Halse United First 'v' Summertown AFC Stars First

Saturday 3rd February 2024 KO 2pm

The First's returned to home on Saturday to face Summertown Stars AFC. In the away leg top league goal scorer Ollie Read put 5 past the stars to ensure the black and white bought home all 3 points.

Halse United started strong with gaining alot of space down the right hand which results in Simpson lobbing the ball over to Read on the left, Read brings the ball down but getting too much on it and it goes over the bar on 4 minutes in.
Just 7 minutes later Halse take an early lead when Read gets slipped in down the left wing, who whips in a cross into the Stars box and the Summertown centre back lets the ball run under his foot and it falls to Gilsenan 6 yards out who slots it under the Summertown keeper. HUFC 1-0 Stars.
Halse get a free kick on 17 minutes near the half way line, which is hit long from Humphries which is met by Halse centre back Beasley and sees his header cleared off the line by the Summertown centre back.
Its a fairly comfortable game for Halse with most of the possesion and on 29 minutes Gilsenan picks up the loose ball on the half way line and lofts the ball over the top too Read, then Read gets one on one with the Summertown keeper and chips it over him but also clips it onto the top of the crossbar.
Halse continue to push to increase the goal difference before half time and then on 33 minutes Gilsenan get a break down the right and has the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box , swings it to the back post for Read to run onto and head home. HUFC 2-0 Stars.
Just 4 minutes later Summertown get a big chance when the midfielder flicks it onto the number 10 which he has most of Halse half to run into, gets to the edge of the box and is smothered by the Halse keeper Riley which results in no goal.
A solid first half from the lads.

Half Time Halse United First 2 - 0 Summertown AFC Stars

Halse make two substitutions at half time with B Purnell off for Summers and Humphries off for Brock. Second half kicked of at 14.54.
The black and white continue where they left off and on 51 minutes its another goal for Halse when Brock snaps on the loose ball in the middle of the park, drives with the ball into the path of Gilsenan who hits the ball back into the far post with the defender confirming the goal by kicking just after the line. HUFC 3-0 Stars.
On 53 minutes Halse receive a yellow when Beasley does a late tackle to stop the Summertown counter attack.
On 60 minutes Halse make their third substitution and this time its right back Salvatore off for J Purnell. Straight after this Halse get another chance working the ball well again down the left, Read driving in the centre of the park, lays it out wide to Brady who passes it back to Read and he has a small bobble and fires over the bar.
Final 20 minutes and Halse make their final two substitutions with Todd off for Bewick and Beasley off for Murphy.
Then its another goal for Halse when Summers gets down the right, whips a lovely ball in and it finished off calmly by young Mortimer. HUFC 4-0 Stars.
Final 11 minutes and the black and white hit 5! Summers fizzes the ball through the middle of the Summertown defence which is beautifully controlled by Read who is then one on one again, but this time he goes around the keeper and hits it into a empty Summertown net. HUFC 5-0 Stars.
Halse didnt stop the punishment and on 88 Simpson lays Summers off on the edge of the Summertown box and Summers shoots and lobs the Summertown keeper to make it 6.

Full Time Halse United First 6 - 0 Summertown AFC Stars First

Goals Read x2, Gilsenan x2, Mortimer and Summers.
Assists Read, Gilsenan, Brock, Summers x2 and Simpson.
Match Official Martin Woodward.

The lads will now start preparations for Northants FA Junior Cup Semi Final away against Moulton First on Saturday 10th February 2024.