HASTINGS HARRIERS U'18S 3 PEASE POTTAGE U'18S 4
Date 26.10.08
Venue : Hastings

This week was another of the predicted difficult games we would encounter this season, with all of the Hastings Harriers players being U18s, as opposed to Pease Pottage’s U17s. It was, therefore, a slight relief when we found Hastings had only 9 players available – although on an extremely wet and slippery pitch it was never going to be easy!!

Pottage started off the first half well and were passing the ball around nicely to find themselves two goals up inside 6 mins. On 2 mins, Burnett ran down the line and passed the ball through Swaine, but he couldn’t meet it. Haynes managed to pick up the ball and take it round the keeper to slot in Pottage’s first. The second goal came on 6 mins, after Dabengwa played the ball to Francis in the box for a nice tap in. Dabengwa almost had a goal himself on 14 mins, after finding himself with an open goal, but the shot went just wide. Pottage had a few more chances in the next 10 mins, but all went wide or over the bar.

Hastings started getting in to the game after 25 mins and managed to get a shot off but Bonner in the Pottage goal managed to pull of a great save to tip it over the bar. On 32 mins, Hastings won a free kick which was taken brilliantly in to the box for a headed goal. This started to fire Pottage up again, who by now thought there were going to trounce Hastings. They had a lot more chances but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Dabengwa again found himself free with the ball on the right wing and ran with it in to the box but the shot came off the keeper to Swaine who hit the post. This was followed by another Swaine effort rebounding off the keeper and Tullett shooting over the bar.

Just 5 mins before half time, nobody in the Pottage defence took control of Hastings and managed to concede. Pottage were now despondent – they should have been winning by 5 or 6 goals, but found themselves drawing 2-2 at half time!

After a drilling by the manager and coach, Pottage came out for the second half with great passing play. On 54 mins, Swaine again found the ball played in to him in the box for a tap in but somehow missed.

On 60 mins, Bonner managed another great save from a Hastings header following a Hastings corner. 5 mins later, Pottage had a free kick which was sent perfectly in to the box. Swaine on the edge of the box ran through the Hastings defender and scored but was adjudged offside.

On 70 mins, Hastings were awarded another free kick which went straight in to take the lead. Pottage dug deep with 20 mins to go and managed to win the game with two fine goals from Haynes to equalise and Francis to win the match. (Sorry for the non-descript report here – but it was pouring throughout the whole game and the paper had turned to sludge so I was unable to keep any further notes!!!)

Overall not a great overall performance from Pottage, although some moments of spectacular football and enough to win the game and maintain their run of no losses. Particular mentions to Lee Perry who played well on his first full debut in centre of defence, and Matt Greenhill who didn’t stop in centre of midfield. But Man of the Match this week goes to Jamie Burnett who had an outstanding game out of position at left back. However, the whole team will have to play better when we meet Hastings again in the QF of the League Cup at home in two weeks.

Squad:

Stephen Bonner
Jamie Burnett
Lee Perry
Calum Vilner
Josh Wetherall
Matt Greenhill
James Francis
Andy Dabengwa
Jake Tullett
Andrew Haynes
Scott Swaine
Ryan Anderson

Author : LB