Kelvedon Hatch welcomed Galleywood to School Road on a bright and warm autumnal Saturday afternoon, ideal conditions for football.

The Hatch started the brighter of the two sights and within minutes James Burt was put clear but good defensive work got the ball clear for a corner. Hatch were now playing exciting passing football. On 11 mins a pinpoint pass by Garry Smith found Steve Merrick in space inside their penalty area, his clinical finish gave their keeper no chance and his first gaol for the Hatch, 1-0. On 19 mins Nick Pegg’s pass put Burt away down the right, his cross found Dan Demetriou whose shot brought out a great save by the Galleywood keeper, the rebound found Greig Taylor who slammed the ball home for his first goal for the Hatch, 0-2. On 24 mins Burt easily out paced their defenders, as he entered their penalty area he was upended and a penalty was awarded. Demetriou placed the ball on the spot and sent their keeper the wrong way to score, 3-0. Just a couple of minutes later a Garry Smith's perfectly placed corner was deflected into his own goal by a Galleywood defender, 4-0. Hatch were now playing their best football of the season. On 35 mins Sam Raven found space in their 6 yard box but shot wide. On 36 mins a defensive error by Galleywood found Taylor on the left whose cross found Demetriou, whose first shot was saved by their keeper but the rebound he slotted home, 5-0. On 39 mins a pass over the top of the Galleywood defence was chased down by Taylor, who just beat their keeper to the ball only to see his shot go inches wide. No more goal mouth action in this half and the Hatch went in 5-0 up at the half time whistle.

Hatch were soon in action and on 46 mins Kevin Marsden put Taylor away and his shot was put over the bar for a corner. On 52 mins, the goal of the game when Taylor showed some great individual skills in the box and ended up scoring through their keeper’s leg to score, 6-0. On 55 mins it was Taylor again in action, he chased a ball down the right and from the acutest angle, in the six yard box, scored his third of the game, 7-0. On 56 mins Nick Pegg, Greig Taylor and Sam Raven were replaced by Chris Wolff, Neil Cannon and Craig Cripps. On 64 mins a Demetriou shot rebounded out to Chris Wolff who fluffed his shot. On 66 mins a great cross by Craig Cripps from the right was headed into the arm’s of their keeper by Demetriou. On 70 mins another cross by Cripp’s was cleared of the line out for a corner. Cripps took the corner and Chris Neville found the back of the net for his first goal for the Hatch, 8-0. On 82 mins a pin point pass from Michael Palmieri found Demetriou whose first time shot went just wide. On 88 mins Demetriou had another half chance as he found space in their box but he shot over the bar. On 90 mins Burt was put clear down the left, his cross found Demetriou whose shot took the slightest of deflections for his third goal of the afternoon, 9-0 and the final score.

The Hatch supporters had witnessed their team play their best football of the season by far with some exceptional passing and brilliant goals.

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