Bournemouth Senior Cup Quarter Final (Tuesday 10th December 2019)
Hamworthy United: O King, D Randall (c) (D Madouyat 50), J Gleeson, J Filkins, C Cocklin (H Cooper 50), T Rolls, O Davis (F Saadi 60), B Randall (J Delves 80), A Pope, D Cann (E Hartnell-Baker 70), C Munn.
The visitors compete in Wessex First Division, one level below the Hammers, but they are enjoying a very successful season so far. They currently lie in second place, although for this game made a few changes, but still however fielded a strong side. United meanwhile who have not been enjoying much success of late, put out a fairly strong team. They were also eager to keep alive their last remaining chance of silverware this season. Jamie Gleeson returned after a long work related absence, and summer signing Elliott Hartnell-Baker finally made the bench after breaking his arm in pre-season. Coincidentally the two Clubs met in the Semi-Final last year but at Hythe. The Solent based hosts took the honours 3-1in that game, but lost the Final.
The Hammers were gifted a first minute lead. The Hythe keeper took one pace too many after collecting a back pass, which allowed him to be dispossessed by Dan Cann for the easiest of finishes. The hosts continued to press and doubled their lead on 20 minutes. Cam Munn took the ball off a defender before running on and steering the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Seven minutes later, Hamworthy grabbed their third goal. Cam Munn this time picked up a through ball from Brandon Randall. His ferocious shot from over 20 yards was pushed onto the post before falling agonizingly over the line for a goal. It took the Hammers just 2 more minutes to find the net again with another quality goal. Ollie Davis received the ball out on the far right wing again from a Brandon Randall pass. His powerful first time strike found the far corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. United's tally at half time could have been even more, but for numerous near misses which included a couple of good saves by the Hythe keeper. The half was not all one way traffic though. The visitors had come close when a long shot from Christos Papakonstautinon thundered back off the bar to safety, and another long powerful effort from Charlie Crane finished just wide. Ollie King also had to make a good save with his legs from Kelvin Lichone to keep a clean sheet.
Just as in the first half, the second period also started with an immediate goal. This time it was for Hythe who reduced the arrears when their captain Ryan Hayter rose unmarked to head the ball down and into the net from a corner. This was not the first time that the Hammers had been caught cold shortly after the kick off. However Ash Pope restored the four goal lead in the 62nd minute, finding the far left corner of the net after receiving a good diagonal ball from Man of the Match Munn. The scoring pendulum swung back to the visitors five minutes later, Papakonstautinon sent through Zac Willis who slid the ball past King, and just inside the near post.
Ash Pope however found the net again for the hosts in the 75th minute. It followed some dogged United play by Hartnell-Baker (taking a knock in the process) and Munn in the build up.The visitors though again returned the compliment, netting their third goal in injury time. Ryan Hayter again was not picked up from a corner, and his looping header crept into the net just under the bar. Hythe replaced their keeper at half time with their usual one. He too made some good saves, including holding on to Hartnell-Baker's close range effort near the end.
Ash Pope had also hit the bar with a superb strike together with other United close efforts. The visitors certainly deserve credit for their persistence, and for reducing the deficit in the second half. Apart from the morale boosting result, this was a good work out for the Hammers, which encompassed all their five substitutes, allowed under the rules of this competition. 17 year old Cam Munn continues to show remarkable development.
The three other young Hammers on show, Dan Madouyat, Elliott Hartnell Baker and Jack Delves did their future chances no harm either.
WATCH THE PICK OF THE GOALS
