9th September 2016: Hills Farm Lane FC 5 AC Azurri 3 (HT: 1-2)
Hills Farm opened their league account with a tricky opening fixture with AC Azurri at TD Shipley. The teams had shared two close games last season with the Azurri taking the honours with a win and a draw.
This time the visitors arrived with a squad of just eleven whilst Hills Farm had a strong squad of 14.
Lackadaisical defending by the home side and deadly finishing by the Azurri striker saw the visitors race into an early two nil lead and for a while the home side were on the ropes and looking ragged and dishevelled as the team lost its shape trying to turn the game around. But turn it around they did and ran out "uncomfortable" winners by 5 to 3, as Azurri's eleven men predictably wilted and ran out of steam. All of the Azurri goals scored by their in-form but isolated striker, whilst Hills Farm shared the goals with great efforts from Stuart Rogers, Dan Purchase, Paul Rymarz - who changed the game as second half substitute - Matt Dormer and Gavin Edwards.
A great come back win for Hills Farm Lane under new manager Mark Murphy, ex Horsham Tigers under 11's coach and former Saint Cuthbert's RC first choice left back.
Team:
Ben Ferguson
Kevin Boyle
Richard Bramwell
Matthew Dormer (1)
Gavin Edwards (1)
Tony Giles
Jason Grubb
Gareth Jones
Liam Kelly
Dan Purchase (1)
Stuart Rogers (1)
Subs:
Richard Law
Paul Rymarz (1)
Mark Murphy