The boys set out on a cold Sunday morning to try to complete their first Double of the season against a Farncombe Hawks team that they had beaten 3-2 in a thrilling encounter earlier in the year.

With regular goalkeeper Samuel Saunders out with a broken wrist, and James Healey unavailable there was a debut on the substitutes bench for Sean Mortimer.

With our 3 wins so far this season all being on the road, the Panthers were looking for their first home win of the season.

Ben Carrodus took the goalkeeper gloves for the first half, and the
Panthers lined up as:

------------- Ben Carrodus ----------
Omar Murad --------- Tate Foxhall
------------- Adam Brient ----------
Freddie Hay ----– Thomas Beasley
---------- Maldini Borzacco ---------

Subs: Sam Martin, Sean Mortimer.

The first 10 minutes was pretty much one way traffic with Tate and Omar coping comfortably with the attacking threat of the Hawks.

The Panthers were benefitting from the huge goal kicks that Omar was taking and this lead to a few early opportunities for Borzacco and Hay.

The two wing men were confusing the opposition by changing flanks, and this confusion soon led to the opening goal. Brient broke the play down with a crunching tackle on the Hawk’s midfielder and then played a simple but effective ball to Hay. Hay then tricked his way past 2 defenders and swung in the cross for Borzacco to hit a first time shot at goal. The goalkeeper parried the ball well but Beasley was there to sweep in a typical poacher’s goal….1-0

With the Panthers well on top, they were going for the second goal. Omar was pushing forward on occasions too, leaving Foxhall to cover the threat of the opposition’s attacks which he did splendidly with his astute reading of the game and well timed tackles.

However, the Panthers were soon to have a wake up call… with everyone up for another corner, the Hawk’s defender hoofed a huge clearance over the heads of everyone, into the path of the speedy forward. Foxhall tried desperately to get back but the striker had too much of a head start and coolly slotted it past the diving Carrodus to tie the game up….1 -1

This signalled a tactical change by the Panthers management with Sam Martin coming on for Brient.

The change almost made an immediate impact. Martin was protecting the defence well, and was also able to run at the opposition, and play passes through to his strikers.

It was Martin that then set up the second goal for the Casuals. Some really smart play by him allowed him to then play a sublime through ball onto the Italian striker, who bamboozled the Hawks keeper to send him the wrong way and slot the ball into the onion bag….2 -1.

The 6 outfield players were showing some great understanding, and some of the link up play was as good as anyone had seen since the Liverpool teams of the 1970s and 1980s.

Hay and Murad were switching play down the right similar to the days of Thompson and Hughes.

Borzacco and Beasley were constantly playing intricate one two’s akin to Dalglish and Rush.

Martin was bossing midfield like a young Souness, and Foxhall was sweeping behind barking instructions like a far better looking Alan Hansen.

And let’s not forget Carrodus…the Ray Clemence of the team.

A joy to watch and yet a surprise that no more goals were scored.

With half time approaching another beautifully weighted pass by Souness Martin, put Maldini through on goal – the Hawks keeper came out bravely diving at the feet of the bustling striker to block the shot.

Unfortunately this led to him being carried off the pitch with a head wound , with the crowd clapping him off.

Half time…Panthers 2-1 Hawks.

With 5 of the boys volunteering to go in goal for the second half, it was the powerful Martin that won the battle to don the gloves.

Beasley made way for Brient to come back on to move into his regular right back position alongside Foxhall, and Carrodus moved into his familiar holding role.

So the second half kicked off with:

------------- Sam Martin ----------
Adam Brient --------- Tate Foxhall
------------- Ben Carrodus ----------
Freddie Hay ----– Omar Murad
---------- Maldini Borzacco ---------

Subs: Sean Mortimer, Thomas Beasley

Some of the passing play by the front 3 was sublime, and they were making lots of openings for each other.

Adam and Ben were putting in the some tough tackles, and Tate was reading the game superbly and sweeping up everything behind them.

A 2 minute spell then put the game out of reach of the Hawks, with the impressive Hay scoring both.

First an inspired management change saw Murad taking over the corner taking duties from Malidini, and he put in a perfect cross onto the foot of Maldini who unselfishly squared it to Hay for him to smash it into the corner….3-1.

A minute later saw Murad jinking past the attempted tackles and then lay it off to Borzacco who neatly knocked it back to Hay to clinically dispatch the ball into the top left corner….4-1.

With a 3 goal lead, changes were made. Beasley took over goalkeeping duties allowing Martin to drop into defence, which allowed Foxhall to put some ice on the ankle that he had twisted in training the day before.

Sean Mortimer also came on to make his debut, coming on for the goal machine Hay.

Farncombe sensed the opportunity to get themselves back in the game and their left winger ran at the Panthers. The defence backed off, allowing him to unleash a thunderbolt of a shot which had Beasley grasping at air as the ball nestled into the top right corner…4-2

Farncombe were really pushing forward, and for the first time of the game, they were controlling the game. Panic was starting to creep in. The Panthers players were starting to lose their shape and the fans were biting their nails on the touchline.

Mortimer relieved some of the pressure by taking the ball out of defence and attacking the Hawks defence.

With the Hawks attacking again, Brient made a last ditch lunging tackle and unfortunately twisted his ankle. He tried to play on but was unable to. Foxhall therefore came back on for him.

With 5 minutes left on the clock, and the home fans still looking nervous, Omar set off on a run into the corner, and some simply stupendous one touch passing between him and Maldini, allowed Omar to let fly with an unstoppable shot to recapture the 3 goal cushion
Final score 5 -2…and the Home hoodoo broken with arguably our best performance of the season.

MoM: Freddie Hay