Ferryhill Athletic ended their current run of midweek games by grinding out a 3-2 victory over FC Hartlepool Reserves in a drizzly floodlight game on the coast, reports Chris Orton.
It didn’t take long before the away side went ahead with a great strike from Chris Devine, who continued his fine run of form. Ferryhill played some excellent football in the early stages with FC Hartlepool having little of the play, Kieron Richardson again controlling much of the game and Jay Roddam putting in a great shift. Despite Ferryhill’s initial dominance, the opposition were able to fire off a shot that Luke Teare was unable to stop. A rotten tackle on Reece Wilkinson led to both players being booked and the game entered a scrappy spell with honours even at the break.
Ferryhill came out determined in the second half with Alfie Backhouse working hard throughout and controlling much of the play. It was FC Hartlepool, however, who took the lead with a second goal, but a shrewd double substitution saw Adam Morland and Danny Smith come on from a very strong bench. The move was well justified as both players went on to score: Morland put the visitors back on level terms with a terrific finish and, towards the end, Smith, with a belter of a free kick, sealed the win and kept the side at the top of the table. Another shocking tackle on an Athletic player only saw the FC Hartlepool player receive a yellow card, but fortunately the game was soon over before any further play of this kind.
New signing Kieran McWaters deservedly got the man of the match award in what was a tough, tricky game in which every away player ran their socks off. Athletic have enjoyed a well-deserved break with no match for ten days until this weekend when they take on fourth-place Chester-le-Street United Reserves at Dean Bank, with Saturday games now kicking off at 2pm.
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