SMITHY HAS A KNOCKOUT GAME.....NOT !

HOLLINS 5 -3 FALCON

HT 2-2

(HOLLINS Butterworth 1,Booth 1, Newbitt 3-2 pens)

(PINE Probets 1,Bailey 1, Chapman 1)

Pine centre half Craig Smith had a somewhat eventful game and stole the show, sadly not in aid of his own team but for champions elect Hollins as he went about conceding two reckless and needless penalites in each half which were despatched with two cool finishes by Hollins play maker Simon Newbitt.

The hapless Smith then went about knocking himself out cold as he banged into one of his own players........it wasn`t a serious incident but more a comedy moment as he was having one of those games where nothing went right.

It was Falcon Pine however that took the lead through a powerful header from Pine hitman Adam Probets who latched onto Matthew Chapman`s corner for his 30th league and cup goal of the season.

Pine then conceded the the 1st penalty before a header from a Hollins Corner as Bob Bartle was out jumped by lanky Andrew Butterworth to see his side fall 1-2 behind.

Bartle made amends 5 minutes before half time as he threw his body into a cluster of three Hollins players and as he got a toe to the ball it gave full back Jonh Bailey the chance to slip the ball into the corner of the net.

Atfer the break Pine seemed to be playing the better football for a spell but went 3-2 down with the Craig Smith mad moment as he hacked down Newbitt when the ball was running out for a deadball.Although it did seem a very harsh decision as the ball seemed to be over the line before the player was fouled.

Despite this Falcon raised their game again and the switch of 6`-5`` centre half up to attack caused confusion for Hollins and allowed Falcon man of the match Chapman to score his best goal of the season as he cracked the ball into the net after Bartle had played him in.

But the game again went away from Falcon as Tom Booth scored a very good 4th goal......with just 12 minutes left Pine pushed evry man forward in an attempt to get back into the game but it backfired this time as Hollins scored off the break for Simon Newbitt to cap a fine performance with a hat trick.