Game Changer came across a newly set up team from Barnsley who were playing their first ever game. The new club play in the Blacker Hill part of the former mining town and intend on playing in the Barnsley Sunday League. They were victorious in their first outing but, in contrast, it was a flattering result, who took advantage of lacklustre refereeing decisions which, otherwise, ought to have ended in a draw (at least).
The Changer team continued with their fresh look formation and benefitted from a broad selection of substitutions – something they have lacked in recent months. Defender Joe Deakin gave a Man of the Match performance in his second match for the Changer team – though keeper Liam Lowes was a close runner-up after pulling off spectacular saves in both halves to keep the hosts at bay. Meanwhile, Alex Mitchell, and Sam Taylor was handed debuts – though they were without top-scorer, Jesse Payne, and Connor Jones, whom both were absent.
Meanwhile, the opposition fielded former Game Changer trio; Luke Dowl, Scott Rooke, and Martin Wilsdon in their ranks to face their former club.
Hoyland Social Club 3-1 Game Changer Sunday, 16th July 2023 – 11:00 AM Friendly Match
Game Changer XI | Substitutes |
Liam Cole | Brett Hanson |
Cameron Harrison | Liam Potter |
Matthew Townsend (c) | Ali Lima |
Paul Holland | Alex Mitchell |
Kevin Laws | Josh Payne |
Dean Crawford | Sam Taylor |
Brandon Jones | Michael Gibson |
Levi Wilkinson | Gaz Garner |
Joe Deakin | |
Chris Gibson | Manager |
Jamie Moore | Jamie Moore |
A sturdy first-half performance saw the two sides go in at the break all-square with neither side failing to the break the deadline. This was largely due to a well-oiled Changer defence who kept out any Hoyland advances but, they themselves, lacked pace in the final third.
The visitors created several first-half opportunities but failed to produce that sucker punce to take the lead. Striker, Jamie Moore, saw a right-footed effort kept out by their stopper. Midfielder, Kevin Laws pivoted with the ball on the edge of the area before unleashing a left-footed volley, which the keeper had to push over the bar to safety. At the other end, keeper Lowes pulled off several quality saves.
The Oranges almost forced the ball home in the latter stages of the first half after a ball into the box saw Brandon Jones get the better of the keeper and headed towards goal, only for a covering defender to clear before the ball could trickle over the line. The hosts came closer before the break after an effort struck the bar before Hoyland fired over from the rebound.
The second half saw the Changer side playing with heavy wind to their advantage, but it was the hosts would eventually take the lead with twenty minutes after a shot from the left proved too powerful for Lowes and nestled into the far bottom corner. With quickfire goals, the hosts doubled their lead following a dubious refereeing decision, after the referee judged defender Brett Hanson handballed in the box, with their striker finishing from the spot!
With ten minutes remaining the Oranges reduced the deficit. After being awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, Levi Wilkinson’s low drive wasn’t stopped by the keeper and the ball trickled between his legs and into the net.
The goal gave the visitors impetus but were denied an equalising goal when Hoyland netted a third in the last kick of the game when they were gifted a penalty after Lowes was judged to have checked the Hoyland attacker, which they duly despatched. The referee gave no time for the kick-off before blowing the full-time whistle.
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