Northiam 75 II vs Old Hastonians
1 - 3
19 October 2019 · Hastings FA Junior Cup
Away cup match played on 19 October 2019.
Kicked off at 2:30 PM
1-3
vs Northiam 75 II
Away cup match
Northiam 75 2nds 1-3 Old Hastonians
With 8 unavailable and 3 of the starting 11 carrying injuries the stones could be forgiven for hoping the rain would do them a favour but it wasnt to be as the game went ahead on a decent looking surface.
Things didn't start well when last weeks MoM Karl Manning limped off after 5 minutes with Tom Burt replacing him, and with Irving and Fitz-Hugh clearly not fully fit the stones were forced to re shuffle twice in the opening 10 minutes. That seemed to galvanised the team as they remained well organised and compact to limit Northiam to one or two half chances. With Hand and Davies up top the stones looked dangerous on the counter and nearly opened the scoring when Johnson's strike from 20 yards was well saved mid way through the first half. Johnson went close again with a header from a Davies corner and the Northiam keeper saved well from Hand as the half ended 0-0.
The 2nd half started perfectly for the stones when Johnsons header from midfield played in Cusden who finished well to the keepers right to continue his good goalscoring form. 1 soon became 2 when good work from Davies down the right played in Hand who slotted from close range to give the stones a 2 goal cushion. After that it was backs to the wall for the stones as legs began to tire. Saunders saved well twice as Northiam applied the pressure. Although tiring and wounded the stones still possessed a threat on the counter with Hand and Davies full of running and it was Hand who made the game safe with a shot from just inside the penalty area that the Northiam keeper will be disappointed with. Northiam did finally breach Saunders net after some neat build up and scuffed finish with 10 minutes remaining. It became nothing more than a consolation with Matthews marshalling the patched up back 4 and Cusden and Johnson controlling things in midfield. Hand almost completed his hat trick but spurned 2 good chances late on. A great result against a young Northiam outfit especially considering the injuries and unavailability.
MoM sponsored by Cusden Construction was skipper Alan Johnson.
Next week we are back to league action against Bexhill Athletic Club.
#uts