Hornets Pick Up Vital 2-0 Win Away at Earsham

Starting XI: L. Hall, J. McKee (C), R. Telford, M. Cartledge, K. Leggett, A. Cogman, L. Metcalfe, R. Malone, S. Guy, M. Ashley, M. McInerney
Subs: L. Franklin, L. Lambert, C. Moore

After an unfortunate injury forced last weeks fixture to be abandoned against promotion rivals Redgate Rangers while we were leading we knew the importance of taking points off another promotion rival side In Earsham. We've many a battle in recent seasons with Earsham, most recently a defeat at home just a few weeks ago while under strength which we felt needed avenging.

With no match to report on last week I'd like to take the oppertunity now to welcome Robert Telford to the club who we have no doubt make the squad stronger going forward.

Earsham won the toss, choosing to stick, so Hingham kicked the game off. The Hornets set the tempo early on and looked dangerous when going forward down the flanks and centrally in the channels. M. McInerney broke through on more than one occasion early on but was adjudged offside when bearing down on goal. M. McInerney did manage to beat the offside flag on occasion also which allowed a few sighters at goal but the angle was tight on each occasion and either hit the side netting or the keeper did enough to push the efforts past the post.

It was clear from the start that Earsham had a game plan to hit the tallest man on the pitch in their #15 and run off the flick ons, which for a time caused the Hornets problems on occasion in and around the opening 15 minutes, but once the threat was recognised it was soon nullified through a combination of L. Metcalfe and R. Telford who matched his aerial presence and physicality. Despite Earsham having their foot on the ball and pressing forward when possible the back line of M. Cartledge, J. McKee and R. Telford were solid and robust, limiting Earsham to long range efforts that were routine for L. Hall.

On 20 minutes it looked as though Hingham might find themselves under a bit of pressure when M. Ashley was sent to the Sin Bin for dissent towards the referee but only two minutes later K. Leggett, who was finding himself behind the Earsham full back quite a bit, managed to link up well with M. McInerney down the wing before cutting the ball back across the box to M. McInerney who this time made no mistake by dispatching smartly into the bottom corner for 1-0.

Shortly after the goal A. Cogman, who was having a fantastic game on the left side and particularly with his link up with S. Guy, had to go off after suffering a heavy bloody nose following the defence of a throw in. After some attention, he was replaced like for like by L. Lambert.

Earsham were reduced to free kicks in and around the box for the rest of the half which were on the whole defended very well. Only on two occasions was L. Hall forced into making routine saves from free kick efforts just outside the box. Hingham remained to have a fair amount of control in the game leading up to the half but without penetrating for a second.

M. Ashley returned to the field of play following his Sin Bin just before the half time whistle went.

HT: 0-1

Earsham restarted the game and for the first 5 minutes of the second half Hingham seemed to have a measure of control as in the first half. Following that the game became quite an even battle for next 5 minutes in the middle of the park and fairly end to end but with no real clear cut chances. Earsham then began to creep on top and put the Hornets under pressure but despite this the back line was soaking it up for the most part, particularly impressive was R. Telford who seemed to have slotted in perfectly at the back. M. Cartledge was having a very sound game reading the game and playing the ball out from the back while J. McKee was being his usual energetic self and gettin in the way of anything that came near.

During this 10 to 15 minutes of pressure Earsham did manage to create quite a few chances through set pieces that had Hingham breathing sighs of relief afterwards. Firstly a free kick by R. Hepburn of Earsham was delivered with whip down the centre allowing an Earsham player to attack with a flying diving header which had beat L. Hall but not the post. A similar free kick from deep minutes later allowed S. Flint of Earsham to get his head on the ball from close range but L. Hall was equal to the effort and managed to hold on to the ball. Another freekick on the edge of the area, which Earsham would argue should have been a penalty, flashed inches past the post. L. Hall was called into action twice more at his back post when he was taken out by an Earsham player after getting his hand on the ball, the player recieving a yellow card for the late challenge, before then saving another headed effort at the back post from close range.

Having weathered the storm Hingham eventually started to get their game together again from here on. L. Franklin was introduced in the place of goalscorer M. McInerney on 70 minutes who was still regaining fitness after a lengthy spell out.

With Hingham back in the game they began to put a bit of pressure on themselves knowing a second goal would kill the game. That second goal came on 78 minutes when L. Frankin turned 'super sub'. M. Ashley picked out the fleet footed forward on the edge of Earsham's 18 yard box as he managed to bring the ball down brilliantly before Cruyff turning past one defender, knocking it past a second, and then smashing it into the bottom corner with his left.

Earsham carried on pressing hard to try and get something from the game but Hingham remained solid at the back and in control of the game until the final whistle.

FT: 0-2

A fantastic result for the side! Every single player from 1 to 14 played their part in getting this win. Its difficult to pick out individuals when everyone gave such a solid performance, even the substitutes, which shows how important it is to have a strong squad of 14. We couldnt ask for much more. We must credit Earsham for a hard fought game played in the right spirit and also the hospitality after.

Next week we travel to Hempnall looking for another big result and 3 points!

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