Herne Bay United 5 – 7 Middlesbrough
Time: 19.45
Date: 13th June 09
Location: Pier Pavilion
Premier League Champions HBU faced Middlesbrough in their final premier league match of the season at the Pier in Saturday night. United had already secured the title but they still wanted to win to maintain their record of winning every home game in the league this season. A good crowd were treated to a thrilling match. United started well and they had 2 clear cut chances to score in the first 2 minutes, however they squandered the opportunities, this cost them as Middlesbrough counter-attacked well, with only 3 minutes gone the referee awarded a dubious penalty to the visitors, when he first blew for the foul he gave a free-hit outside the box, but on appeal from the Middlesbrough player the ref appeared to change his decision and pointed to the spot. Mike Abelson stepped up and fire the penalty home to make it 0-1. The game then settled down, and for the next 10 minutes there were no goals, United kept creating chances but could not find the back off the net, Middlesbrough kept the ball well, and created some good chances of their own. Then with 12 minutes left Marc Rutland found himself unmarked in the box, he finished past a helpless Barton in the United goal to put the northern side 0-2 up. 3 minutes later Rutland scored again, he cut in from the left and scored a great volley to make it 0-3. United were now in real trouble, Middlesbrough had the advantage and they knew it, with 6 minutes left things got worse for United when Mark Radcliffe scored from a yard out to make it 0-4. The reigning champions were not playing well, and their finishing was terrible, they didn’t let their heads drop and they were rewarded for their efforts when Dendy Hudson scored to give United a glimmer of hope. A minute later a well worked move was finished by Joe Singleton to make it 2-4. United were beginning to get back into the game. However they couldn’t sustain the pressure and it was Middlesbrough who scored next with another volley, this time it was Peter Lonsdale who scored from a tight angle to make the halftime score 2-5.
United came out for the second half determined to put things right, 4 minutes into the half Chris Espejo scored after some good work from Brendan Barker to make it 3-5. United continued to press Middlesbrough, but the visitors were matching them in all departments. The with 14 minutes remaining United captain Simon Hosking pulled another goal back to make it 4-5, within a minute he had scored again to level the score at 5-5. Having got back to level pegging, United were now favourites to go on and win the game, no one had told Middlesbrough this and with 5 minutes remaining the referee gave another dubious penalty, as Middlesbrough’s Ableson went down in the box following a challenge from Barker. The United player had clearly played the ball first, but the ref pointed to the spot. Ableson dusted himself off, and scored from the spot to put the northern side back in front 5-6. United now had no choice but to take risks in defence to try and win the ball back, Middlesbrough capitalised when, with 4 minutes left Ableson scored his 3rd of the game to put the game out of reach. There were no more goals and Middlesbrough ran out 5-7 winners.
Middlesbrough captain John Jones said after the game: “The game was a classic. Although HBU had already sealed the title this was our final opportunity to
regain some pride and that we did. The game was action packed from start to finish with both teams scoring some
well worked team goals, but on this occasion we just managed to pip HBU to the three points. The club would
like to thank HBU for their excellent hospitality, hopefully we can repay the compliment.”
HBU manager Phil said: “Middlesbrough deserved the victory, they were better than us tonight. All of the players are disappointed with the way we played, we did not play well, our team game was poor, our passing was poor, and our finishing was worse than poor. We created countless chances but we failed to take them. Middlesbrough were clinical in front of goal and that was the difference. I am proud of what we have achieved this season, we have won the league cup and the Premier League, and we are in the final of the National cup, however you are only as good as your last game, and on that basis we are not good. We have one game left this season, we play Bury in the National Cup final in a month’s time, the player have a chance to put things right and end the season on a high. Our objectives going into the season were to win every domestic competition we entered, so far we have won 2 out of 2, if we can make it 3 out of 3 this game will be forgotten about. I know we can do it, I have every faith in the players and their abilities.”
HBU Captain Simon Hosking added: “We were not good tonight, and the Manager made it clear he expects better from us. What is annoying is we have to wait a month to put things right, the lads would love to be able to play the game again right now, we all know we can do better.”
HBU team: Dan Barton (GK), Chris Espejo (1), Brendan Barker, Simon Hosking (2), Dendy Hudson (1), Joe Singleton (1), Myles Barker, Matt Barton, Karl Smith, (Manager: Phil McVey)
Phil McVey
