The games keep coming thick and fast, next up the longest league trip...to Fleet Town, match report below:
Sydenhams Premier League (Saturday 24th October 2020)
Although Hamworthy were still on a winning roll, there were signs recently that the regular demand of two games a week was starting to take its toll on performances. Those claims would be tested at Calthorpe Park; where sixth placed Fleet Town were themselves undefeated in the league for five games (including three wins,) and were also going well in the Buildbase FA Vase. Fit again Crit Clarke returned to the line-up, with Cam Munn earning a start after some recent good cameos coming off the bench.
United kicked-off playing down the slope in wet and windy conditions. After only a minute they had a golden chance to take the lead. Matty Neale's in-swinging corner to the far post was not too convincingly pushed out by the Fleet stopper Harry Nash. It was quickly latched onto by Cam Munn, who was then tripped by Dan Framp for a clear penalty. Dan Cann however could only blaze the s spot kick over the bar. Hamworthy none-the-less kept their heads up, and always looked the more likely to open the scoring. On 10 minutes, Neale put a nicely crafted effort just wide of the far post after a good interchange with Hodge. The Hammers did finally manage to find a way through on 27 minutes, courtesy of a three-man shooting queue. First up was Matty Neale who cut in well before seeing his low close-range effort palmed out by Nash. The ball fell only as far as Lee Francis, whose shot was scrambled off the line. Third man up was Cam Munn, with probably the most difficult chance of the three, but he managed to steer the ball into the net from a tight angle. The Hammers remained in control; creating several good chances and keeping Nash on his toes. The Fleet meanwhile tended to look more for the long ball in an attempt to pierce the Hammers' resolute defence. It wasn't until the 32nd minute that Shane Murphy was called into making his first save; holding onto a cleanly hit low shot by Billy Oram. At the other end, Neale's diagonal cross was agonisingly headed against the bar by Declan Randall as the visitors piled on the chances up until the interval.
H/T 0-1
Hammers' Connor Cocklin replaced Tony Rolls after the break, who had suffered a dead leg after a brave challenge shortly before the interval. Nothing changed though about United's play, who doubled their lead only a few minutes in. The Town keeper, lost his footing near the edge of the area on the sticky pitch when dealing with a back-pass. This allowed the alert Cam Munn to claim the ball, and keep his cool to glide the ball into the net with defenders scrambling back. Although Fleet did manage to bring Murphy into action a few times to deal with some difficult crosses, United made if three on 63 minutes. This followed a very good advantage played by the referee. The linesman quickly and correctly raised his flag for a foul on Dan Cann as he played in Eddie Hodge down the right touchline. The referee though allowed play to continue, before Hodge's run into the penalty area and was halted by a tackle from behind (albeit non-malicious) by Taylor Watts; under current rules a penalty was correctly awarded. This time there was no mistake in its execution; Cam Munn sending Nash the wrong way to complete a deserved hat trick.
The Hammers virtually sealed the game on 79 minutes. Hodge squared the ball to Dan Cann to strike the ball diagonally into the corner of the net, giving Nash no chance to save. Fleet, who had mustered a few high and wide shots throughout the half, but did finally manage to pull a goal back on 82 minutes with a very well struck free kick by Taylor Watts that curled just inside the far post. The Hammers though easily held on to record a very much deserved win.
Hamworthy's eighth successive league win was thoroughly deserved, returning to the form that they had shown in the Baffins' games. They did it in difficult conditions against one of the more major forces in the league, and now sit proudly at the top of the table. Well done to Tim Sills and his Team on a great Team display..
F/T 1-4
Hamworthy United: S Murphy, D Randall, C Clarke (S Chilman 70), J Filkins, T Rolls (C Cocklin 45), A Costello, E Hodge, L Francis (c), C Munn (J Beasley 80), D Cann, M Neale
Unused Subs: J Guthrie