Tigers Maul The Eagle

Hykeham Tigers won their first pre-season friendly with a resounding 7-3 win against AFC Golden Eagle in their annual Mid-June Exhibition Game.

The game was a chance for the Tigers to look at some prospective signings and give some players interested in joining the club a chance to see what the Tigers could offer them. Matt Wilson picked the side for the game, and went for a 4-3-3 formation with the following players picked;

GK- Sam Clucas

LB- Mark Plaskett

CB- Matt Wilson

CB- Daniel Daubney

RB- Sam Newton

DM- Kris Nelson

CM- Ally Duncan

CM- Josh Raby

RW- Andy Myers

LW- Craig Froggatt

ST- Paul Sturton

SUB- Mark Newton

SUB- Switch

SUB- Aaron Starbuck
SUB- Ashley Murphy
SUB- Nick Steadman
SUB- Callum Fatchett

Paul Sturton was put up front in his natural position after spending most of the last season at Centre Back. He has swapped positions with Daniel Daubney who moved back into Centre back to partner Matt Wilson at the heart of the defence.  Trialist Josh Raby started in Centre Midfield, with stand in goalkeeper Sam Clucas helping the club out in Goal.

Tigers started the match well, and were controlling possession whilst also dealing with some fair pressure from Eagle. The back four had started well, and after 15 minutes the Tigers opened the lead. With a cutting through ball, Sturton broke one on one with ex Tigers keeper Chris Bennett and confidently looped the ball passed him to open the Tigers Season.

5 Minutes later, it was 2-0 , this time after a Corner and some head tennis in the area, Centre back Matt Wilson hit the ball on the turn and volley, and left Bennett rooted to his spot as the ball sailed into the far corner of the net. 2-0 and the Tigers looked very comfortable.

Goals followed in the first half from the head of a despairing Eagle centre back and Aaron Starbuck scoring with his first touch after coming on. The Tigers had raced into a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes, and looked good value for their lead. Kris Nelson had a superb first half, winning lots of headers in the centre of midfield. However, on the stroke of half time, Eagle striker span off Daubney and smashed a shot into the top corner and left Clucas stranded with no chance of saving it.  4-1 at Half time.

The second half was a much different affair, but still saw Tigers score three more. Changes kept happening, and the Tigers lost their flow in the game. However two goals from Callum Fatchett, and another Paul Sturton goal saw the Tigers hit Seven, but Two Goals more for the same Eagle striker saw him complete his hat trick and see a final score of 7-3 to the Tigers.

All in all, a impressive first performance against a side with some good young players in it who I feel will do well in Division Three next season.

Pre-Season training starts a week on Sunday, details on the site soon

Giovannetti Leaves Tigers

Today it emerged that Darren Giovannetti, has left Hykeham Tigers by mutual consent.

Darren Giovannetti,38, has managed the Hykeham outfit for two years but sources at the club today confirmed that Giovannetti would be leaving the club with immediate effect, leaving the Tigers managerless in the build up to the 2012/2013 Pre-Season. The reason's for Giovannetti's departure are still unknown however it is rumoured that he has taken a job in a lower division with Shakespeare BBH.

No-one was the club was available for comment regarding this issue, but it looks like the managerial merry go round will be hitting Hykeham this summer. There are several names in the frame to take over from Giovannetti, with caretaker manager from last season Daniel Daubney in the frame, along with ex Louth Town manager Carl Wall, and ex Plough Skellingthorpe manager Chris Elliott. Elliott seems the favourite amongst the bookies for the job, after already previously winning Division Two with his previous club. The bookmakers have the following odd's:

Chris Elliott- 3/1
Carl Wall- 5/1
Johnno- 11/2
Daniel Daubney- 6/1
Kenny Dalglish- 7/1
Kris Nelson- 100/1
Craig Froggatt-250/1

Leagues Announced

At 9pm last night, the news broke live on Sky Sports News that Hykeham Tigers have been placed in Division 2 for the 2012/2013 Season.

After a successful season last term, in which the Tigers reached the last 8 of the Cup, and Finished Joint 3rd in the league, they have risen a league into Divsion 2. The league is jammed full of familiar teams with 7 of the 11 other teams in the league, the Tigers have faced in either cup or league competition over the last two years.

The league format also see's Hykeham Tigers reunited with old foe, Saxilby Athletic. The last time the two sides met it ended in a 30 man supporter and player melee which neither team will want to see repeated when the two sides meet. The league also see's Hykeham Plough move up several divisions, and they could really be a side to watch in the upcoming season.

These are the teams the Tigers will face;
AFC Rustons
FVA Jerusalem Res
Green Barrel
Hykeham Plough
Hykeham Tigers
Plough Sturton
RM Imps
Saxilby Athletic
The George Mkt Rasen
The Turks Head
Waddington Utd
Woodhall Spa Utd

Tigers Chairman Andy Farrer commented on the league's decison. "It is a real credit to the Players, Management and Staff of the club that we started from scratch 2 season's ago, and have been promoted 3 leagues in two season. The lads have done extremely well, but now is time to push on further, and we need to grab the bull by the horns and really sieze the opportunity"

Tigers Announce Lucrative Sponsorship Deal

Hykeham Tigers today announced a bumber 4 Figure Sponsorship deal with Online Kit Supplier, Discountfootballkits.com. The deal is said to be worth in excess of £4,500 to the club and will see the sponsor become Home, Away and Training Kit Sponsor for the 2012/2013 Season

Discountfootballkits.com released a prototype of the potential kit that Hykeham Tigers will be playing in this season.

Season 2012/2013 Kits?

More to follow on this story....