On a beautiful mid- winters afternoon Dowgate played hosts to Hawkenbury Reserves on Saturday. Another week and more changes to the line- up, but despite the loss of several regulars, a full squad was still assembled. With the Refs four minute diatribe still ringing in their ears both sides took a while to settle and possession from the two teams was cheaply given away. However as the game progressed it was the home side that started to create problems, the pace of the Dowgate forwards and wide men, giving the Hawkenbury rear-guard much food for thought. After going close on a couple of occasions ‘Gate’ took the lead. In the 22nd minute a miscued Chris Snell shot found Jack Kinnear, who blasted the ball toward the goal, somehow the keeper got his hands to the ball, but only managed to push the ball into the net.Hawkenbury tried to reply but in spite having numerous Throw-ins, corners and the odd free kick never really threatened and it was Dowgate who again went closest with Sam Moons’ goal bound shot being blocked and Rob Cooke shooting narrowly wide.
The trick this week was not to repeat last weeks’ slow start to the second half, the visitors now pushed men further forward but the home defence was in no mood to be breached and ably supported by the midfield, snuffed out any attacks that came their way. Going forward Dowgate where looking dangerous Ant Hinton the one man battering ram causing no end of problems ,from a half cleared corner Sam Moon’s shot was cleared off the line, the same player was denied a clear penalty when, after beating a defender he was tripped inside the box with only the keeper to beat. On 75 minutes a beautifully flighted cross by Rob Cooke was met on the far post by Sam who stroked the ball home for a 2-0 lead.Hawkenbury now threw everything at their hosts, but they couldn’t create anything of note from all their possession .In fact Sam Jenner in goal didn’t have one shot to save throughout the match.
Post-Match, a really good team effort today. The change in formation worked well and it was great to keep a clean sheet. My M-O-M is Shane who epitomised the whole team ethic. Some very strange things happened on the pitch today, I heard Johnny Jack directing and shouting at a team mate, the Hon Tres side stepped a player made himself some space and played a nice simple ball, Joe Carne played a through ball and to cap it all in the 80th minute he was seen outsprinting several players chasing the ball, and last but not least Chris Snell hobbled off, oh I forgot, we’ve seen that before. Well done lads the only way is up.