Heywood’s Cup run is brought to abrupt end

Jan 12 2008 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT WAS agony for Heywood Irish Centre as they crashed out of the West Riding FA Sunday Cup.

They lost their home fifth-round tie 5-2 to Heavy Woollen rivals Towngate, who are also alongside them in the last eight of the Huddersfield FA Sunday Cup.

Irish started well and deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes with a superb strike by Ashley Flynn.

The home side continued to dominate, too, until a disastrous two-minute spell just before half time in which Towngate scored twice to go ahead.

A defensive misunderstanding caused the first goal, the ball ricocheting into the net, while the second was from a very debatable penalty when Matthew Tattersley and a Towngate forward tumbled over in the box.

The goals came against the run of play, but Towngate remained on top in the final few minutes of the first half and then extended their lead just three minutes into the second.

This was a stunning blow for Irish, who rallied when Adam Bell fired a shot just over the bar, but as they chased goals to reduce the 3-1 deficit there were inevitable gaps at the back and Towngate took advantage.

They added goals on the hour and in the 77th minute before Flynn notched his second to provide Irish with some late consolation.

In Division I, GNG Sikh Temple went top of the league with a closely-fought 2-1 win over Marsh Lib, who felt they deserved at least a draw.

Sikh were helped by the fact Team Forward dropped points in their 2-2 draw with Walkers Arms, for whom the scorers were Tom McCreadie and Bob Clarke.

Helion continued their winning run and maintained a nine-point lead at the top of Division II with an 8-0 thumping of Gas Club, although the leaders have played two matches more than their nearest rivals.

Michael Hall and Ian Kilroy each grabbed hat tricks while Adam Stephenson and Jordan Ellis completed the scoring.

Second-placed Cricketers Arms have been slow starters all season and there was no exception in their match against Wellington, who led 3-0 at half time.

Cricketers found their feet in the second half, however, and plundered goals through Richard Hirst (2), Aaron Kirk, Peter Jason Moore and Dean Johnson – a first strike since his long injury lay-off.

Wellington’s goals were scored by Anthony Haigh (2), Eddy Hamlet and Dominic Harris.

Bottom club Heywood Irish Centre Reserves went down 3-0 to Rose & Crown.