Ellistown FC v Hathern

This game proves the league will be tight this season with teams evenly matched.

The game ended with Hathern who have lost all 3 leagues this season having majority of play but could not blow the door down, while Ellistown took their chance to win 1-0 and remain unbeaten.

A perfect day on and off the pitch for Ellistown who continue their excellent start to the season. Off the pitch, there is a buzz around the place with the community beginning to embrace the side and realising you can have a cheap day out watching decent game of football.

The day started with 3 points in the bag from our youth team and the famous T-hut doing a roaring trade. That roaring trade continued through out the day. Many thanks Ollie.

The game it's self was an arm wrestle with Ellistown content to let Hathern have the ball but knowing the back 4 and Keenam Tailby were strong enough to cope.

The midfield played like a famous battery brand and run and run and run all day and would not give Hathern time on the ball. In fact, the midfield would still be running now if the ref had not blown for full-time.

Chances were at a premium, therefore it was important when one came along we took it and that's what we done on 14 mins when Arron Windram with a neat swivel and turn smashed the ball home from 15 yards.

EFC 1-0 HFC 14 mins

in typical Tony Pullis style, Ellistown were now content to defend the 1-0 and hit Hathern on the break and the tactic worked for rest of the half as we limited Hathern to only one clear chance while Josh Anderson and Arron Windram were dangerous on the attack.

EFC 1-0 HFC HT

Second half was more was more of the same, Hathern probing and Ellistown defending like lions. Credit goes to 2nd half sub Gio Stylianou who at 17 years old was leading the line and had to scrap for everything. This kid can play but today it was all about defend from the front.

At the other end of the scale, Man Of the Match, Captain, Leader and Legend Chris Nettle used all his experience to push and prompt town through the 2nd half.

As you can probably work out, not a lot of skill and fast flowing football to report, it was not that type of game. Though, a goal line clearance followed by brilliant counter-attacking play from River Hardy and Arron Windram gave Gio Stylianou a chance to make it 2-0 but a brilliant save from Hathern's Dan Owen ensured it stayed 1-0.

Ellistown ensured the game petered out to a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

EFC 1-0 HFC 0 FT

Summary

Well done Town, we are learning to win different types of games. This game needed grit and a defensive backbone and we had that.

Our attacking players will always score and credit to the battling midfield who brought everything together.

I suspect Hathern are wondering how they can be 0-3 but when luck is not going your way then your 0-3.

Town look forward to a top of the table clash away to league leaders Cottesmore next Saturday in good shape.

Well done lads.