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Cross Keys 1 Heywood Reform 9

28/ 2/2008

LAST May these teams met in the final for the competition at Gigg Lane, Reform producing a superb performance to carry off the cup that day.

Since then, a 3-1 home victory in the league has confirmed Reform’s dominance over opponents who are yet to discover the Heywood outfit’s Achilles heel, and that was the case again this weekend at This Elms as Reform recorded a comfortable victory.

A prolonged shower shower saturated the pitch before kick off and the players took some time to adapt to the slippery conditions, though the hosts had the upper hand at that stage, moving the ball quickly and accurately. Their possession failed to produce any worthy efforts on Lee Grogan’s goal and the hosts paid the price 20 minutes when Tatton’s superb left-wing cross was met by Mike Wetherilt who flashed a header into the top corner of the net for a picture-book goal.

A second followed five minutes later, Jack Nicholson’s long ball forward skidded through the Keys defence and there was Wetherilt to place it into the net.

While Cross Keys bemoaned the loss of two quick goals, Reform turned on the style. Reid, Blackledge, Warwick and Nicholson were commanding at the back while Hogarth, McCulloch, Tatton and Simon Carney were an energetic and inventive midfield.

Grogan made a decent save from a good opportunity for Cross Keys before Ryan Carden, enjoying a rare run out in the absence of Nuttall, Winters and hardy, was involved in two more goals for Reform. His low cross was turned in by Hogarth and the fourth was drilled home by Carden himself.

With joint manager Jamie McCulloch unavailable, Mick Grogan had a pleasant job during the break but was forced to withdraw Tatton and Blackledge, both suffering recurrences of previous injuries, Kevin Bates and Andrew Tinker coming on.

Both newcomers were quickly into their stride, Bates creating havoc in the Cross keys defence with his non-stop style and Tinker quick and alert as ever.

Reform’s domination of their opponents grew and Simon Carney’s cross ended up in the back of the net for the fifth of the afternoon.

An injury to Grogan in the 63rd minute was a blow to Reform, Rhys Reid replacing him in net. His first kick downfield bounced over the heads of the Cross keys defence and was lapped up by Carden, who fired home the sixth.

Bates set up man of the match Wetherilt for his hat-trick before Hogarth and Carden combined to set up the same player for his fourth.

With 10 minutes remaining, Nicholson capped a fine personal display by producing a fine pass to Carden who notched his deserved hat-trick minutes after Keys had scored a consolation.

A 9-1 scoreline suggests inferior opposition, but it would be more accurate to say Reform were exceptional on the day.