Tigers move up to second

Saturday saw Hyde United take a trip up the Derbyshire to face Matlock Town in their second away game of The Northern Premier League campaign. 

Just four days after ending 19 years without a win at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium against Bamber Bridge, Hyde ended an over 20 year wait for a win at Causeway Lane. A hat trick from skipper Jack Redshaw helped them cruise to a 4-1 victory.

The Tigers started the brighter of the two sides. After just six minutes Redshaw played a delightful ball to Connor Heath on the edge of The Town box, Heath laid the ball off to Bunn who struck the ball just past the left hand post.

It wasn’t long before the visitors made the breakthrough as after just 10 minutes a Hyde corner was cleared by Matlock, only as far as Joel Amado, on the edge of the box, who’s left footed strike found the bottom right hand corner.

Midway through the first half, Heath did really well to win the ball ahead of the Town defender before twisting and turning on the wing to find space for a cross which was headed away, again to Amado who hit the ball on the half volley but it was always rising just over the bar.

The final 20 minutes of the first period was slow as Hyde just kept the ball and nullified any threat from Matlock.

The second half started as the first half did, with The Tigers having the best of the play. 51 minutes in and Harry Ditchfield floated a ball in towards Heath who headed down and just past the post.

Just before the hour mark Redshaw decided to take the game into his own hands as he rattled in a 22 minute hat trick to take the game well out of the home side's reach. 

All three goals from the captain could’ve been the same. He picked up the ball just inside the box and slotted it into the bottom right corner with his right foot.

Two minutes from time Matlock managed to snatch a consolation as a deep cross found James Morris who headed back across goal to Sam Essien and he almost couldn’t miss.

The Tigers followed up this victory with a 2-1 win at home to Basford United on the following Tuesday.

Hyde took the lead late on in the first half through Harry Bunn before this lead was doubled early in the second by new boy Ben Kershaw.

Despite a late fightback from Basford which saw them claw back one goal, it was The Tigers who took all three points.

These wins have lifted Nick Spooner’s side to second in the NPL Premier table ahead of Stockton Town’s visit to The Project Solar Stadium on Saturday.