Hexham crash out of NFA Minor Cup

Posted by Hexham FC on Nov 11, 09 08:18 AM in Sport

Walker Central Reserves 8, Hexham 2

Away from the normal Northern Alliance duty Hexham had the distraction of the Northumberland Minor Cup on the agenda on Saturday but how they must have wished for anything but. This is a competition which the team from Tynedale had hopes of a long run in but all prospects came crashing down in the first twenty minutes in scenes which resembled a Sid James Carry On film.

It all started brightly for Hexham with Gavin Cox hitting the crossbar in the opening minute but from there on in it was downhill all the way. First goal for Walker came after keeper Sean Heads won the race to clear from a breaking striker, his well struck clearance hit the referee on the knee rebounded over his head and the home striker could not believe his luck with an open goal at his mercy.

Minutes after that a deep cross to the back post hit a Walker player who had fallen over on the chest and rebounded over the line. From there it just descended into a complete farce with Hexham conceding three more goals before the whistle went for half time.

The half time team talk was not for the faint hearted as Hexham had produced one of the worst forty five minutes seen since the very early days in the Alliance. Nothing was going to plan with passes going astray and only a long range effort from Scott Coates to trouble the home goal in the first half.

But a change in formation was tried as a little pride had to be restored but another comical goal was not long in coming. Walker kept up the pressure but a harmless shot that was going wide struck the referee full on the face which then rebounded into space for an unmarked Walker forward.

As the ref got to his feet a little dazed and confused he saw the ball being picked out the Hexham net by an equally dazed and totally mystified Hexham goalkeeper. Hexham had no complaint as their downfall had been of their own making but when the referee has two assists for the opposition you just know it's not your day.

Tom Phillips rescued a small amount of pride with two goals one after his own shot was partially saved he reacted first to score and from a Orin Parkinson cross he was on hand for his second of the day. The second half was better for Hexham but after the first forty five there was only one way for them to go.

So Hexham will not be making an appearance in the third round of the Minor Cup but they have an excellent chance to put this behind them on Saturday as they travel to league leaders Amble in the Amateur Cup.

Only two weeks ago they had an excellent draw at home against them in the league when with a little more good fortune in front of goal the one point gained could very easily have been three. Hopefully some of the injuries and sickness will have cleared up by then and the team can put this "Carry On Farce" behind them

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