Tonbridge Invicta Under 16's v Hamsey Rangers

SUPERB VICTORY

HAMSEY RANGERS 1 TONBRIDGE INVICTA 4

09.03.03

Having already lost to Hamsey Rangers twice this season and in fact never recorded a victory against the Surrey club, Tonbridge Invicta were determined to make this match a different story.

Hamsey started the brighter, but once Invicta had settled they began to find their passing game and create opportunities. With only ten minutes on the clock a well worked move found Daniel Powell on the edge of the Hamsey box. The Tonbridge striker beat one defender, drew the goalkeeper and cooly slotted the ball home.

Now the visitors were clearly on top. They could have added to their score on a number of occasions as they opened up the Hamsey defence almost at will. With about 20 minutes gone Invicta won a corner on the left. As the ball came into the Hamsey box there was a push on a Tonbridge player and the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Daniel Howse to wrong foot the keeper and give Tonbridge a deserved two goal lead.

Hamsey rallied at this point in the game and applied some pressure for a 10 minute spell. Tonbridge were equal to the challenge, however, especially keeper Ben Fitzer, who made a couple of excellent saves. As the first half drew to a close Invicta began to get a grip in the middle of the park again and added a third. Luke Saunders chested a ball down and swivelled to hit a peach of a volley into the top right hand corner of the Hamsey net from a full 30 yards. 3-0 at half time.

The home team managed to pull a goal back early in the second period when a long ball over the Invicta back four allowed a Hamsey forward to beat the offside trap, sprint free and finish well. But Tonbridge were determined that there was going to be no comeback and within a few minutes another swift passing move released Daniel Powell once more. He dribbled round the Hamsey goalkeeper and found the net for his second and Invicta's fourth.

For the rest of the game Tonbridge were comfortable at the back and created plenty of openings in the other direction. It could have been a good deal more than four as they struck the crossbar twice, the post once and were denied a number of times by the excellent Hamsey keeper.

This victory keeps Tonbridge Invicta's hopes of the league title alive. Their quality team work is now being complemented by a greater desire and the combination can be irresistible at times.