Kelvedon Hatch welcomed in form Ongar Town for this local derby to School Road on a bright and warm Saturday afternoon with the pitch at it's best.

The Hatch were quickest out of the blocks and were soon creating pressure on the Town defence. On 6 mins some great inter passing between Steve Merrick and Dan Demetriou, whose inch perfect pass found Ross Wall in space and his clinical finish gave the Town keeper no chance, 1-0. Seconds later Wall had a long range shot go just wide. On 12 mins a Town free kick from just outside the box went into the arms of the Hatch keeper, Danny Fenn. Hatch created several chances but the final ball was not good enough. On 20 mins Greig Taylor mesmerised their left back after an excellent pass by Demetriou but his cross in evaded all. On 21 mins Town’s forward curled his shot just wide of the post. On 25 mins Town broke out of defence but the Hatch defensive line was there to snuff out the attack. On 28 mins Chris Neville headed over from a Nick Pegg corner. On 37 mins a Pegg free kick was easily saved by the Town keeper. Seconds later a Town free kick was flicked on towards goal but Fenn made a superb one handed save low down to his left to tip the ball away for a corner. On 40 mins Taylor was fouled and Kevin Marsden flicked over Pegg’s free kick. On 43 mins Town saw a shot from outside the box go just over the bar. In added time Hatch had several good chances before Wall and Marsden carved open Towns defence with a couple of incisive first time passes and cross that found Demetriou in space to head home, 2-0, and the score at half time.

The second half started pretty even before by far the best passing move of the day between Marsden, Taylor, Marsden and back to Taylor whose pass to Wall saw him shoot straight at their keeper. On 50 mins a Marsden cross from the left was met by Taylor whose shot hit the side netting. On 55 mins Neville headed Pegg’s corner just over the bar. On 60 mins Town saw their forward cut in and shoot just inches wide of the far post. Hatch were then guilty of not putting away several easy chances. On 81 mins Jon Green replaced Dan Demetriou. On 82 mins, after a Town free kick was cleared, Burt was put clear down the left at pace but his cross came to nothing as no forward was following up quickly enough and the Town defence cleared easily. On 85 mins a brilliant one handed save by the Town keeper denied Taylor after some good inter passing from defence to attack by the Hatch. On 87 mins Fenn punched a Town free kick clear. In added time the Town keeper saved at the feet of Burt in the six yard box and then Taylor beat his full back with ease and cut in on goal only to shoot straight at their keeper and the final action of the game saw Green shoot just wide after good work by the Hatch.

The Hatch supporters had seen their team win 2-0 but with many more chances created they should have scored more on this the final home game of the season.

El Col