Pike masterminds giant-killing for Hammers

From the Echo, first published Monday 20th Oct 2003.

HAMWORTHY United's season just went from excellent to miraculous after another astonishing FA Vase win, this time at Hallen, who had up to this point not lost a single game at home all season.

Hammers manager Alex Pike's love affair with the competition has been well documented, having guided Wimborne Town to ultimate success in 1992, and this time round with Hamworthy United, the enthusiasm is still as raw as ever.

Another chapter in the Vase diary for Pike then, who explained that his game plan came to fruition perfectly.

"We had them watched, and they are a very good side who haven't lost at home all season," said Pike.

"The first 20 minutes we had a game plan and we only played with one player up front and five in midfield, and they just couldn't handle it."

Anthony Tilley opened the scoring for Hamworthy mid-way through the opening half and that's how it stayed right up to the break. Hawkins made an excellent save in the Hammers goal shortly after the interval, which proved vital as they raced up the other end for Scott Bedward to tuck the ball in at the near post to double their lead.

Hallen pulled a goal back with 20 minutes left, in a game where Pike was keen to point out the excellent performance from the referee. Pike said: "I'm not just saying this because we won, but the referee had a superb game.

"For our second goal, Tilley was absolutely chopped in half with an horrendous challenge, but we still had possession, and the referee played the advantage, and we scored.

"How many referees at that level would do that? - and quite honestly at our level I don't often see that."

Hamworthy United: Hawkins, Avery, Brown, Williams, Bartlett, McCormick, Rossiter (D Lawrence 70), Tilley, Walden, Bedward, Orchid. Unused subs: Alcock, Keynes, Johnson, Watts.

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