SUPPORTERS VICTORY

<p>2016-17 season began with a great team talk stressing togetherness, commitment and determination. Sadly that all went out of the window when in four minutes HMS Victory took the lead with a very soft goal. Horden had a couple of half chances but the mood changed at 44 minutes when an Easington player sustained an injury and the Horden players immediately re-acted to the opposition shouting to stop the game and allow the injured player to receive treatment. The Horden players did stop but the home side carried on to double their lead. The visitors were furious at the referee's decision but remembered the wise words heard over the years 'play to the whistle'

<p>Horden kicked off the second half with a point to prove and they didn't have to wait long. A delivery from John Bowes down the left was well headed down by James Connor into Jonathan Monaghans' path to poke home from eight yards on 52 minutes. Horden continued to gain the upper hand and after a few team changes drew level on 62 minutes. Craig Harbord squared to new boy Charlie Salicki who side stepped his marker to rifle in an unstoppable drive from 25 yards. By this time it was all one way traffic which led to Horden taking a well deserved lead on 76 minutes. Man of the Match Craig Harbord set up Jack Pounder who, like Charlie Salicki earlier, despatched his own 25 yard screamer and put Horden ahead. There were still a few scary moments before the final whistle but the Supporters held on to their 2-3 lead and bag the three points

<p>Match report by BOBBY BOWES