Kelvedon Hatch Reserves took the journey to Canning Town with the knowledge that they were going to be playing on an artificial pitch on a blustery Saturday afternoon. Following the two recent cup defeats, Lee Walker, the Hatch Manager was keen to get his team back on winning ways and reverted back to a 4–4–2 formation.

Hatch captain, Evan Jelliss, won the toss and opted to play against the wind with the sun in their eyes. The Hatch started the more sprightly with the mid-field quartet of Walker x 3 (Ben, Lee & Dean) and Darren Hickson taking control as they adjusted well to the conditions, coping well with the Canning Town long ball. Unfortunately, despite the Hatch pressure no real openings were created. On 20 mins the Town central midfielder was left to run at the Hatch defence and shoot from just inside the penalty area which the Hatch keeper, Mark Allan, dealt with well with a strong two handed save to safety. On 25 mins the long ball again nearly caught the Hatch out with their forward scuffing his shot onto the post. Both Terry Wright and Hickson were playing well down the right hand side with Hickson having the better of the Town’s left back and delivering excellent crosses into the box. With Ben Walker winning some critical headers in the middle of the park Hatch continued to apply pressure to Town’s back line. Charlie Ryan and Matt Hunt were holding the ball up well. A free kick from Town with the wind behind allowed their central midfielder to shoot from 30 yards out but was easily dealt with by Allan, who watched the ball well and turned the ball over the bar. On 35 mins a lapse by the Hatch defence allowed their centre forward a run in on goal and despite the pressure of Gavin Walker (who got back well) the forward got his shot away. The Hatch keeper, Allan, got down well and made a great one handed diving save to his left turning the ball round the post. 0–0 going into the half time whistle.

At the start of the second half the wind dropped and the sun was no longer to be seen. Once again it was the Hatch who applied the early pressure. On 60 mins Dean Walker, (who had not been seen for much of the game) finally made one of his darting runs from the left only to fouled just outside of the Town penalty area. It was Ryan who stepped up and coolly curled the ball into the top left corner of the Town goal leaving the keeper rooted to the spot, 0–1. This was the turning point of the game and it was only a matter of time before the Hatch would double their lead with Ben Walker continuing to work tirelessly in the centre of the park alongside Lee Walker. On 63 mins it was Ryan again who was on the score sheet with a well taken shot to make it, 0-2. On 65 minutes Phil Dear replaced James McCayna at left back. On 70 mins Ryan completed his hat- trick with a superb right footed strike that rifled into the top of the net, 0-3 and now the Hatch were playing some neat football. On 71 mins Town took a corner, it was headed clear by the Hatch defence but fell kindly for their right midfielder who crossed it back into the box, a complete lapse in concentration by the Hatch defence let a Town player, who was unmarked in the middle of the box, score, 1-3. On 73 mins Jimmy Scadden replaced Terry Wright at right back. On 80 mins, Hickson, deserving a goal, cut in from the right and struck a fantastic 25 yarder that fizzed into the bottom right corner of the Town goal, 1-4 and the final score. A good, solid team performance all around the park and more importantly getting back on winning ways!!!

Marky