Old Headingley AFC 2
Hartshead 1

Just as they had done in their first fixture of 2009, Old Headingley fought back from a goal down to secure victory over Hartshead in their final game of the campaign.

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And just as was the case in the earlier reverse fixture, the points were secured only after a frantic finish in which the Headingley goal survived a frantic onslaught.

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Strikes from skipper Andy Williams and in-form Gavin Johnstone earned three points for the home side and ensured a happy end to his debut season with the first team for boss Richard Hamilton.

Starting with the untested duo of Paul Harrington and Kieran Burns in attack, Old Headingley began the match positively and almost went ahead in the opening exchanges when a left footed half volley from Daniel Keating was smartly turned behind for a corner by Hartshead's goalkeeper. An even better chance went begging after fifteen minutes when Williams found himself unmarked at a corner, only to meet Mike McVay's delivery with a mistimed header which looped over.

As the half progressed and both teams found themselves bypassing their midfields in an attempt to free their marauding forwards, chances began to fall for both teams. With Headingley claiming in vain for offside, only the legs of Leigh Fearn prevented Hartshead from taking the lead, yet at the other end Paul Harrington ran onto a Burns flick only for his attempted lob finish to drift narrowly over the crossbar.

As second half began, for all Headingley's huffing and puffing the visitors had grown in influence the longer the game had gone on and this trend continued as Fearn continued to find himself called into action more regularly whilst Hartshead's keeper and centre halves enjoyed a more relaxed afternoon. Attempting to play passing football in an effort to break down their opponents, Headingley ended up being the architects of their own downfall as the lost possession midway inside their own half and Hartshead's substitute striker strode onto the loose ball and finished confidently to make it one nil.

Suddenly realising that their was precious little time left in their season, the home side suddenly sprang into action, thanks in no small part to the assured presence in midfield of Rob Notman and the dynamism of Steve Beck, both brought off the subs' bench by Hamilton in the second period. Re-establishing their passing game, Headingley began to make life much more uncomfortable for their opponents, and when a free kick was won midway inside the Hartshead half, Keating's delivery was not dealt with convincingly and the loose ball was drilled home by Andy Williams, atoning for his earlier incredible miss.

Chances now came and went with each passing minute. From a Beck corner the ball again fell to Williams, only for his effort to be blocked on the line and the loose ball smuggled to safety, whilst Gavin Johnstone was inches away from connecting with another left wing delivery as he slid in eight yards out. At the other end, Fearn was still having to earn his chips, repelling any attacks with a series of fine catches and saves, and in a break from his day job, still found time to create the winning goal. His long goal kick was misjudged by the visiting back four and Johnstone was on hand to trap the ball and slot under the 'keeper with his left foot, seemingly unflustered by the converging defenders.

There was still time for a goal line clearance at the other end, as a header from a corner was hooked away whilst Hartshead's players and fans claimed a goal, but eventually as the referee's whistle sounded to end the contest the 2008/2009 season, both sides shook hands and carried their heavy legs and sunburned faces off the pitch as they reflected on the highs and lows of the previous nine months.