Away – cup Hitchin Town 29th January 2012
Subs – Callum, Jordan, Zac, Tommy, Matteo
Not playing -injured Jason

This game was played on a 3g pitch in the same as the boys train on. It was an early call for the boys the trip took over an hour to get there for 9.45 meet meant leaving around 8am.
Playing in their away kit of Navy and light blue,in the first 36 seconds saw Smoky hit a shot that flew inches over the bar. Not 1 minute 3 seconds later a ball received from Brandon to Tom was also knocked over the bar.
Elliott took a throw in on 5 minutes with a good ball to Nobel who knocked the ball across for Brandon to shoot, the keeper saved.
9 minutes later, again a good ball through from Smoky to Brandon was laid off to Tom whose shot was saved again by the keeper.
The first 12 minutes of the game has seen the ball travelling a lot in the air, and not a lot of football has been played. East Thurrock has had a few chances but Hitchin have come back at them. The first corner was put in from Ryan the ball landed for Nobel to knock into the net but somehow Nobel knocked it over instead. [So unlucky] Another shot was saved by the keeper on 14 minutes. A corner from Ryan saw Jacob pass the ball to Nobel whose shot was pushed over the bar. A great save. From the second corner Smoky had his shot headed off the line but as the bar came back John was there to head it in into the net GOAL john 15 minutes.
Brandon won the ball of a Hitchin player and was heading towards goal when the ball was cleared for a corner. John took a free kick from in his own half he sent the ball over all the players for the keeper to save the ball. On 23 minutes Tom sent the ball through the middle to Brandon but just put a little too much strength in the pass it was in front of Brandon but close enough for the Keeper to collect the ball. On 28 minutes a corner for Hitchin resulted in a goal no one picked the player up and he was able to head home the ball. Elliott heads the ball to Tom who then passes to Brandon the next pass to Jacob was cleared for a corner. Ryan’s corner saw the ball placed in the middle of the goal for John to head the ball over the line. 5 minutes left in the half and Hitchin have got themselves back into the game with some attacks at East Thurrock goal. Brandon on 34 minutes had the ball down the right wing Tom went to support but Brandon did not use him and then lost the ball. Nobel had another shot saved on 37minutes then the ball then went straight down the other end for Ben to save the ball at his end.
H
ALF TIME 1-1

2ND HALF

SUBS- Charlie off, Tommy on, Brandon off Matteo on.
Nobel moves to back Tommy midfield and Matteo straight swap with Brandon.

2 minutes into the second half a Hitchin player took the ball down the wing, nobody was near him lucky for East Thurrock he put the ball wide.
A through ball from Tommy on 46 minutes se Matteo run onto the ball but a Hitchin player managed to shield the ball from Matteo and clear the ball down field.
On 48 minutes Hitchin were attacking our goal, when a long range shot bounced over John’s head and finished in the goal. 2-1
Sub – on 57 minutes – Ross off for Jordan, Ryan off for Callum straight swap.
On 60 minutes a penalty was given to Hitchin, for a tug on a shirt from an East Thurrock player in the box. Ben dived the right way but was just too far in the corner for him. The ref was giving some dodgy decisions in the second half. One where Tom won the ball but he blow up for a free kick, when Tom said ‘’but I won the ball’’ he booked him!!!!! On 67 minutes the ball was in Hitchin’s goal area, a Hitchin player cleared the ball but only as far as Jacob who was about 20 yards from goal. Jacob put his foot through the ball and we saw the ball fly into the top corner, it was one wicked goal the keeper was not getting anywhere near that.
Tommy W had a shot hit the back of the net on 72 minutes, but unfortunately it was the back of the goal net. Hitchin were 2-1 up, but the game turned when little niggles from Hitchin players were being ‘NOT seen’ from the ref. Players were being pushed in the back ,little kicks on players but nothing given.
Sub – Smoky for Zac
John had another shot hit the post on 73 minutes .Not 30 seconds later a ball heading towards Callum and a Hitchin player was cleared for their number 17 through the back of Callum late, he did not go for the ball and had made no attempt to either. Was he booked !!!!! NO. The game was stopped while Callum has treatment, the boy had gone into his ribs and hip and he was in a lot of pain. Callum came off after only 18 minutes on the pitch. The boy was not even spoken to. Not 3 minutes later the same boy went for a ball got to it late, and managed to head butt Tommy W. The ref after some thought booked him. The boy should not have been on the pitch. Tommy had a cut on the inside of his mouth and a very sore cheek. Last minutes of the game saw Nobel sent off when he was the last defender while clearing the ball took the player out. Following the laws Nobel had to go, but it happened outside of the box, but the ref gave a penalty. Ben dived to the left again was cm’s away from the ball. [Goal] 4-2
The result favours Hitchin, they were not that good a team to get a result like they did , For the second week running East Thurrock hit the post and had balls cleared of the line. East Thurrock had so many chances that were not put away. We didn’t play to our normal level of football, we played at their level. The ball was played in the air for most of the game and we could not seem to string passes together. Hardly any passes were at feet. Not a good day For East Thurrock.
Goals –John15 minutes, Jacob 67 minutes
Man of the match Jacob
Man of the match for Hitchin- ,their keeper he kept them in the game.