Foxhole 5 Hayle 3

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 5 Hayle 3

Saturday 28th February 2009

Foxhole may have been out of sight within a quarter of an hour but had only Griffin's close range effort on five minutes to show for a whirlwind start. Griffin had already scuffed a shot before crossing for Nicholls to head over from six yards and the marine then did likewise from Butler's corner. A flowing move involving Nicholls and Rickard down the right presented Hobbs with a good chance but Gilbert reacted quickly and it looked likely the Foxes would rue their wastefulness when Shiels cleverly set up Thomas to equalise on nineteen minutes with a fierce drive from twelve yards.

However, Foxhole soon regained the initiative and after valid claims for a penalty for handball against McMahon had been waved away, Butler won the ball from a dithering Wayne Quinn to release Nicholls, who evaded a couple of challenges before firing past the keeper on the half hour. Seven minutes later, Rickard's speculative effort from the touchline deceived Gilbert, rebounding to a grateful Griffin to notch the third. Paul Quinn was booked for dissent but it was hard to see what he was complaining about, but any perceived sense of injustice galvanised the visitors and Wayne Quinn was unfortunate to watch his thunderbolt strike the bar, before Palmer seized on a clearance by Holland which struck McMahon to make it 3-2 just before the break.

Hayle came out of the blocks quickest on the restart and may have levelled through Stephens' volley but Griffin instead completed his hat-trick within five minutes, his lob catching Gilbert in No Man's Land. Hayle continued to play some neat football and only a great block by Hobbs prevented Stephens from scoring, but the home team always appeared to possess the greater threat where it mattered, Rickard and Nicholls each going close to the decisive fifth. On 66, Nicholls was sent clear by Rowe but was upended by Gilbert who was cautioned during the ensuing lengthy delay while the striker was helped from the field. Warne's penalty crashed against the underside of the bar but Adam Holland followed up to head home.

Nine minutes from time, Rowe was harshly adjudged to have fouled Shiels and received a needless yellow card for protesting; Shiels himself confidently converted the spot-kick. Although substitute House might have done better with a trio of late opportunities, a Hayle fight back would have been a bitter pill to swallow as the Foxes' energetic display warranted all three points.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Ryan Holland 7; Kyle Friendship 7, Jason Warne 6, Mark Rowe 7, Phil Hobbs 7; Andrew Butler 6, Richard Griffin 8, Adam Bromley 7, Adam Holland 7; Carl Rickard 7, Liam Nicholls 7 (sub. Aydan Rundle 6).

Hayle (4-4-2): Graham Gilbert; Matt Frost, Andy Frost, Paul Quinn, Liam Quinn; Ryan Stephens (sub. Andy House), Matt Thomas, Wayne Quinn, Sean McMahon; Matt Shiels, Adam Palmer.

Referee: Mr Mike Curtis (Bradworthy) 7.