Kelvedon Hatch Reserves welcomed Manford Way Res to School Road for their third league game of the season with Manford Way yet to drop any points in their current season.

The game started at a ferocious pace with both teams working hard with plenty of early tackles flying in. On 3 mins Hatch had a great chance to open the scoring when the ball fell to Matt Hunt, just inside the Manford 18 yards box, who had time to shoot but pulled his shot just wide of the left hand upright. On 12 mins Manford created their first chance with a turn and shot by their centre forward whose effort went just over the Hatch cross bar. As the half progressed, there was very little goal mouth action as both sides worked tirelessly cancelling each other out. Both teams earned 3 corners in the half that the respective defences cleared with ease. The Hatch defence dealt well with a barrage of long balls, led by their captain Evan Jelliss with an unrelenting display of heading and tackling. It remained 0-0 at the half time whistle.

The second half started with Manford seizing the initiative and passing the ball quickly around the pitch. Their good start to the second half was rewarded on 60 mins when their right winger struck a pin point cross that was converted from close range giving the Hatch keeper no chance, 0-1. The Hatch responded well and it was their turn to take control of the game and to start showing some slick passing moves. This frustrated the Manford team who boiled over when their centre back was sent off for dissent on 65 mins. On 68 mins Darren Hickson replaced Jimmy Scadden. Hatch now had complete control of the game, against 10 man Manford Way, dominating possession with Manford camped in their own half. On 72 mins the break through came when a free kick taken by Martin King found Dave Hopwood at the far post who rose head and shoulders above the Manford defence to head the ball into the bottom right hand corner, 1-1. On 77 mins Terry Wright replaced Ben Walker as Hatch went for a more attacking option with 3 up front in an attempt to find the winner. On 81 mins Hatch were guilty of neglecting their defensive duties when a rare visit to the Hatch half saw their forward find space in the box to produce a good early shot producing a great one handed save from the Hatch keeper Mark Allan. The resultant corner was well defended and Hatch continued to press for the winner. Chances came and went with the best opportunity falling to Lee Walker who met a cross from the left and with an exquisite first touch set up the perfect opportunity inside the Manford 6 yard box, but his shot lacked power and was easily saved by their keeper. On 88 mins Hatch finally got their winner when Charlie Ryan scored a fantastic goal gathering the ball 20 yards out and hitting a thunderbolt of a shot into the roof of the net with the their keeper barely moving and easily beaten, 2-1. Kelvedon played out the last few minutes and ran out 2-1 winners. A tireless all round performance from Hatch who showed high levels of effort all over the pitch.

Eddy