Leek Town and Hyde United played out a 1-1 draw in absolutely atrocious conditions as they battled storm Darraghs driving wind and rain as much as each other to produce a watchable game for the hardy 402 spectators who turned up and huddled in what ever shelter they could find in the F Ball Community Stadium.

The game marked a return to the Blues for Julius Ndene lining up in a central back three alongside Tom Curl and Nathan Okome, and the central defender basically continued from where he had signed off with an accomplished defensive performance whilst providing a threat from Leeks set pieces.

With Liam Buckley and Ollie Haywood acting as wing backs outside of a central midfield of Tom Scully and Billy Reeves and Ollie Shenton tucking in behind forwards Campbell and new signing Louis Potts, the Blues side had a good shape to it and they certainly had the better of a first half where it was imperative to keep the ball down.

Potts, signed from Clitheroe during the week, had a debut that suggested he will provide just what Leek have been looking for since the start of the season, a big forward with the strength to hold the ball up even under pressure from the opposition. He drew a booking from Jack Byrne after only 5 mins as the Tigers defender came through the back of him to try and win the ball that Potts was shielding, and was a menace to the Hyde defence for the majority of the game with the only downside being that he failed to capitalise on his performance and score from a couple of half chances.

It was the visitors however who fashioned the first real chance of the game on 12mins. A real midfield scrap in which the ball was pinging around with no one able to get a hold of it eventually resulted in it being played forward to Ewan Bange just inside the Leek area and he produced a neat right footed finish across Dino Visser into the far corner but the assistant referees flag had already been raised to signal the forward had strayed offside.

Leeks first opportunity came after 16mins. In quick succession Reeves and Scully were into challenges just outside of Hydes penalty area as the Tigers tried to clear their lines with the ball eventually breaking to Potts and he hit a left footed effort that took a deflection and forced goalkeeper Callum Hiddleston to push it out for a corner.

Reeves and Scully had their own efforts respectively as Leek looked the more lively side. Reeves 18yd effort had the sting taken out of it from a defensive leg that made the save for Hiddleston more comfortable whilst Scully effort was unfortunately caught by the wind which took it well over the bar.

But the Blues were good value for the one goal lead that they would take into the break which came on 33mins. A corner was won by another surging run by Buckley and when Haywood swung in the ball Okome timed his run to meet it with a powerful header that came back off the bar and Campbell was first to the rebound to tuck home.

LEEK TOWN 1 - HYDE UNITED HT

The Hyde management team made a change at half time bringing on Matthew Fearnley for Harry Ditchfield as the visitors also switched to a back three to match up to Leek. The move seemed to work with the second half more even and the visitors seeing more of the ball but Leek were still creating chances and could have extended their lead on three occasions before the hour mark.

Just 2 mins after the break Potts did well to hold the ball up from a throw in from Haywood. He found Scully who immediately returned the ball to Haywood who put in a cross that caused problems in the wind for Hiddleston and Buckley was able to get a header on target that was cleared off the line by Lewis Thompson.

Buckley then caused problems with a low cross of his own following a break down the right that resulted in two consecutive miscues from Hyde defenders trying to cut out the cross and the ball could have ended up anywhere but was skewed just over the bar.

But the best chance fell to Potts who again did well to initially hold up the ball and then slip a ball through for Campbell to run onto. He was forced away from goal but was able to put in a cross that Hiddleston again failed to deal with, with the ball falling to Potts a couple of yards out but the striker was unable to connect with the goal gaping.

At the other end Hyde were also starting to create their own chances with Jack Redshaws powerful drive parried away by Visser. Their best opportunity to bring the game level came when Bange used his height and strength to control and hold the ball inside the area before teeing up the supporting Fearnley. The substitute carefully side footed his effort wide of Visser but it was also just drifted a foot wide of the post.

After having a relatively quiet first half Bange was beginning to cause a few more problems for the Blues defence sand nearly carved out a shooting opportunity but for good recovery work by Haywood who was able to shepherd the forward away from danger.

It was clear that Leek would need a second goal for some breathing space and that nearly came after 70mins when there was an almighty goal mouth scramble inside the visitors penalty area from a corner and there was relief for Hyde when Hiddleston was eventually able to fall on and smother the ball.

And, as it has happened to the Blues on a number of occasions this season, after failing to capitalise on their opportunities they conceded the equaliser on 71mins. It came in unfortunate circumstances. The gale force swirling wind had caused problems for both sides all afternoon and it always looked like it would lead to an error at some part of the game. Alas it came the way of Leek as Tom Curl misjudged the ball in the wind and was unable to deal with a knock forward to allow substitute Ayo Quadri, who had only just come onto the pitch, to take a touch and drill a low left foot shot past Visser that hit the inside of the post before going in to make it 1-1

It then looked as if the Tigers could go on to snatch a victory as there were a couple of scrambles in the Leek area with only some last ditch blocks and pokes away averting the danger.

Leek were also not done yet though. With substitutes Alex Hurst and Adam Porter on the pitch they looked to restore their lead and had claims of a penalty waved away on 82mins by the referee when Buckley went to ground under a challenge after being slid in by another good pass from Potts.

Then two mins later a neat passing move down the Leek right involving Buckley, Scully and Porter resulted in the latter swinging in an inviting curling cross that found Potts but his header did not have enough direction on it for it to go inside the post and he will have been disappointed not to have scored.
The Blues have a big let off on 84mins when Reeves was forced back into his own half under severe pressure from his opponent, and played a pass back to Visser that always looked short. The Leek keeper was beaten to it by Connor Heath but clipped the player in the process to concede and was shown a yellow rather than red card given the offence took place out wide.

That was the final telling action of the game with both sides and the spectators keen to get inside out of the weather as soon as the referees whistle blew for full time.

LEEK TOWN 1 - HYDE UNITED 1 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

Match Photos Courtesy of Jim Booth HERE

So a busy week for the Blues with a midweek trip to high flying Guiseley and then to over to Worksop on Saturday, before our last home game of the 2024 on Saturday 21st December against Basford.