Daisy Hill secured their third win in four matches with a 2-0 victory at home against Steeton in the North West Counties First Division North on the league’s ‘Groundhopping Weekend’.
Liam Sheppard put the Cutters ahead early in the first half with Dean Singleton putting the game to bed, leaving manager Nicky Hunt happy the display.
“It was a really pleasing and a dominant performance,” said Hunt.
“It was great to keep a clean sheet, too, which I’ve been hoping we could do for weeks and weeks - it’s only the second one since I’ve been here.
“Jude (Smith, Daisy goalkeeper) pulled off a magnificent world-class save, and I say world-class, because it was, he was going backwards. Everyone thinks it’s in, but he tapped it on to the bar, and their lad was offside when he tapped the loose ball in.
“But, apart from that, I thought we defended superbly and we didn’t look at any time that we were under pressure, or under the cosh.
“That was massively pleasing, but it starts from the front, it starts from the wingers and strikers, and ends up with Jude in goal, and to a man today, full credit to them.
“It was a fantastic team performance, as the players followed to the letter what we said before the game.
“In the first half we were getting into really good areas, but just not having that bite that we’ve had in recent weeks. We always score goals, we’ve got bags of goals in us, but it just wasn’t there in the first half.
“But I think as a team, we managed the whole game really, really well. At certain times, we played quickly, and then at other times, we took a step back and took our time on the ball.
“That’s football, and you just got to manage the game as you see fit.
“It was a performance that could set us up for a play-off push.
“That’s our aim now, we’re not looking down, we’re looking up and with performances like that, we’re only going to go one way.
“Everyone can enjoy the rest of the weekend now. and we go again on Saturday at Nelson, which will be a tough game I’m sure.
“But we’ve got loads of confidence, we’ve won three out of the last four so let’s just kick on and see where it takes us.”
Three minutes into the match, Jacob Ridings dispossessed the Steeton defender to set Sheppard up, but his shot was parried away by Bradley Emmerson.
Eight minutes later Sheppard put the Cutters into a deserved lead as he followed up and tapped home Jake O’Brien’s free-kick that had hit the post.
Eighteen minutes in, Cameron Firth found space on the edge of the box and shot, but dragged his effort wide of the goal.
Only a minute later Steeton finally got on the attack. Jake Townsend was found unmarked just inside the box and fired at goal, but a combination of Declan Baldwin and keeper Jude Smith blocked the shot out for a corner.
For the rest of the first half the Cutters were in complete control and continued that dominance into the second half.
Daisy finally created a clear-cut chance in the 63rd minute when Sheppard raced down the right wing and fired in a cross for Joao Soares who volleyed straight at Emmerson.
Six minutes later Smith made an unbelievable save to keep Daisy ahead. Lewis Gartland pounced on the loose ball and from around 45 yards unleased a vicious effort that Smith somehow managed to tip on to the bar.
Only four minutes later Singleton secured the three points after Soares’ header was blocked on the line, allowing Singleton to convert home at his second attempt.
A minute into stoppage time, Fionn Murphy nearly put the icing on the cake as he found himself in behind. His shot was superbly saved by Emmerson down to his right and out for a corner.
The last action of the match saw Steeton end with 10 men as Emmerson was given his marching orders after a coming together off the ball.
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