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Duke of Wellington 4 - 1 Heywood Reform

23/ 4/2008

IT would not right, when reporting on a famous victory by the Duke of Wellington, not to mention Arthur Wellesley’s final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in June 1815.

On Sunday, 193 years later, in the eyes and minds of players and supporters of Heywood’s own Duke of Wellington, the defeat of local rivals Heywood Reform was far more memorable and convincing.

On a miserable, wet morning at Gigg Lane, The Duke were prepared for the battle and had talented troops to bring down high-flying Reform.

With the experience of Richard Brown, Chris Rawlinson and Jamie Spence, complemented by the pace, skill and aggression of Danny Braidwood, Mark Hogg, Ryan Orman and Martin Cosgrove, the Duke are a solid outfit and produced their Sunday best to reduce a hitherto unbeaten Reform to a distinct second best.

Reform weren’t helped by the selection of two players who were not 100 per cent match fit, or by a slipshod defensive display in the first half in which they conceded three goals in 25 minutes. The league leaders simply couldn’t find their form, collectively and individually, and their passing was awful in the face of determined play by the entire Duke team.

Despite their poor first half showing, Reform had several shots at goal and, after a half-time ear bashing from manager Jamie McCulloch the Reform lads were keen to make a fight of it. Reid and Hogarth were replaced by Hardy and Carney at the break.

Within five minutes of the restart they could have gone further behind when the linesman spotted a handball in the box, but Cosgrove fired the penalty wide.

Better work rate and an all-round improvement put Reform back in the game and in the 62nd minute Craig Winter pulled a goal back, pouncing to force the ball over the line after Rawlinson had parried Nuttall’s fierce cross shot.

Soon after Rawlinson had to leave the field after damaging a shoulder when colliding with Winter going for a loose ball. Chris Robertson took over in goal.

In spite of a lot of ‘huff and puff’, Reform failed to maintain their revival, hitting long balls and continually conceding possession to the height and strength in the Duke team. It was desperate stuff from a dispirited team.

The Duke, in control throughout, extended their lead in the 80th minute with a super fourth goal. It came when the referee harshly awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. While all looked on, Jamie Taylor steered a magnificent right foot shot inside Lee Grogan’s left hand post. It was a beauty and killed off any distant hopes of a miraculous recovery from Reform.

Congratulations to the Duke – they were the best side on the day. Meanwhile, Reform with two more big challenges ahead – the Premiership title and the Challenge Cup – and games coming thick and fast, will need to regroup.

They were due to play Huntley Mount on Tuesday night and tonight they entertain Holcombe.

On Sunday, they travel to Elton Vale and next Tuesday play PSV Hangover at Heywood Sports Centre.