Pool 8

Pannal 1

AS the Pannal pitch and Pool pitch were both unplayable, this match was relegated to Pool Reserves' pitch. In these conditions the match could have swung either way and with Pool missing a number of vital players, they were always going to be wary of an unpredictable Pannal side.

The game was started with Pannal playing with the wind but they were soon hit by the Pool hurricane as Joyce finished from close range with his usual composure. Pool's second goal came shortly afterwards, courtesy of Taylor. His original shot was blocked but no mistake was made with the second bite of the cherry.

Pool knew it would not be long before they scored again as Pannal's surges into the Pool half were few and far between. It was Stainforth who put this game out of Pannal's reach when he spotted the 'keeper off his line and confidently looped the ball over his head.

It was inevitable that there would be more goals in this game, as Pool's passing game seemed to improve as the condition of the pitch deteriorated.

Pool's fourth came as a result of direct football as Ingle picked up a short ball and played a pin-point pass to Dickinson, who crossed to veteran Healey, who fumbled the ball over the line.

Pannal then reacted and caught Pool out with a neat one-two that was put away with no hesitation. Number five for Pool came from a corner. The ball was put into the mixer and Graham was the quickest to react with a deflected shot that was poked in by Joyce.

Joyce completed his hat-trick when again he found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper and put away an opportunity that was too good to pass up. Pool went into half-time 6-1 up and brimming with confidence.

The second-half, though, was a completely different story as conditions went from bad to worse.

The second-half was a droll affair as the weight of the ball was doubled due to the amount of mud. Pool needed to do no more, though, to complete this formality and it was a bonus when Outersides, the inventor of football etiquette, arrogantly chipped the 'keeper.

Staniforth then added salt into an already gaping wound when he got his second in the self-same fashion as the first. Match Point was awarded to Willoughby.

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