Hadlow United Vrs Insulators

15th February 2004 (WKSL)

Hadlow faced table-topping Insulators at Putlands.  The departure of Webb led to some major re-organisation of the team.  Excell partnered Harvey in the front line and Goldsmith stepped into midfield with Leach With Walsh starting on the left flank.  United started brightly and confidence oozed back.  United were finding spaces but couldn't find the final killer pass.  Ten minutes in A throw-in was flicked on by the lively Goldsmith and was held up by Excell on the edge of the area, the ball was laid off to Harvey who smashed a terrific left footed drive into the bottom corner.  United held onto this lead for a while and looked the better team, Insulators were always causing problems down the left flank due to the sheer speed of their winger and eventually broke through and snatched an equaliser with a well taken goal.  United welcomed back Phill Allcorn between the sticks and his performance was commanding, his one slip came from a bobbling cross that screwed through his arms and into the empty net.  The score remained 2-1 at half time.

Insulators came out all guns blazing in the second half and piled on the pressure, United made a change to try and counter the pacey winger, Shimell left the pitch and was replaced by Smith-Foreman and Walsh reverted to the full back position.  Soon after this Wood was tiring and he was replaced by Garside.  Hadlow won a hat-trick of corners in quick succession and their keeper made to out of this world saves from Leach.  Soon after United were caught on the counter and after a sweeping move found themselves 3-1 down.  Straight from kick off United went back up the other end and won a penalty courtesy of Goldsmith which Leach duly stuck away to the keepers right.

Allcorn kept the score down with some top drawer saves including a stunning dive high to his left which denied a great goal.

The fitness and pace of Insulators told as United tried to push on were caught on the counter three times each to devastating effect.  The final score was 6-2 which was a poor reflection on the performance.  United are the first team to score twice against the unbeaten Insulators this season which begs the question, Daniel who?

Team: Allcorn, Shimell (Smith-Foreman), Betts, Carlton, Bridges, Walsh, Goldsmith, Wood (Garside), Excell, Leach(1p), Harvey (1).