Hadlow United Vrs Brecknock Arms

4th September 2005 (WKSL)

5-1 win

Hadlow opened their campaign at the rarefied level of Division 3 with an away game against Brecknock Arms. After last weeks disastrous friendly when Hadlow struggled to get 10 players manager Cook was happy to have 13 players at his disposal this week despite two centre backs being away. This meant starts for three of the new signings: Ed Marsden, Martin Cooley, and Tim King. Apart from that the team was fairly familiar with Marsden covering for the missing centre backs with the fit again Carlton, King in midfield and Cooley up front.

Hadlow started well, settling their nerves about stepping up to an unknown level against team not encountered before. Hadlow were having their fair share of possession, much via Excell down the right (returning after his honeymoon) who was the only player able to fit into the new tight kit with room to spare. After 10 minutes Hadlow took the lead, a misplaced header from a Brecknock defender looped into the air for Webb to lob in from 25 yards when he noticed the keeper of his line.

Hadlow then withstood a spell of pressure with Brecknock quick to attack down the wings, particularly Hadlow's left, but a combination of them failing to get enough men in the box and good defending kept the score at 1-0. The traffic was not one way however and Hadlow were passing the ball well when they had it. King and Marsden swapped roles and this had the desired effect of stemming the flow of chances, Bridges too was getting tighter to his winger.

After 25 minutes of hard fought play Hadlow scored another. Phil Betts winning the ball on the edge of the box before playing a neat 1-2 with Webb and dispatching an unnerving finish into the far side of the net. Brecknock soon got one back when an attack on the break down their right resulted in a simple finish. For the rest of the half Brecknock were unlucky not to find an equaliser but a well marshalled defence and return of form from Carlton ensured Hadlow went into the break 2-1 ahead.

Early in the second half Wood replaced Betts on the left wing but the pattern was the same with mainly Brecknock attacks interspaced by Hadlow breaks. One such break down the left put Cooley past the Brecknock defence from where he took a powerful early shot from outside the box that flew into the corner. This demoralised Brecknock and when Webb injured one of their defenders they were down to 10 men having used all their subs. Shortly after a tough tackle by Marsden again released Cooley on the now limited defence, he carried the ball to the edge of the box before launching a great left foot shot that went in of the far post. Cooley then had a chance for a debut hat-trick when put through by an excellent Harvey pass but with only the keeper to beat fell over when shooting at the edge of the box, early contender for Leach's taxi award.

With the heat having tired both teams given the high work rates of the first half the remaining 15 minutes fizzled out. With 5 minutes to go Hadlow made it 5 after an impressive Garside slipped Excell in down the channel and his cross from the right was eventually put in by Webb, though he tried hard to miss.

So Hadlow start of with a 5-1 win and are top of the league after one game, with another away trip, this time to face TW99, next week.

Team: Kerton, Walsh, Carlton, King, Bridges, Excell, Marsden (Garside), Harvey, P. Betts (1) (Wood),  Cooley (2), Webb (2)

Sub Not Used: Cook

Booked: King