Kelvedon Hatch travelled down the A13 to the Newham Leisure Centre on a calm, cool and bright Saturday afternoon for this Senior Premier Division fixture.

It was Town who had the first chance when on 3 mins Michael Palmieri had to chest away to safety a half chance for their forward. Thankfully this woke the Hatch up and the game became end to end football. On 8 mins the Hatch won a corner, Garry Smith put in a far post cross that was headed on by Palmieri into the path of Dan Demetriou, whose header gave their keeper no chance, 0-1. 5 mins later Nick Pegg took a corner into their six yard box, it was half cleared and Palmieri meet it on the volleying bringing out a great one handed save by their keeper. On 17 mins Town broke away and a cross into the Hatch six yard box was well cleared by Kevin Marsden. On 19 mins Town again put in a great cross from the right that was headed clear by Chris Neville. The next 15 mins saw the football going from end to end without too much goal mouth action. On 31 mins the Hatch keeper, Danny Fenn, was brought into the action saving well from a spirited attack by Town. On 35 mins it was Neville again who saved the day with an important tackle to deny a certain Town goal. The rest of the half was pretty even but the Hatch went into break 0-1 to the good.

Honours even for the first 5 mins of the second half. Then a floated in free kick by Pegg from the right, found Neville in the Town’s six yard box with tons of space and he calmly headed home past their keeper, 0-2. On 51 mins a pin point free kick by Garry Smith found Demetriou but he headed just inches wide. From the goal kick Town attacked at pace and it was Neville making another saving tackle. Seconds later some great inter passing between Greig Taylor, Demetriou, Taylor and Demetriou saw Demetriou head wide again. On 56 mins Fenn saved well from a corner but the ball broke free to their forward who took his chance well and scored, 1-2. Town were now on a high but on 58 mins Taylor took a half chance when a back pass by Town was intercepted and he clipped it round their keeper, who tried desperately to pull the ball back, 1-3. On 62 mins Sam Raven replaced James Burt. The next quarter was fairly even as the Hatch started to defend and attack as a team. On 71 mins Craig Cripps replaced Greig Taylor. On 75 mins the Town keeper dropped a ball and Demetriou somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar. On 77 mins it was again Demetriou who intercepted a back header only to shoot just wide. On 81 mins Duncan Sinnott replaced Darren Brown.

The travelling band of Hatch supporters had seen their team play very well against a side that were a rather cynical at times with their tackling.

Touchline