GILLFORD PARK FC
Gillford Park Stadium, Carlisle and District Railway Club, off Petterill Bank Road, Carlisle, CA1 3AF
Tel: 07717 103666 (Secretary)

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December 2nd 2007
Heddon who?

If Jimmy McMurdo was in charge of Harrogate Railway Athletic, they'd be in the FA Cup Third Round right now.

For the second time this season, the league leaders took the initiative only to have their dominance curtailed by a resurgent Gillford Park side. And just as against Alnwick Town, in the early stages of yesterday's game an un-patronising piece of punditry by Mark Lawrenson looked more likely than a Gilly goal.

Heddon took the lead after eleven minutes when a wonderful curling, long-range shot gave Gavin Armstrong no chance in the Gillford goal, and kept up the pressure for the rest of the half.

However, when the Park trotted out for the second half they looked a different team, and with only nine minutes of the second period elapsed the scores were level. Lee Otway was upended in the Heddon box, and referee Jim Halliday moved quickly to award the penalty, which Otway drove past the 'keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.

Sixteen minutes of constant pressure later, the home side took the lead for the first time in December. Ian Johnstone's neat back-heel was cleared as far as Mike Riding, who reacted quickly to fire home.

If the first two were certain goals, the final was fiercely debated by the away team. A shot was fired towards goal from a tight angle in the direction of Tom Brocklebank, and the ex-Ludlow Town player managed to squeeze the ball through the melee of defenders and keepers, and just over the line at the front post.

As Walker Central's date with Northbank was postponed, owing to a flooded pitch at The Sheepmount, the win moves Gilly up into second place in the table, one point above Walker who have a game in hand. At the top of the league, Heddon are a win away from our grasp, have played three more games, and have a ten-goal poorer 'goal difference'.