SATURDAY 2nd MAY 2009

HEDDON 1-1 CARLISLE CITY

City arrived at the Bullocksteads complex, busy with a multitude of sports taking
place, cricket in one corner as well as the football, and Conference Rugby League in
the centre pitch (Carlisle Crusaders are the next visitors to Gateshead Storm in three
weeks time). In the dressing room prior to the game, a rather gullible City captain
Tom Foster was advised to rinse his hands with antiseptic in light of the ongoing
swine fever alert. The instructions were followed to the letter!

Heddon’s Armstrong had an early shot that was well off target, before City won the
game’s first corner after 4 minutes, when Heath’s cross was deflected behind.
Amato’s flag-kick was headed over by Hill. After 9 minutes, Bradley was at full
stretch to push the ball away from the onrushing Hay. The resulting corner was
headed wide by Edwardson.

In the 12th minute, Hay was close again as his shot was deflected just past the post.
Bradley punched the corner to safety, under strong pressure from Heenan. City broke
away down the left with Amato, and his cross found S. Bell, who saw his shot
blocked. After 17 minutes, Heath’s pass found Priest in a good position, but the City
striker shot wide.

After 25 minutes, Armstrong’s foul on Holliday earned him a booking. Foster’s free-
kick was headed up in the air by Kerry, before Armstrong shot wide. Two minutes
later, Priest fired over the bar from 25 yards, but Armstrong was very close in the 29th
minute when his curling shot went just wide of Curran’s right-hand post.

In the 32nd minute, Heddon’s Jones became the second player to be cautioned when he
failed to retreat at a City free-kick. After 36 minutes, a low ball into the Heddon box
was chased by S. Bell, but keeper Curran was first to it. In the 39th minute, a great
right-wing cross from C. Bell found Amato at the far post. He had to stretch to head
down, and the ball was cleared by the Heddon defence.

Three minutes before half-time, a strong run into the Heddon box was halted by
Jones’ tackle. The loose ball rolled invitingly to S. Bell ten yards from goal, but he
sidefooted wide. In City’s next attack, Priest was presented with a great opportunity
just six yards out, but he could not keep the ball down.

City were pressing strongly just before the interval, and Holliday’s cross found Amato
with his shot going very high before looping down and causing Curran some
difficulties before he made the save. The elusive goal finally arrived for City in the
45th minute. A barnstorming run from S. Bell through the centre of the field created
space, and he switched the ball left to Amato. In turn, he found Cherry who advanced
forward ten yards before unleashing a fine shot that deceived Curran, and nestled in
the bottom corner.

HALF-TIME- HEDDON 0-1 CITY

Barely a minute of the second half had passed before Heddon equalised, from the
penalty spot. The penalty was awarded for handball against Hill, and Hogg’s kick was
straight down the middle to beat Bradley. Straight after the goal, the home side
brought on substitute Robson. After 51 minutes, City produced a good move between
Amato and Priest, with Amato placing his shot just wide.

Holliday then collected the ball in a good position just outside the Heddon box, but
his left-footed shot was wide of target. Priest’s through ball then sent S. Bell clear, but
he could not find the target. In the 57th minute, Heath had the ball in the net but he
was flagged offside. For long spells in the second half, the game was quite lethargic
as both teams appeared to be going through the end-of-season motions.

City won a corner in the 69th minute, taken on the left by Heath. His excellent delivery
across the 6-yard box just eluded a final touch. After 74 minutes, a City free-kick 25
yards from goal was hit well wide by Holliday. Bradley had been relatively inactive
throughout the game, but he was forced to save a 20-yard effort from Edwardson in
the 76th minute.

After 79 minutes, City made their first change with Kelleher replacing S. Bell.
Another lull in the game brought no real action until the 87th minute, when Heath’s
cross was put behind by Kerry for a corner. Amato’s right-wing kick was fruitless as
the referee whistled for a foul inside the penalty box.

Priest was cautioned following dissent towards the assistant referee. In the 90th
minute, a good ball from Kelleher released Priest, who showed fine skill inside the
area, and looked certain to score before poking his shot just wide. Ward then replaced
Heath for City.

Armstrong was rather harshly booked for a foul, before he latched onto Kelleher’s
pass, only to be challenged by his namesake on the Heddon side. The game ended
with Kerry moving in from his full-back position, but firing weakly wide.

The game was a drab affair with a late-season feel to it, but City had enough chances
to win comfortably without being able to capitalise on them.

TEAMS- HEDDON- Curran, Kerry, Little, Armstrong, Jones, Lamb, Heenan,

Pearson, Edwardson, Horsfall, Hall. SUBS- Robson, Holland, Brown, Hogg, Close.
CITY- Bradley, C. Bell, Cherry, Hill, Foster, Holliday, Heath, Armstrong, Amato, S.
Bell, Priest. SUBS- Ward, Kelleher, Bulman.

REFEREE- Keith Wilkinson

BOOKINGS- Jones, Armstrong (Heddon) Priest, Armstrong (City)