushing off his line, Mealey had the ball, Knowles made contact with Mealey and the ball, but Knowles was outside his area, and did make obvious contact, and so he was sent off, the fifth red card in four days for United, another one that can be questioned, but nothing I can do about it.
So Mark Goodwin made way for Greg Nessling who went between the posts. Before long Fleet took the lead, Craig Anstey�s free kick came in, Nessling called for it, instead David Henham glanced his header past Nessling and into the far corner, now I know I said on my Match Preview a David Henham OG, I do seem to be eating my words of late, Histon for one, this for my second for fortune telling.
United seemed a bit disturbed and didn�t play with width, this let Fleet through, who had their backs up, United were forced into errors by themselves bullsing everything up. Eddie Smith and Craig Anstey had both their shots saved well by Greg Nessling, who�d hadn�t warmed up lately.
But United were back in front, and this time Lovell can eat his words, or feeling, just a week after giving an impression of �we don�t want him� Honey collected the ball, ran past Buckland, and from 20 yards out, hammered his powerful shot past Sparshatt at his near post, United regulars in jubilation after the best man on the field had proved his point, with a goal.
United came out the second half more re-assured of themselves, and started to make gaps in the Fleet defence. Carl Rook saw his header go wide, then the most unluckiest thing, Ryan Peters edge of the box, his powerful shot smacked the crossbar, the ball came down onto the keeper, then was cleared off the line, quite equal now I believe.
Then a move that was regular in 2001-2002 season, Spiller crossed the ball in, Chris Honey glanced his header towards goal, only for the keeper to pull out a very good save. Then I couldn�t believe it my count of red cards went up one to six in four days, when Carl Rook got past Craig Ansty, Ansty kicked Rook, off the ball, from behind, didn�t attempt to get the ball, he was dismissed, and took an early bath.
Fleet didn�t look at it like 10 against 10, they believed we still had 11, after that it was all United mainly, Chris Honey had his shot saved by Sparshatt. Ryan Peters unfortunately after neat work, saw his shot sliced to be collected by the keeper. Then Carl Rook was released, he got past the last man, a one-on-one, but the defender just did enough to put Rook off, and his shot ran wide of the post.
But a minute or two later United were in the clear, Rook again turned his man, but this time shot to the left hand corner, the ball went under the on-rushing keeper and United were in the lead 3-1. Then Fleet substitute Cameron Scammle (hope that�s correct) was the only one who took a chance at goal twice he popped in with chances, both chances on target, but Nessling saved both.
Then a move of the evening, Chris Honey drifted away from his marker, Spiller gave him the ball, Honey got to the by-line, he hammered the ball in low, it hit Carl Rook�s leg and went in, Rook very happy a hat-trick two in ten days, although a shame to not see Rook celebrate with Chris Honey, after the hard work he�d done for him. By this time the match was over, and everyone was ready to go home and see how West Brom got on at Norwich City. But Mitchell Sherwood had a late shot wide of goal, but the best chance fell to Richard Mealey, he found himself in the area, one-on-one in the area, but his first touch was too hard and the ball ran out of play.
Overall United put in a adequate performance, but one generally due to Chris Honey�s attendance, he had a game and a half, but the attendance of 187 very poor, the worst for years. But a freezing cold night, hardly no-one from Fleet, but a quite good game, after some hysterical United defending in the first half. P.S. West Brom match ended 0-0.
Claret�n�Blue Man Of The Match
Chris Honey
What a performance, I can�t say that anybody else can�t say Honey had at least a good game, he was terrific, without him we have been poor sometimes, but he gave it his all today, 110%, showed that he can still perform at this level with ease, I don�t know what would�ve happened without him, maybe 0-1.