Huntsman 3, Barnard Castle 2
By Craig Woodhead
Following last week’s postponed league fixture, The Huntsman were back in action at home to Barnard Castle FC in The Darlington Charity Cup.
Manager Neil Dodds made several changes from the defeat away to Gainford, as Nathan Wintour, Dave Neale, Stuart Ord and John Jamie Herd were all recalled to the starting eleven.
The opening exchanges of the game were fairly even, with Reed Molloy having a goal disallowed for what looked a dubious offside decision, and Wintour making a couple of fine saves from the Barnard Castle Centre Forward.
The home side finally made the break through around the 25minute mark however, as a deep free kick found the head of centre half Stuart Ord who bulleted a header off the bar and resulted in a goalmouth scramble where Andrew Richardson was on hand to tap in.
The Huntsman then doubled their advantage just before the break, and it was another set piece which the opposition failed to clear and this time Stuart Ord was on hand to slot home at the far post from a Steven Williams cross.
However, The Barnard Castle half time team talk certainly appeared to have paid dividends when they pulled one back a minute after the restart, a near post flick looping over Wintour in the Huntsman goal. The come back was complete with 20 minutes remaining when they counter attacked from a Huntsman corner to devastating effect to make it 2-2; game on.
Just as it appeared as though the game was heading into extra time, another Huntsman set piece resulted in that man Ord firing home his second of the game when he met Williams outswinging corner to fire the Huntsman into the next round.
Next up for The Huntsman is Bishop Bay Horse at home in the league as they seek to maintain their 100% record for the season. 10.30 kick off at Simpasture Park.