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McCarthy
Industries gained one of the most impressive
victories of their history in what the fans are
hailing as the greatest performance in a
generation following their 15-2 win over local
rivals the Diamonds. Having taken a narrow
victory from the first leg at The Dolphin back
in July 18-16, the Hamsters were expecting a
tough game at the change. McCarthy shuffled his
pack from that first leg, with Peter Chapman
dropping out, and Kieran Elliott moving onto the
bench through injury. It opened up the return
for three players, with Doug Lane and Ian
Simpson being reunited in the center of defence,
and Tom Walmsley coming into the center of
midfield. McCarthy named himself between the
sticks, while Bert Lloyd played alongside
Walmsley in midfield, with Dan Collin upfront on
his own. The Diamonds made only one addition to
their side, with fit again defender Tom Still
coming into the starting VI
It
was the visitors who started the better of the
two teams in front of a capacity crowd at the
Hamsters Cage. Doug Lane's trademark back heel
was less than effective as the ball fell to the
dangerous Tom Binstead, who played in Tom
Pashley, but luckily Ian Simpson covered well to
jockey off for a goal kick. It was a sign of
things to come, as the Diamonds went close to
taking the lead. A clever pass from Joe Sturgess
just eluded Ian Simpson, but Scott McCarthy did
just enough advancing off his line to put off
Tom Binstead, who screwed his shot high into the
Non Clock End. It was a wake up call for Mac
Industries, who realised that the tie was far
from over. McCarthys men moved up a gear, and
took control of the tie with a cleverly worked
goal. Dan Collin, feeling the added pressure of
playing up front along, played in Bert Lloyd,
who saw his shot well saved by Diamonds keeper
Oli Wright. With the ball only partially
cleared, it was Ian Simpson who picked up the
pieces, and advanced before drilling a shot
through the crowd which, despite a hand from Oli
Wright, flew into the corner of the net
A
routine save from McCarthy saw him release Ian
Simpson, and the defenders clever run found Dan
Collin, whose cross into the box should have
been converted by Bert Lloyd. The Hamsters knew
that playing like this they would be hard to
beat, and it so it proved, as only the heroics
of Oli Wright kept the visitors in the game.
McCarthys long balls forward from goal kicks
were causing all sorts of problems, and
following a Walmsley flick on, Dan Collin saw
his volley superbly saved by Wright. Walmsley
himself was then denied twice in quick
succession by the in-form Diamond, as he saved
twice after good work by Bert Lloyd. However,
the Hamsters club captain eventually got the
goal he deserved, as he intercepted a Tom
Pashley pass before commencing on a powerful run
and shot that left Wright with no chance to put
the Hamsters 2-0 up. Tom Pashley then went
close, but McCarthy did well to save at his
feet. Wright then saved again, as Collin beat
two men before unleashing a shot that the keeper
kept out at the expense of a corner. Walmsley's
delivery in was pinpoint, and poor marking by
the visitors allowed Ian Simpson to get free and
slot the ball home to score his second and the
Hamsters third of the evening. It was soon 4-0,
Simpson and Walmsley linking up well following a
McCarthy throw to give Walmsley his second of
the game after he beat the fit again Tom Still
Oli
Wright saved again, this time from Lloyd after
he was played in by Simpson. Dan Collin, who had
been quiet up until now, suddenly burst into
live, as a delightful pass from Lloyd saw him
played in, and the top scorer managed to net
from a tight angle to make it 5-0. Kieran
Elliott, on despite suffering an ankle problem,
soon got into the swing of things as he enjoyed
a midfield role. Another long goal kick from
McCarthy found Collin, whose cross was met by
Lloyd. The Senior Player saw his shot well saved
by Wright, and the ball fortuitously fell
straight to the feet of the Elliott, who poked
it home with his left foot. The Diamonds, at 6-0
down, knew the tie was all but over, but did not
stop, and it was a clever counter attack that
nearly gave them a goal, as Binstead was played
in, but McCarthy did well to save the one on
one, before the Diamonds striker but the rebound
into the side netting. Bert Lloyd finally got
onto the score sheet, as Ian Simpson went on a
powerful run forward before playing a delightful
ball into the box, which Lloyd appeared to
connect to with his shin, sending it past the
sprawling Oli Wright. Binstead nearly scored
again after a poor kick from McCarthy fell to
the striker, whose shot was hit straight at the
Hamsters keeper. It was the last action of the
half, and the Hamsters were given a standing
ovation as they trooped off at the end of the
half with a 7-0 lead.
The
first action of the second half lead to another
Hamsters goal, as Lloyd found Simmo, who played
a one-two with McCarthy. Simpson then found
Walmsley, whose clever pass allowed Collin to
sidestep Wright and make it 8-0. The Hamsters
fans were delighted as McCarthy took the opportunity
to introduce fans favourite Robert Jones, and it
was he who lost the ball in typical fashion to
allow a Diamonds break. Pashley and Sturgess
linked up well to allow the big Diamonds man a
shot, which McCarthy managed to push round the
post. Tom Walmsley, thriving in his more
attacking midfield role, won the ball and linked
up well yet again with Collin, whose shot was
saved by Wright. Robert Jones was on hand though
to tread on the ball and put it into the back of
the net. Moments later he got another, as a
McCarthy kick saw the Welshman flick it on with
his rectum to Collin, whose shot was saved by
Wright, but it was Jones who picked up the
pieces to get his second of the night. Ian
Simpson made yet another interception, and he
played it to Collin who, after beating Still, unselfishly
back heeled it to Simpson, who duly beat Wright
and wrapped up his hat-trick to make it 12-0.
Tom Walmsley then saw yet another effort saved
by Wright, but he picked up the pieces to
deliver a pinpoint cross that saw Wright and
Sturgess in complete confusion, although Collin
to slot home into an open goal to make it 13-1.
The
Diamonds finally gave their fans something to
cheer, as Mark Potter saw his shot well saved by
McCarthy, but the rebound fell to the feet of
Tom Binstead, who didn't need to be asked twice
as he slotted the ball home. They nearly scored
again moments later, as Collin was dispossessed
by Tom Still, and Pashley, Potter and Binstead
linked up well to give Binstead the shooting
opportunity, but McCarthy appeared from nowhere
to push the effort around the post with a
stunning save. Robert Jones finally wrapped up
his hat-trick, after another superb run from
Collin saw him beat Still and deliver a
wonderful ball into the box, which allowed the
man from the Rhonda Valley to slot home. Jones
then returned the favor, as he delivered a
delightful pass to to Collin, who fired in a
fantastic effort from a tight position which
sailed into the top corner of the goal. The
Diamonds then pulled one back, after Potter and
Binstead combined to allow Pashley to beat
McCarthy, but when the referee blew his whistle
it didn't matter, as the Hamsters took a 15-2
victory over there rivals, giving them a 33-18
win on aggregate, on a night that will be long
remembered at the Hamsters Cage
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