Hadlow United Vrs Goudhurst United

18th January 2004 (WKSL)

Hadlow bounced back from a number of blows to take all the points in this well contested match.   With the game at 0-0 United were the better team and with the Betts – Carlton centre back pairing back in full swing looked impregnable, this was until injury struck for the unlucky Carlton who came out of a 50/50 challenge with a gash in his shin which later required stitches.  Player manager Cook took his place and with Betts playing as if he had never been away United regained composure.   The deadlock was broken when Harvey muscled out a defender on the edge of the box sidestepped another and belted a thunderous drive into the roof of the net.

As the game wore on Hadlow were exposed down the right and when a smart one two released Goudhurst’s pacey forward he found a shot from the tightest of angles, which levelled the score.  Five minutes later disaster struck for Miles when a seemingly harmless ball bobbled towards him but with his view obscured fluffed it over his own goal line.  Further misfortunes were in store when Harvey had to leave the field after going over on his ankle, but to his credit bandaged himself up and got back in the action.

In the second half Leach moved into the middle and Garside went out wide left, United increased the work rate and battled hard and got their reward ten minutes from time when Walsh played a through ball to Webb and he outpaced the last defender and rammed his shot home.  The comeback was complete when Garside who had been a constant menace in the second half combined well with the highly impressive Walsh and he cut inside from the left flank and unleashed an unstoppable shot, it was no more than Hadlow had deserved in the second half.

United stood strong at the back for the last ten minutes as Goudhurst poured men forward but everytime they came up against the irrepressible Betts, who showed no ill effects from his nine week layoff, Miles also atoned for his earlier error with a sturdy second half showing including a one-on-one save.

Team: Miles, Shimell, Betts, Carlton (Cook), Walsh (1), Goldsmith, Garside, Harvey (1), Excell, Leach, Webb (1).