GROUNDHOPPING DAY COMES TO BRANTINGHAM ROAD

EASTER MONDAY FIXTURE

MAINE ROAD WELCOMED ABBEY HEY AS THE VISITORS TODAY TO BRANTINGHAM ROAD AND ALSO WE SAY A BIG THANKS TO ALL THE GROUNDHOPPERS WHO WERE VISITING TODAY AS THEIR LAST FIXTURE OF A BUSY EASTER WEEKEND FOR THEM ALL

Lots of changes in the Road line up today due to an injury plagued month for both the first team and the reserves. This was a great opportunity for some of the reserves to show the club how far they have progressed over this season.

7 minutes in and Abbey Hey have the first real attack of a close opening encounter when the Abbey number 10 Blake takes the ball and turns quickly and forces a good save from Ryan Livesey.

11 minutes in and its that man again Blake, he closes down Mason but this time its a poor shot at Ryan Livesey

13 minutes and Road have started to come into the game, Connor Hughes with a fantastic touch and turn but his shot is charged down

14 minutes and the Abbey Hey number 3 Jones beats 2 of Roads players on the left hand side but his shot is saved by Ryan Livesey

18 minutes and Road are really starting to work the Abbey midfield. Joel Senior is pressing the Abbey midfield and he wins the ball on the Road right hand side. He beats a man and plays the ball inside to Martin Owen. Martin plays a great ball over the top through to Matthew Morgan. Matthew Morgan gets tot he ball just before the advancing Abbey keeper and slots the ball home. 1 - 0 to Road and Matthew Morgan keeps his goal scoring going

Abbey Hey respond by closing the ball down and pressing Road and are really coming back into the game

32 minutes and Matthew Morgan puts Connor Hughes away and its a good save from the Abbey keeper

38 minutes and Abbey are trying to get an equaliser a great shot from the edge of the area and a great save from Ryan Livesey turning the ball onto the post and out for a corner to Abbey Hey

40 minutes and Rory Breslin breaks an Abbey Hey attack down with a good tackle. Rory Breslin plays the ball forward to Connor Hughes who passes to Matthew Morgan who shoots just wide

HALF TIME

MAINE ROAD 1 - 0 ABBEY HEY

47 minutes and as per most games this season the opposition has started brightly and on 47 minutes Nico Collins forces Ryan Livesey to a save at the front post

50 minutes and Maine Road break again, a great touch from Connor Hughes beats the defender he passes to Matthew Morgan who races forward and beats the keeper

ROAD 2 - 0 ABBEY HEY

54 minutes in and Abbey Hey are reduced to shots from outside of the area

62 minutes and Road have switched off. A great cross into the box and the ball falls at the back post to Abbey number 11 Matthew Cook who calmly beats Ryan Livesey.

Road threw away a 2 goal lead when the teams met at Abbey Heys ground earlier in the season and lost to the odd goal, hopefully that wont happen here

67 minutes and some great inter play from Abbey Hey Hardy and Blake and Hardy shoots just over. Abbey are really on the up and pushing for the equaliser

70 minutes and its Sam Barnett off and he is replaced by Martin Hill

79 minutes and its and equaliser for Abbey Hey. Road give the ball away and Blake smashes the ball home from outside of the area past Livesey

81 minutes Road substitution, Matthew Morgan is replaced by Josh Pickering. Morgan had played really well in scoring a couple of goals

85 minutes Connor Hughes is replaced Adam Woodman

4 minutes off added on time is being played and hopefully Road can come away with at least a draw and not end up on the losing side as they did at Abbey earlier in the season

93rd minute and a late chance for Abbey Hey as ex Maine Road player Nicholas Alexander shoots just wide

FULL TIME

ROAD 2 - 2 ABBEY HEY

A good end to end game that could have gone either way but it sends the Ground Hoppers home happy