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HEDGE END 3 |
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ST JAMES 2 |
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Keith |
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Andy |
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Matt |
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Three class goals from Hedge End gave them the victory in what was a close encounter at Hamble. Hedge End welcomed a guest appearance from Paul, with rumours that he only turned up so that he could justify going to the curry night at the end of the season. Keith made a rare start and Sunny phoned from St Georges to ask were people were, and Bernard had to confirm that in fact everybody else was at Hamble, as per his e-mail. Ben, Andy and Mike were all missing. We had a new guy turn up but I can't remember his name, I think it was Jason. James made a return from injury.
Dave read the line up and was excited to be playing up front, before Bernard pointed out he was looking at it upside down, and he was in fact in goal.
In the back of everybody's mind was the dream of getting a Hovis Best of Both or Seed Sensations loaf.
Hedge End were really up for the game with everybody doing their bit. Very early on St James gave Hedge End a scare but the ball was cleared off the line, and St James decided that they should try and cross the ball into the box to beat the Hedge End defence. Then, out of nowhere, Keith ( dreaming of the loaf goal bonus ) shot from way outside the area and the ball floated into the top of the net, there was nothing that the St James keeper could do about it.
After this St James put on a lot of pressure and eventually equalised when a cross came in, Dave failed to meet it and St James' left midfielder nodded it into an unguarded goal. For the rest of the half it was end to end stuff and it was amazing that there wasn't another goal. There were two contrasting styles of play as St James were resulting in long shots were as Hedge End were playing the ball around waiting for the right opportunity to score.
The first half ended 1-1.
In their half time team talk St James were overheard saying that they thought the Hedge End keeper was rubbish and they need to take more shots. It hurt, but to be fair, they had a very valid point.
Shortly into the second half Andy took it down the left, cut in and lobbed the keeper. It was yet another fantastic goal, worthy of the Hovis Seed Sensations goal bonus. It was one of those ' Anything Keith can do I can do to ' moments.
Hedge End played some very good passing football and it made a difference having Keith and James back in the team as it meant that they were much more solid.
Again St James equalised soon after yet another cross was punched out poorly and the St James striker just managed to slot it in between Paul and Callum. Soon after this St James had another strike, but Dave just managed to tip it wide. James, Paul and Bernard should get a mention at this point as they were doing the basics very well and making sure that St James couldn't break through.
With 90 minutes on the clock and it looking like the game was going to be a draw Matt chipped the St James keeper in what was yet another good goal by Hedge End. It was one of those ' Anything Keith and Andy can do I can do to ' moments. It was nothing less than Matt deserved as he had been chasing every ball and working hard up front all game.
The game ended 3-2 to Hedge End. If you were looking for match stats then it would probably read St James had 38 shots on goal and Hedge End had 5 shots on goal and scored 3 of them.
In a post match interview St James central defender, Louth, was quoted saying " Look forward to the return fixture - although not too keen to be playing against your lively winger/striker, Sunny, he was giving our defence a bit of a run around in the second half. "
It was the teams first win since Pete left us nearly two months ago. Hedge End still have to play St James away. Keith was awarded his Hovis Seed Sensation loaf in a behind closed doors award ceremony. Matt and Andy will be presented there’s before the next home game.