Kelvedon Hatch travelled the short distance to Epping for this table topping clash on a bright, calm but chilly Saturday afternoon.

The game started with both teams playing football in the right spirit with the Hatch just edging it early doors. James Burt was giving their right hand side problems on every attack and was a thorn in Epping’s defence. Hatch’s dominance was rewarded on 18 mins when Chris Neville’s excellent angled volley, from edge of the box, took a slight deflection and went into the net, 0-1. Hatch continued to pass the ball around on the slippery surface and Epping were restricted to sporadic attacks that were snuffed out easily by the Hatch defence who held firm. On two occasions that Epping broke through the Hatch keeper, Danny Fenn was there to make a couple of good saves. On 38 mins Hatch were awarded a penalty, after a great ball in from Jon Green that Duncan Sinnott flicked over their keeper but was brought down when he would have scored. Calmly Dan Demetriou put the ball on the spot and slotted home low to their keepers right giving him no chance, 0-2. The rest of the half was fairly even and the Hatch went into the half time break after a great all round team performance.

The second half saw Epping come out of the blocks applying quite a bit of pressure on the Hatch defence but again they were able to keep Epping at bay. Epping were awarded a penalty, that seemed a bit harsh, but Fenn made a fantastic save diving low and quickly to his right hand side. Epping continued to apply pressure but the Hatch defence kept their cool and Hatch occasionally had a break away but were unable to convert their chances. In time added on Epping scored from a goalmouth scramble but they were too late to mount any more attacks as the final whistle blew and the Hatch had avenged their defeat by Epping, at home earlier in the season, and extended their lead at the top of the table.

The travelling Hatch supporters had witnessed, in the first half, their side play some of their best football played so far this season, by the whole team without exception.

Spud