Walden 0 – Hadleigh United 3
After an early pitch inspection it was game on at the
Meadow. Being a bank holiday, I was hoping for a large crowd and I was not disappointed.
We had our biggest crowd so far this season,
of 367 people.
After last week’s 3-0 away defeat, we were all hoping for a
better result from the Bloods. Unfortunately this was not to be. We had quite a
few regulars missing, but I am not using that as an excuse. It was another
frustrating match, where we ‘again’ looked the better team on the pitch.
Hadleigh played well, and it seemed they had an answer for
every Walden attack. With a solid back four and an inform goal keeper - beating
them was not going to be easy.
I will go into the match in more detail soon.
It was great to see all the regular fans, full of the Christmas
spirit. The sun was shining and weather was mild. Even Sticko had a smile on
his face! As the lads warmed up, they looked confident and ready to run off
their Christmas Turkey….Only joking lads!
Sticko had called up Jake Thompson and Jamie Dicker from the
U18s squad. It was nice to see the lads given an opportunity to mix it up with
the first team. New player, Stuart Hoskins was also given an opportunity to partner
the Beast in the back four.
TEAM: Floyd Croll,
Spike Bell, Paul Abbot, Jake Noble (Marc Abbot – 67 mins.), Ben Lawrence, Stuart
Hoskins, Craig Calver, Joe Murphy (Jake Thompson -75 mins.), Graeme Turner,
James Thomas, Louis Harper (James Crane – 67 mins.).
Substitutes (not
used): Jamie Dicker, Stuart Wardley.
The First Half
There was an early concern from the Hadleigh bench, as
Spinder stayed down after a challenge. He was given treatment, but continued
shortly after.
Zinedine was the first person to burst onto the scene; as he
skilfully dribbled the ball past the right back. He stumbled just outside the
box; but instead of going down, he stayed on his feet and whipped in a
dangerous cross. The cross was well cleared by the defence.
Soon after the cross, Wig latched
onto a free ball, and showed off his fancy footwork to; win the Bloods a throw
in Beast territory. The Beasts throw was well defended at the near post.
6 minutes into the match and
Hadleigh won the ball back; after they successfully cleared a Beast throw. Chaplin
ran with the ball and linked up well with Thrower. Bell managed to track back
and tackle Thrower, for a Hadleigh corner. The corner did not threaten the
Bloods goal.
Soon after the corner, Croll was
called into action! The Hadleigh forward had a great opportunity, after he was
threaded a lovely long ball. Croll sprinted off his line and managed to clear
the ball, before the Hadleigh player got to it.
Wig came close to opening the
scoring, after he controlled a very good cross from G Man. We initially thought
the Hadleigh player had handballed it, before Wig struck the ball. Wigs effort
was well defended and deflected for a Bloods corner. The corner found Zinedines
head, but his header was saved by Nower.
After the save Hadleigh went
straight up-field and were awarded a very soft penalty. Pabbo over stretched,
as he tried to put in a tackle. Thrower stepped up and scored from the spot
kick, with Croll getting a hand to the ball. I spoke to a few people at half
time; who were nearer the incident. They believe the Hadleigh player dived. I
do not know, as from where I was standing I couldn’t say for certain. I am
taking the Wenger route, by not seeing the ball. The goal was scored 11 minutes
into the match.
Hadleigh’s confidence started to
build and Chaplin went on another run, but Bell put in an excellent tackle,
which ended Chaplins promising attack.
16 minutes in, and we had won a
free kick. Harper took the free kick, but it was headed straight back to him.
He then met Zinedine run, with a lovely lob over the defender. Zinedine cross
was blocked, and he won the Bloods a corner. The corner was well cleared by
Hadleigh.
18 minutes in, and Wig got into a
one-on-one situation with Nower. Wig tried to place the ball into the right
hand side of the goal, but Nower pulled off an excellent save, and we were awarded
a corner. It was my save of the match! The corner was taken and headed back to
Harper. He tried to blast it across the goal line, but no one managed to get
that well needed tap in. It was the right idea from Harper.
We were creating lots of chances
and looked like the better team. We just could not find the back of the net. We
needed someone to score a scrambled ‘ugly’ tap-in type goal.
27 minutes into the match, and
Hadleigh won a corner. Luckily the ball didn’t drop for a Hadleigh player, and
the Bloods struggled to clear it. Then the Beast put his large boot through the
ball, to calm the fans nerves.
We continued to work hard, and
were creating some good chances. The lads passed the ball well, but the
Hadleigh defence were stubborn. Pabbo went for a shot, but ended up hitting his
own player. The loose ball was cleared by Hadleigh.
30 minutes into the match, and
Croll made a good save. He had little to do since Hadleigh scored the penalty.
34 minutes into the match, and
Hadleigh had a free kick just outside the box. The cross was whipped in, and
tapped into the back of the net. Luckily for the Bloods the goal was ruled off
side. There was a sigh of relieve from Mrs Nash and Co.
The Boss won the Bloods a throw for
the Beast to take. The fans were starting to believe a goal was due any minute.
The throw came in, but it was scooped clear by Scopes.
42 minutes into the match, and
the Bloods found themselves 2-0 down. Churchyard scored from 10 yard with an
unstoppable strike. It was ‘head in the hands time’ for the fans.
Wig had the last good chance of
the half, when he took a swing at G Mans cross. The shot was again blocked by
Scopes.
HT: Saffron Walden 0 – Hadleigh United
2
The Bloods started the half well.
G Man made a lovely run up the wing, shielding the ball from the Hadleigh defender.
His cross was good, and gave Nower no choice but to punch it clear.
50 minutes into the match, and
Zinedine won the Bloods a throw for the Beast. The throw was delivered into the
box, but there was no striker to latch onto the ball.
55 minutes into the match, and
Hadleigh had scored again. This came out of the blue, and the match was
effectively killed off, as Lorimer whipped a low shot into the net. It was a
shame, as Croll made a good save from the initial shot. Lorimer took his chance
well from the loose ball in the box. The Bloods family were rattled, and we wanted
to see some positive change.
Zinedine came very close and
tested Nower. His shot was low, and looked like it was heading into the corner
of the net, but Nower’s diving effort was outstanding. We congratulated both
players for their efforts. Wig got the ball back, and won the Bloods a corner.
The corner was taken well and G Man tried to muscle his way in, but Stafford cleared
the ball.
67 minutes into the match, and
Harper and Noble were replaced by Mabbo and Road Runner. Keep working hard
lads.
Road Runner almost made an
instant impression, when Zinedine played him into space, but Nower go to the
ball before RR could pull the trigger.
75 minutes into the match, and
the Boss was replaced by first team debutant Jake Thompson. Keep working hard
Boss.
We had not given up yet, and both
Bell and G Man where determined to deliver that perfect ball. Both lads, made
very strong drives up the wing but their crosses were again, well defended.
The last chance on goal came from
Thrower, when he tried to test Croll from long range. His curling attempt went
wide of the post.
We had lost 3-0 at home, and left
still searching for our first home league win.
Sorry this report is a bit short,
but I didn’t have much to say about the second half. The lads tried and tried
but couldn’t find the back of the net. We need to get scoring again! With Avis
now gone and no Gregory; due to long term injury - and now with our leading
goal scorer JT suspended for two games… Who is going to be our out and out striker?
Come on Bloods, we can do this!
My MOTM was Spike Bell. Bell
worked his socks off, and made some excellent tackles. He also looked very good
coming forward. Well done Bell.
Next the first team make the long
trip to 19th place Fakenham. We are currently 17th and
just 2 points above the drop zone. Both teams will be desperate for the points.
It will come down to who wants it the most? Well I hope it does, rather than a
dodgy referee decision!
I would also like to wish Chris
Reid huge success and happiness in the North West. I was only told that Reid
had left at yesterday’s match. Good luck Chris, you will be missed.
Thanks for reading
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