EJA LGE Sunday 27/09/14
This was a game that resembled the day….Foggy and dull early doors but once the sun broke through it turned into a fine afternoon.
Hill started with the hangover of several lacklustre results holding them back. Slow and quiet for the first 20 minutes, the game lacked any pace, energy or drive. Despite having the better of the play in the early encounters Hill didn’t really pass the ball crisply. The first real sortie came on 6 minutes when H. Barrett stepped into midfield with the ball, released Dackombe down the right whose cross found an empty penalty spot and was easily cleared.
After 18 minutes, almost by accident, Hill were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Redhead stepped up confidently and struck a decent effort but the keeper gathered.
The game then slowly started to gather pace. Almost as if Hill’s muscle memory were clicking into place. On 21 minutes the ball was worked well through the middle with Harris, who was having a very solid game, finding Brookes. The little dynamo injected some much needed pace and struck a lovely effort from 25 yards which the keeper pushed for a corner.
Hill were gradually winding up now and got the breakthrough their possession demanded. On 25 minutes Harris again worked the ball well into the right channel, was patient with his pass and slipped a beauty inside the fullback inviting Dackombe forward. He collected the ball, got his head up and played a nice cutback to GRACE who made a great turn inside his man and passed home from 6 yards. 1-0.
28 mins and Hill going through the gears. The now energetic Brookes, who along with Harris in the middle, was starting to press. The two combined and Harris shot was just pushed wide by the keeper. The resultant corner found Jessop, who was having a fine game in the heart of defence, played one which was just deflected onto the bar. 4 minutes later a good combination between Grace, Redhead and Brookes found Johnson who struck a nice effort from 25 yards just wide.
Then on 34 minutes Hill broke through again. Some good possession in midfield from Johnson found GRACE who made a good run to pull away from his marker and slotted home from 18 yards. 2-0.
Half time Hill 2-0. Just about deserved. Despite the visitors playing some neat football early on, any real chances they had were readily stopped by the superb Jessop and Barratt in the heart of the Hill defence.
The second half began where the first left off. Hill maintaining the pace they had built up and on 37 minutes Brookes broke down the left. He found GRACE who made a good run down the left channel and got round the back of the defence. A composed ball pulled back to PROCTOR on the edge of the 6 yard box and a cool finish, 3-0.
On 48 minutes Hill went further ahead with the goal of the game. A solo effort from GRACE who picked the ball up 30 yards out and back to goal, he slipped a great turn inside and let fly with his left boot. Top corner 4-0. The result was now sealed and Hill were turning on the style. The football began to flow a lot better. passing out from the back and using the ball intelligently. Hill were now starting to string passes together and looked more like a unit. On 55 minutes the scoring was complete when Harris won a good header in the middle of the park which fell to GRACE who hit his 4th goal of the game from 18 yards. 5-0.
The final act was one of the nicest bits of football when King, on in the right back slot, once again used the ball intelligently down the channel to Bolton, who in turn found Grace. He lifted his shot over the keeper and was goal bound but a last ditch clearance from the centre half prevented the goal.
Final score Hill 5, Codicote 0. A score worthy of the possession and just about worthy of the play. If Hill can take that momentum into the next couple of fixtures then the season will be up and running.
A final word for the referee who went largely unnoticed throughout. Not a dirty game, but one which he allowed to flow and stopped only when required….especially for two mid half drink breaks. If he had brought the shaving foam anyone would have thought we were still in Brazil.
Hill started with the hangover of several lacklustre results holding them back. Slow and quiet for the first 20 minutes, the game lacked any pace, energy or drive. Despite having the better of the play in the early encounters Hill didn’t really pass the ball crisply. The first real sortie came on 6 minutes when H. Barrett stepped into midfield with the ball, released Dackombe down the right whose cross found an empty penalty spot and was easily cleared.
After 18 minutes, almost by accident, Hill were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Redhead stepped up confidently and struck a decent effort but the keeper gathered.
The game then slowly started to gather pace. Almost as if Hill’s muscle memory were clicking into place. On 21 minutes the ball was worked well through the middle with Harris, who was having a very solid game, finding Brookes. The little dynamo injected some much needed pace and struck a lovely effort from 25 yards which the keeper pushed for a corner.
Hill were gradually winding up now and got the breakthrough their possession demanded. On 25 minutes Harris again worked the ball well into the right channel, was patient with his pass and slipped a beauty inside the fullback inviting Dackombe forward. He collected the ball, got his head up and played a nice cutback to GRACE who made a great turn inside his man and passed home from 6 yards. 1-0.
28 mins and Hill going through the gears. The now energetic Brookes, who along with Harris in the middle, was starting to press. The two combined and Harris shot was just pushed wide by the keeper. The resultant corner found Jessop, who was having a fine game in the heart of defence, played one which was just deflected onto the bar. 4 minutes later a good combination between Grace, Redhead and Brookes found Johnson who struck a nice effort from 25 yards just wide.
Then on 34 minutes Hill broke through again. Some good possession in midfield from Johnson found GRACE who made a good run to pull away from his marker and slotted home from 18 yards. 2-0.
Half time Hill 2-0. Just about deserved. Despite the visitors playing some neat football early on, any real chances they had were readily stopped by the superb Jessop and Barratt in the heart of the Hill defence.
The second half began where the first left off. Hill maintaining the pace they had built up and on 37 minutes Brookes broke down the left. He found GRACE who made a good run down the left channel and got round the back of the defence. A composed ball pulled back to PROCTOR on the edge of the 6 yard box and a cool finish, 3-0.
On 48 minutes Hill went further ahead with the goal of the game. A solo effort from GRACE who picked the ball up 30 yards out and back to goal, he slipped a great turn inside and let fly with his left boot. Top corner 4-0. The result was now sealed and Hill were turning on the style. The football began to flow a lot better. passing out from the back and using the ball intelligently. Hill were now starting to string passes together and looked more like a unit. On 55 minutes the scoring was complete when Harris won a good header in the middle of the park which fell to GRACE who hit his 4th goal of the game from 18 yards. 5-0.
The final act was one of the nicest bits of football when King, on in the right back slot, once again used the ball intelligently down the channel to Bolton, who in turn found Grace. He lifted his shot over the keeper and was goal bound but a last ditch clearance from the centre half prevented the goal.
Final score Hill 5, Codicote 0. A score worthy of the possession and just about worthy of the play. If Hill can take that momentum into the next couple of fixtures then the season will be up and running.
A final word for the referee who went largely unnoticed throughout. Not a dirty game, but one which he allowed to flow and stopped only when required….especially for two mid half drink breaks. If he had brought the shaving foam anyone would have thought we were still in Brazil.
