Kelvedon Hatch welcomed Holland FC to School Road for this Round 2 tie in The Essex Premier Cup, on a bright and calm Saturday afternoon with the pitch in perfect condition, thanks Freddie.

It was Hatch who started brightly and on 2 mins Darren Brown was fouled just outside their box, Nick Pegg slammed his free kick against the right hand post, the rebound hit one of the Holland defenders legs into the net, 1-0. On 5 mins James Burt robbed his defender on the left goal line and passed to Greig Taylor who dribbled round a defender to bear down on their keeper, their keeper made a good save to deny Taylor. On 14 mins Danny Fenn, the Hatch keeper, saved well after a Holland found space. On 16 mins Pegg took another free kick, for hand ball, but he shot straight at their keeper. On 22 mins Holland were awarded a free kick just outside the Hatch penalty area, the free kick was deflected bringing out a good save by Fenn. A couple of minutes later Holland were awarded another free kick but this was shot straight at the Hatch keeper. On 26 mins Burt put in a cross from the left into their 6 yard box, Brown headed into their keepers arms. On 27 mins a “goal of the season” contender, good work between Sam Raven and Taylor saw the ball bounce kindly on the penalty spot, Dan Demetriou, with his back to the goal, over head kicked the ball past their keeper giving him no chance, 0-2, what a beauty. On 30 mins Brown shot over the bar from just 3 yards out after inter passing between Burt and Taylor. On 32 mins Steve Merrick’s pin point pass to Burt down the left saw Burt cut in and shoot just wide of the post. On 34 mins a corner by Garry Smith into their six yard box was cleared to safety before a Hatch player could get to it. On 37 mins Taylor was fouled from behind yet again, Demetriou hit his free kick straight at the wall. On 41 mins a Pegg corner from the left was spilled by their keeper, Demetriou tried another over head kick but this time it sailed over the bar. On 44 mins Holland had a 25 yard shot go inches over the Hatch bar. 2-0 at half time.

Just a minute into the second half Pegg had another free kick cleared to safety after a foul on Burt. Seconds later Brown passed to Raven out wide whose good cross was not met by a Hatch forward. On 4 mins it was Pegg who saved the day for the Hatch clearing from the goal line. Hatch then conceded a corner on the right, the corner was floated in and sadly Brown’s glancing header went past his own keeper, 2-1. Holland now raised their game and on 9 mins some good individual skills by their forward saw him slam an unstoppable shot past the Hatch keeper, 2-2. On 13 mins Michael Palmieri was called to make a great tackle in the box to stop an attack. On 16 mins a Smith corner from the right was headed just inches wide by Brown. Then 10 minutes of end to end football followed. On 26 mins a Holland shot from just outside the Hatch penalty was saved one handed by Fenn. On 28 mins after good passing between Raven, Burt and Demetriou saw Taylor free but he scuffed his shot straight at their keeper. On 35 mins Raven was fouled, Smith took the free kick and Neville headed into their keepers arms. On 37 mins Steve Merrick put a pass for Demetriou to chase, he got a shot in but straight at their keeper. Seconds later Demetriou beat the Holland defence with a great pass to Neville in space who lobbed their advancing keeper with ease to score, 3-2. On 39 mins Duncan Sinnott replaced Sam Raven. Hatch were now in control and on 44 mins a Pegg free kick, into their 6 yard box, hit Taylor and went out for a corner and the final action of the game. The Hatch had beaten the current holders of this Cup!!!

The Hatch supporters had seen another brilliant display of football in the first half that went to pot in the second but it was true grit that pulled the side round to progress into round 3 away to Galleywood.

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