Rusthall Reserves Vrs Hadlow United

19th September 2004 (WKSFL)

Hadlow travelled to Rusthall to play Rusthall Rangers Reserves who were unbeaten in their opening two encounters. With Magic injured, Phil Betts continued where he finished last weeks draw on the right wing in the only change to last weeks team. Walsh and Carlton continued their fights back to fitness with places on the bench.

Hadlow started the first half playing up the steep hill and after an even first 15 minutes took the lead when Webb picked up the ball on the edge of the box, drifted past two defenders before before slotting past the keeper from a tight angle.

The game was end to end with both defences struggling. Rusthall equalised with a goal from close range before a Cooper free-kick from 20 yards crashed against the crossbar. Hadlow then started to win more tackles in the centre of midfield with Harvey particularly fairing well. A through ball from the back sent Leach through and he unselfishly passed to Webb who took it around the last defender and keeper before putting the ball into the empty net.

At half-time Hadlow were happy with their performance and anticipated more success playing downhill, especially due to the way their midfield had wrestled control for the last 15 minutes of the first half.

The second half opened again with both sides having chances. A defence splitting ball by Wood put Leach through whose left foot shot was saved by the keeper. Wood himself then failed to score when through on the keeper and Webb wasted a couple of chances, Hadlow were to rue their wastefulness. Hadlow lost the ball when they had numbers up the park and the Rusthall attack took advantage, breaking quickly down the pitch to score from 12 yards. Shortly after a Rusthall free-kick from the edge of the box was superbly tipped wide by Kurten diving to his left.  Then Rusthall took the lead for the first time in the game after another collective blunder.

With Hadlow pressing for an equaliser Bridges tried one trick too many and lost the ball from which Rusthall took a 2 goal lead. Hadlow laid siege to the Rusthall goal, a cross by Leach gave Garside a sight of goal, he swung a boot but managed nothing more than to fall over. A Leach header put Webb through who clinched his hat-trick by poking the ball past the committed keeper.

However there was not enough time left for Hadlow to fashion a second comeback in two weeks and Hadlow hope to show some testicular fortitude and "bouncbackability" when they have their first home game next Sunday against Imperial.

Team:

Kurten, Howie (Walsh), Cooper, M.Betts, Bridges, P.Betts (Carlton), Garside (Race), Harvey, Wood, Leach, Webb (3)