Horncastle
Town Football Club Match Reports 2011/2012
Horncastle
Town P Beehive P Lincs Junior Cup
Semi-Final
04-02-2012
Unfortunately
today’s match against Beehive in the Semi-Final of theLincs
Junior Cup was called off at 11am this morning after a pitch
inspection was carried out on the Wong that found the pitch
was frozen due to a very severe overnight frost.On health and safety grounds the match was postponed to
a new date to be announced in the future.
However
the Clubhouse is OPEN
from 3.30 for a beverage and to watch rugby/ football on
tv!
Louth
Town Reserves 2 Horncastle Town 2 Lincolnshire League
28-01-2012
HT
2-1
By
Paul Johnson
This
was a very satisfactory point for Town given that they were
two goals down with barely a third of the game played.
However, a fine individual goal from Will Carter brought Town
back into the game before half-time
and the in-form Michael Harness added a second early in the
second half to ensure Town emerged with a share of the spoils.
Town's
resources were again stretched owing to the absence of Keith
Jones, Andy Cooling, Tommy Chalk, Alec Enderby and Matty Low
in addition to long-term absentees Gareth Melia and Steve
Brown. Lewis Burchnall, Luke Shelbourn, Jamie Lamming and John
Seymour were all restored to the starting line-up in a
reshuffled side but Town began brightly and Michael Harness
dragged a shot wide after good work from Scott Wilson. Ollie
Johnson then saw his free-kick deflected just wide as Town
looked for an early goal but once the game settled down it was
the home side who dominated proceedings.
Town
were finding it increasingly difficult to get any meaningful
possession as Louth moved the ball well, particularly in
midfield where they always seemed to have a spare man. Town
were guilty of standing off on too many occasions and they
were made to pay midway through the
half. The play was switched to Louth's right back who was
allowed to cut inside far too easily before looping a shot
over Burchnall in Town's goal.
At
this stage Town were looking very ragged and the home side
added a second on the half hour when a free-kick was played
down the outside of Town's defensive wall to allow their
player to cut in unopposed before firing into the roof of the
net.
A
fine block from Lewis Burchnall denied Louth a third goal as
Town continued to struggle but with ten minutes of the first
half remaining Town reduced the arrears. Jamie Lamming
advanced forward on the right before squaring the ball to Will
Carter who skipped inside the final defender before side
footing the ball unerringly into the top corner of the net.
This rejuvenated Town and when Scott Wilson did well to create
room just inside the area he should have hit the target.
The
momentum was now with Town and they continued to dominate
proceedings in the second half. Their pressure was rewarded
when Scott
Wilson found Michael Harness on his right and Michael drove a
low shot through the
keepers legs for his fifth goal in three games.
Town
were now controlling proceedings and Luke Shelbourn fired wide
after Chris Johnson had headed the ball back across goal. Will
Carter fired wide after combining well with John Seymour and
Daryl Dunn saw his low shot saved at the near post as Town
continued to press.
The
home side were struggling to create any clear opportunities
but when a ball was crossed to the far post their substitute
should have done better with the goal gaping. Matt Simmons
replaced the tiring John Seymour as Town looked to consolidate
their position but they could easily had taken all three
points as they had two great openings late in the game.
Firstly, a long ball from Chris Johnson exposed the Louth
defence as Michael Harness and Scott Wilson broke clear but
Michael's shot squirmed just wide of the near post off the
keepers legs with Scott hoping that he was going
to square the ball. Moments later it was Scott who ran onto
Will Carter's through ball but his well struck shot hit the
outside of the post with the Louth keeper well beaten.
This
proved to be the last meaningful effort of the game and Town
had to settle for a point but a draw was probably a fair
result given Louth's showing in the first half. Following last
weeks disappointment at Lincoln Utd, Town will have been
pleased to get something from the game and there were some
pleasing individual performances. Will Carter lead the line
well and deserved his goal and Jamie Lamming worked hard in
midfield alongside the influential Ollie Johnson. At the back
Dave Marshall had another fine game and Daryl Dunn
was very solid at right back but Town's talisman at the moment
is Michael Harness and he came up with another important goal
to take his tally for the season to nine.
This
coming Saturday Town face a stern test against Beehive in the
semi-final of the Lincs Junior Cup when Manager Paul Johnson
will hope to have a full squad to choose from. Kick-off on The
Wong is at 2.30pm but before then Town have a friendly against
Spilsby Town on Tuesday night when kick-off on The Wong is at
7pm.
Town side:
Lewis Burchnall, Daryl
Dunn, Luke Shelbourn, Dave
Marshall, Chris Johnson, Ollie Johnson, Michael Harness, Jamie
Lamming, Will Carter, Scott Wilson, Jonathon Seymour (Matt
Simmons).
Lincoln
United Reserves 3 Horncastle Town 2 Lincolnshire League
21-01-2012
HT
1-0
By
Paul Johnson
Town will feel that this was three
points dropped as they dominated this game for long periods, particularly
in the second half, before conceding a poor goal in the final minute to
emerge with nothing to show for their efforts. A brace of goals from the
in-form Michael Harness looked to have secured Town a deserved
point but when an opposing player was unable to cut in
unchallenged from the left wing, he took full advantage to
score with a low shot into the corner past keeper Keith Jones.
Manager Paul Johnson was able to
welcome back Andy Cooling, Matty Low and John Seymour but with
Alec Enderby absent owing to illness Chris Johnson moved into
the back four alongside the dependable Dave Marshall with
Tommy Chalk moving inside to partner Ollie Johnson in the
centre of the park.
The first half offered little by way
of clear chances at either end with Town rarely looking
troubled. Scott Wilson had a couple of openings but failed to
get in a strike and Tommy Chalk and Ollie Johnson both fired
wide from outside of the box.
Keeper Keith Jones did well to save
with his legs after the hosts centre forward got the better of
Dave Marshall and Matty Low was well placed to clear off the
line after a corner was only half cleared. With half-time
approaching Will Carter saw the ball roll just wide after he
had charged down their keepers clearance but it was the home
side who took the lead moments later. A corner was turned
goal wards off a Lincoln Utd players thigh and despite the best efforts of
Michael Harness on the line he could not prevent the ball going into the roof of the net. Town almost responded immediately when Michael's far post
cross fell to Matty Low but he fired just over the angle of
post and bar.
Town started the second half brightly
with Andy Cooling a number of attacks from left-back and
within ten minutes they were level. Ollie Johnson was fouled
thirty yards from goal and his resulting free-kick was headed
back across goal by Chris Johnson for Michael Harness to fire
in from close range. Town were now playing with confidence and
moments later they almost added a second goal. Daryl Dunn and
Michael Harness combined to set up Scott Wilson and when his
curling shot was parried by the keeper, Matty Low fired the
loose ball against the inside of the far post.
Michael
Harnes Goal 1
Will Carter was just unable to get in
a shot after more good work from Scott Wilson and Ollie
Johnson's free-kick was tipped over by the keeper. Tommy Chalk was having an
increasing influence and his fine run and cross deserved a better
finish.
However, it was the home side who
restored their lead when Town failed to deal with a ball into the box with
twenty minutes remaining. A cross from the left fell to Andy
Cooling at the far post but he seemed to misjudge the flight
of the ball and his attempted clearance fell into the path of
their centre forward who was left with an easy finish.
To thei credit, Town bounced back for
a second time with a fine goal to restore parity. Substitute
Luke Shelbourn did well to win the ball for Scott Wilson and
his cross field path found Michael Harness in space and he
drove a first time shot though the keepers legs from twenty
yards.
Michael
Harness Goal 2
Substitute Luke Shelbourn was causing
the home defence problems and the Lincoln Utd keeper did well
to turn away his first time shot after fine work by Tommy
Chalk. At the other end, keeper Keith Jones pulled off a fine
diving save of his own to deny the home side moments later and
Town's hopes of securing all three points remained intact but
an off the ball incident seemed to unsettle them and the home
side took advantage. Luke Shelbourn appeared to be punched off
the ball as a corner was delivered into the penalty area but
the officials failed to see what happened. Town clearly felt very
aggrieved and perhaps lost concentration for the final few
minutes and they paid the ultimate price as Lincoln Utd scored
in the final moments to take an unlikely three points.
Town will feel that they deserved to
take at least a point following a decent showing in the second
half in which they created several clear scoring
opportunities. However, frailties in defence proved to be
their undoing despite looking solid at the back for long
periods and Town will be looking to put things right when they
travel to Park Avenue at Louth on Saturday - kick-off 2pm.
Town side:Keith Jones, Daryl Dunn (Jamie
Lamming), Andy Cooling, Dave Marshall, Chris Johnson, Ollie
Johnson, Michael Harness, Tommy Chalk, Will Carter (Luke
Shelbourn), Scott Wilson, Matty Low (Jonathon Seymour)
Horncastle
Town 3 Kirton 1
Lincolnshire
Junior Cup Quarter-Final
07-01-2012
HT
2-1
Att
48
By
Paul Johnson
Town secured a place in the semi-final
of the Lincs Junior Cup following a relatively comfortable win
against their Boston League opposition. Town were always in
control of proceedings without being at their best but a brace of goals from Michael Harness
and a close range effort from the impressive Tommy Chalk proved
decisive.
Town were without the services of
Gareth Melia, Steve Brown, Craig
Gordon and Matty Low but they
started strongly and soon began to create opportunities.
Michael Harness and Tommy Chalk were causing the
visiting
defence untold problems and when Michael latched onto a loose
ball just inside the penalty area he drove the ball unerringly
into the corner to give Town a deserved lead after twenty
minutes.
Town then spurned several clear
scoring opportunities which should have taken the game away from Kirton. Scott
Wilson headed just wide from an Ollie Johnson free-kick and
Luke Shelbourn's close range effort was gathered by the Kirton keeper. Tommy
Chalk fired into the side netting after more good work from
Michael Harness and Chris Johnson should have scored after
Tommy turned provider.
Town's profligacy in front of goal was
soon to prove costly as Kirton drew level on the half hour.
Their winger cut inside Luke Shelbourn and was allowed to run
unchallenged across the face of the penalty before rolling the
ball to a colleague who drove the ball beyond keeper Keith
Jones. This was the away sides first effort on goal but it
clearly filled them with confidence and keeper Jones had to
turn away a well struck free-kick.
However, Town restored their lead
before the break when Scott Wilson flicked on an Ollie Johnson
free-kick to Tommy Chalk who fired in. This was no more than
Tommy deserved and he should have added his second and Town's
third when he dribbled his way into a shooting position but his effort clipped the
outside of the post.
Town were not as dominant after the
break and the game was somewhat scrappy but Town still had
opportunities to extend their lead with Tommy again the
provider. His low cross just eluded Scott Wilson at the near
post and when he delivered another fine
ball into the box Will Carter headed just over. Will then had
a great chance to add a third goal when Tommy again got to the
byline before pulling the ball back but Will's first effort
was well saved and his follow-up sho blocked on the line by
the defender.
Town were rarely troubled at the back
with Dave Marshall and Alec Enderby in commanding form but
they were caught out fifteen minutes from time when Kirton
broke clear down the left but keeper Keith Jones did well to
come off his line and block the incoming shot. Moments later the result was put beyond doubt with
the best goal of the game. Ollie Johnson's crossfield pass was
cushioned into the path of Michael Harness by Will Carter and
Michael drove the ball into the bottom
corner. This was greeted with relief by Town's loyal
supporters who must have been wondering when the win was going
to be secured.
Nevertheless, the result was a very
pleasing one given the lenghty lay off, and Town will be
hoping that several key players can be fit in time for the
semi-final on February 4th when Town entertain Grantham league
side Beehive on The Wong.
This coming Saturday Town have no
fixture owing to the Representative Squad game at Bromsgrove
but they return to action the week after at Lincoln Utd -
kick-off 3pm.
Town side:Keith Jones, Daryl Dunn (Jamie
Lamming), Luke Shelbourn, Alec Enderby, Dave Marshall, Ollie
Johnson, Michael Harness, Chris Johnson, Will Carter, Scott
Wilson (Jonathon Seymour), Tommy Chalk
Horncastle
Town Football Club Reports 2011/2012 
and the in-form Michael Harness added a second early in the
second half to ensure Town emerged with a share of the spoils.
the
half. The play was switched to Louth's right back who was
allowed to cut inside far too easily before looping a shot
over Burchnall in Town's goal.
Wilson found Michael Harness on his right and Michael drove a
low shot through the
keepers legs for his fifth goal in three games.
showing in the first half. Following last
weeks disappointment at Lincoln Utd, Town will have been
pleased to get something from the game and there were some
pleasing individual performances. Will Carter lead the line
well and deserved his goal and Jamie Lamming worked hard in
midfield alongside the influential Ollie Johnson. At the back
Dave Marshall had another fine game and Daryl Dunn
was very solid at right back but Town's talisman at the moment
is Michael Harness and he came up with another important goal
to take his tally for the season to nine.
