AC Crowborough Vrs Hadlow United

5th September 2004 (WKSFL)

Hadlow United started their division 5 campaign with a tough looking away fixture against AC Crowborough, a newly promoted team from division 7 who last season scored over 150 goals and won all their home games.

The pre-match anticipation that this may be a hard game turned out to be true. AC started the brighter, particularly through quick passing in the midfield and the use of their pacey forwards. A quick throw down their left followed by a slip by Betts resulted in Crowborough scoring after 10 minutes. Hadlow were having difficulty getting possession of the ball with their defenders being constantly closed down. Goldsmith wasted a golden opportunity to equalise straight away when Webb put him clear in the six yard box, only for him to fail to hit the target.

The advantage of having a keeper with a long kick then showed itself as Kurten, on his debut, sent half a dozen 'bombs' deep into the Crowborough defence which, allied to Webb's pace up front, caused panic. This pressure seemed to settle Hadlow and soon after Webb had a goal debatably ruled offside after a defence splitting ball by Harvey.

Hadlow now took control of the game with spells of possession further into Crowborough's half. Another long ball by Kurten enabled Webb to get past the defence and chip the advancing keeper to level the scores.

At half-time manager Cook swapped Goldsmith to the left-wing and Leach moved upfront. Straight from the kick-off Hadlow were more in control. Garside and Harvey were working more as a team in the centre of midfield, countering the swift passing by Crowborough that had caused the problems early doors. Leach's switch upfront was pulling the Crowborough defence about and a pass by Harvey enabled him to put Hadlow into the lead with a stunning volley from the edge of the box.

Hadlow's pressure led to many corners from which "magic" Bellars' deliveries were causing danger on his debut. One in swinging corner was met with a thumping header by Cooper that beat the keeper. Soon after a neat move down the left ended when Leach laid a well weighted ball to Webb at the edge of the area who rammed the ball home. However Webb's finishing skills were then matched by his ballet ones as a simple pass from Goldsmith resulted in him pirouetting in a circle before landing on his arse, an early contender for moment of the season after Carlton's winning "no guys I seriously need a mirror" quote took the honours last season.

Howie then entered the fray, for the hard working Goldsmith, to make his debut at right-wing and Hadlow continued to stretch the now demoralised Crowborough defence.

A last minute run by a Crowborough player resulted in a Cooper tackle that was closer to the groin than the ball and Crowborough scored from the penalty. This turned out to be the last kick of the game and Hadlow were delighted with what may turn out to be a vital win against a strong team.

Overall a hard working team performance where everyone put in a lot of effort and no obvious stars, though perhaps special mention should go to keeper Kurten who instilled confidence in the defence and made several good saves.

With next weeks fixture against Dormansland Reserves possibly witnessing the return of injured Excell, Carlton and Walsh Hadlow are looking forward to a successful start to the season to signal their title aspirations, though Cook may not be looking forward to the selection headaches that will arrive from having a squad of more than 11 quality players.

Team:

Kurten, Wood, Cooper (1), Betts, Bridges, Bellars, Garside, Harvey, Leach (1), Goldsmith (Howie), Webb (2) Subs not used:Cook