Hyde embarrass County in Boxing Day catastrophe

In reality most expect this defeat to come.

Some said it was worse than the 6-0 at Macclesfield, that was unexpected. This was different – most turned up at the ground fully expecting Hyde to run away winners.

Surely something would happen though? We would turn up and have our players fired up? We couldn’t get beat off Hyde in our first ever league game with them – could we?

With four ex County players in their ranks (Poole, Griffin, Crowther and Ashworth) Hyde were never going to be pushovers.

The search party was finally called off for Euan Holden as he re-appeared in the first team for just the first time this season. His last County game was in April – he has not been injured.

An early goalmouth scramble at the Hyde end gave County fans early hope that perhaps we had turned up – Hobson, Collins and Jennings all came close but were blocked by the brave bodies of the Hyde defence.

But Hyde took the lead inside the first ten minutes when ex County man Adam Griffin whipped a corner in towards the near post and it found its way straight into the goal. Ian Ormson and Euan Holden could take joint blame as Holden was beat on the near post and Ormson could get nowhere near it either. 1-0 to Hyde. To be fair to Adam Griffin he did not celebrate in front of the Cheadle End as his teammates congratulated him.

It was a Griffin corner again that lead to the second goal, again Holden was beat at the near post and Joe Connor was fast asleep (as per usual) at the back post to allow Sedgwick to guide the ball into the net unmarked to make it 2-0 to Hyde United.

Hyde had further chances to make it 3-0 and the County fans were not happy at all. Ironic cheers rang around Edgeley Park when County finally got a corner cleared at the near post.

Jennings missed two chances early in the second half, but after that Jim Gannon could only tinker with his formation and fail to make a difference as Hyde sat, comfortably, on their 2-0 lead.

I know one thing for certain – I am not looking forward to New Years Day.