Kelvedon Hatch travelled to Harold Wood on a clear and bright evening for their second league fixture of the season against a very strong Harold Wood side. Hatch started with a very brief warm up and team talk due to players struggling to get away from work early especially Dave Hopwood who had to go home first as he had decided it was too far to walk from Harold Wood station to the ground! (All of 500 yards)!

Hatch started the quicker of the two sides and clearly showed their intentions with high energy levels and quick passing football with Hopwood pulling the strings in the middle of the park. By 15 mins the Hatch had created a couple of half chances. On 16 mins Matt Hunt collected a long pass on the by line, he cut inside beating his defender, then cut back inside, rounded their keeper, who appeared to trip Hunt, the referee had a different view and no penalty was awarded. On 19 mins Jon Whittaker headed Adam Hunt’s perfect corner over the bar. On 24 mins, again Matt Hunt managed to get away from his defender and slipped the ball past their advancing Wood keeper into the back of the net but he was given offside. Wood continued to try and turn the game in their favour but were unable to get going due to the work rate of the entire Hatch team. However, Wood did win a corner that found their centre forward in space allowing him a free shot from 12 yards, Mark Allan, the Hatch keeper saving well to his right. At the other end Charlie Ryan’s fierce shot brought out a good save from their keeper from 12 yards. 2 mins later Ryan beat his defender with ease, crossing the ball across the face of goal, sadly no Hatch forwards were able to provide the final touch. Wood finished the half with a late flurry of corners and an appeal for a penalty decision but again the referee was well placed and waved play on, it remained 0-0 at the half time whistle.

The second half started with Wood putting more pressure on the Hatch defence but with the current form of Jimmy Scadden, Jon Whittaker, Gavin Walker and Dean Walker they kept the Wood forwards at bay. On 60 mins the dead lock was broken, a diagonally ball was received by the Wood left winger who hit a well struck cross to the far post to find the only Wood player in the penalty box, who headed home from close range, 1-0. Hatch did not drop their heads but rallied and were soon creating pressure from corners taken by Adam Hunt with his pin point delivery. On 68 mins a well worked short corner between the Hunt brothers enabled Adam to cut inside and strike a powerful cross that was not cleared by the Wood defence, Charlie Ryan pounced on the half chance to smash the ball home past their keeper, from 12 yards, giving him no chance, 1-1. Charlie turned to celebrate to the travelling fans! On 70 mins Robbie McCarthy replaced Darren Hickson and immediately looked lively with a well struck shot from 18 yards, straight at their keeper. On 78 mins Hatch failed to clear a corner, the ball fell to a Wood forward inside the penalty box who fired home in the bottom right hand corner, 2-1. With 10 mins to go it was clear that Hatch were not finished yet and they continued to cause the Wood defence problems in wide areas with McCarthy running into the box but his final touch just let him down. It was clear that Wood were starting to look nervous. On 86 mins a well struck free kick from Matt Hunt found brother Adam unmarked at the far post, whose perfect header directed the ball back across the goal into the right hand corner giving their keeper no chance. 2-2. Both teams worked hard to find the winner but it remained 2-2 at the final whistle. The Hatch had provided a tireless and dedicated team performance against a very strong Wood side.

Orville