Match report Hawkinge Town FC 2 v 1 South Darenth Hawkinge Town remain top of the Kent County League Division Three East after victory over fellow title contenders South Darenth. Goals by Joe Neilson and Mark Childs saw Town edge a very close and hard fought match against opposition who had spent most of the season top of the league. Hawkinge were missing the unavailable defender Charlie Gardner but back from injury came midfield general Mark Howells. The match could have been over by half time if Town had converted just some of their many missed chances. From the kick off enthusiastic Town attacked the South Darenth goal and created chance after chance. Ryan Taylor was the first to have a go at goal with a speculative lob from the right which was only just gathered by the Darenth goalkeeper Michael Drury. Next up was Reece Mortimer who sent a cracking shot just wide. From a corner kick Alex Hoyland at the far post headed the ball back across th e goalmouth and Cade Mortimer managed to get his head to the ball which went just inches wide. A few minutes later Cade Mortimer broke through midfield and passed the ball to Joe Neilson who sent the ball narrowly over the bar. A superb long range diagonal pass from Reece Mortimer on the left found Taylor unmarked. The youngster raced down on goal but his shot sailed over the bar. Just when it looked as if Hawkinge would never score, left back Glen Phelan sent a perfect cross into the goalmouth and striker Joe Neilson smashed the ball home to give Town the lead that they deserved. Town continued to press, keeping the visitors penned in their own half but that elusive second goal was not forthcoming. The second half was entirely different, this time the visitors piled on the pressure and a 30 yard strike by Darenth’s Zac Burch looked like a certain goal until Elliott Stephens pulled off a superb save to deny the visitors an equaliser. Stephens was again called upon just minutes later when Jack Darling took advantage of sloppy defending and sent a shot goal bound but the in form Stephens pulled off a great save to keep Hawkinge in the lead. At the other end a Mark Childs lob from the left wing sailed over the goalkeeper and the ball dropped inches wide of the far post denying Town the much needed security of a second goal. In the 75th minute the visitors restored parity when a under hit back pass by Hark allowed Burch to intercept the ball and pass to Darling who put the ball away to make the score 1-1. Five minutes later from a corner kick Alex Hoyland’s near post header went just wide of the post. In the 84th minute after good work down the left Reece Mortimer crossed the ball to Mark Childs who had a shot at goal but goalkeeper Drury blocked the ball which fell again to Childs who made no mistake with his second attempt and as the ball hit the back of the net giving Hawkinge a 2-1 lead you could almost feel the relief of the Town players and supporters. Two minutes from time Cade Mortimer had a close range shot denied by Drury. Then it was a case of stout defending and many nail biting moments as the referee added eight minutes of injury time but Town held out to take the three points. The win keeps Hawkinge at the top of the table with a two point cushion over second placed Sheppey & Sheerness United Reserves and with the added advantage of two games in hand. Hawkinge: Stephens; Hark, Hoyland, Wraight, Phelan; C.Mortimer, Howells, Nuttall, Neilson; Taylor, R.Mortimer. Subs: Brisley, Childs, Donovan, Harris, Jackson. Report by Grant Wilbur
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:20:49 +0000
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