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Hearts edged out in thriller

13/12/2005

Manchester League Football
Rochdale Sacred Heart 2
East Manchester 3

HEARTS lost out to East Manchester in an exciting game at Fox Park.

The home team started the stronger and had their opponents under pressure early on.

They opened the scoring when Jay Kay played an excellent through ball into the path of fullback Andrew Jackson who slotted home low into the corner.

The game flowed from end to end with both sets of forwards causing the defences no end of problems.

After 30 minutes Manchester got a deserved equaliser and almost immediately grabbed the lead with a well-taken goal.

With five minutes remaining in the half Manchester were reduced to 10 men when they had a player sent off.

Hearts opened the second half determined to make the extra man count. Putting the Manchester defence under great pressure Kay, Michael Barker, Mark Dunning and Lee Oldham all went close.

With 15 minutes remaining Hearts made the vital breakthrough when Mark Dunning took the ball down the line and put over an excellent cross for Oldham to score his 14th goal of the season.

With only minutes remaining Hearts were also reduced to 10 men when centre back Gary Pollitt was dismissed for a professional foul. Hearts continued to press for the winner, bringing two fine saves from the Manchester goalkeeper.

In the final minute of the game Hearts were caught out when the defence tried to play an offside trap, allowing a Manchester forward to break through and score what proved to be the winning goal.

Hearts came off the field very disappointed not to get something from the game but must pick themselves up for this Saturday's visit to Springhead in the quarter-final of the Gilchrist Cup.

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