Kelvedon Hatch travelled to Sandon Royals, from reserve division 3, on a cloudy and cold Saturday afternoon for this third round of the EOFL Reserve Division League Cup.

The game started in a scrappy manor with both teams struggling to get their foot on the ball. Hatch continually gave possession away cheaply preventing any sort of flowing football. On 17 mins Sandon won a corner. The delivery was good with the Sandon forward heading over the bar from close range. Just 2 minutes later from another corner the Sandon forward found himself some space in the 18 yards box to unleash a shot which was well charged down by Hatch defender Gavin Walker. As the half progressed Hatch finally started to get into the game with more deliveries into the Sandon penalty box. On 30 mins a Hatch corner was flicked on by Charlie Ryan at the near post with his team members unable to get the final touch. On 35 mins came the first piece of quality in the game which was provided by Tony Sutton. The ball was played in from the left which bounced, on the edge of their penalty box for Sutton to hit a first time volley into the bottom left hand corner giving their keeper no chance, 0-1. Sandon continued to find space and time in the Hatch half but were unable to convert this into goal scoring opportunities and the game remained 0-1 until half time.

The Hatch team received a stern team talk at half time to try and gain some shape, discipline and composure for the second half. Unfortunately, the second half started much the same as the first half with a scrappy game. It was Sandon who looked the more likely to score and on 55 mins a well placed free kick found 3 Sandon players all unmarked on the edge of the Hatch 6 yards box giving one of them an easy finish from close range to equalise, 1-1. On 55 and 65 minutes it was time for the Hatch to make substitutions and Peter Williams came on for Ben Walker and Jamie Luxford replaced Charlie Ryan. Twice in the remainder of the half Sandon managed to round the Hatch keeper and it was only last ditch saving tackles from James McCayna that kept Sandon from scoring. On 78 mins Gavin Walker came close for Hatch with a header from a free kick just going wide of the left hand upright. On 90 mins the best chance to win the game went to Sandon with an unmarked header from 5 yards which went just over the bar. The Hatch had ridden their luck and the game went into extra time.

In extra time, after playing a full 90 minutes on a heavy pitch, both teams looked tired. On 100 mins the Hatch’s best passing move of the game ended with the ever lively Peter Williams gathering the ball, rounding a Sandon defender and placing the ball past their advancing keeper to score, 1-2. Hatch, once again took their foot off the pedal, allowing Sandon the momentum to create chances which they were unable to convert. In the last minute of extra time, Darren Hickson gathered the ball on the left, cut inside and hit a shot to the near post that their goalkeeper let slip through his legs into the back of the net, 1-3 and the final whistle.

The Hatch had managed to play badly and come away with a victory progressing them to the next round where they are away to Ryan FC.

Tom