Hawkenbury III 3-4 Ashton Prime

Saturday 2nd October 2010, Bayham Recreation Ground

Prime returned to familiar surroundings as they visited Hawkenbury III at Bayham.

Goldsmith was missing Williams and Walters from last week's outing at Cadogan, but was boosted by the return of Mazurkiewicz and Skovborg-Hansen to the starting lineup. Garside and Ellis also returned, but both only made a strong looking subs bench.

The game started in heavy drizzle and the weather reflected Prime's sloppy start to the game as the Hawks took the lead with their striker hooking in a corner at the near post, under no obvious challenge.

Referee Delves was doing his best to interrupt the flow of the game by booking a Hawkenbury player who merely tried to point out to him that the match ball was flat!

But Prime were starting to come into the game, with wingers Walker and Henshall looking dangerous.

However, the home side went 2 up after they broke down the right. Kerton made a good save, but the rebound span across the goal and Davis and Gilbert both failed to clear, giving the Hawks' right-winger a simple tap-in.

Prime kept their heads up though - encouraged by their improved passing and the fact that Excell and Skovborg-Hansen were linking up well up front.

Prime carved out a couple of half-chances, with Skovborg-Hansen flashing a drive narrowly wide and then Henshall curled over a perfect cross from the left which picked out Excell in acres of space at the back post - but he headed wide with just the keeper to beat.

It was vital that Prime made the most of their pressure and they got a vital goal back just before half-time as the ball fell to captain Matt Walker on the edge of the box and he shanked the ball into the corner of the net with his right-foot. Game on!

At half-time little needed to be said - Prime had largely dominated the game and they knew that the next goal would be crucial.

The game continued in the same vain and Excell produced a sublime reverse ball with his left-foot which left the onrushing Joe Walker to join his brother on the score sheet with a cool right-footed finish.

Hawkenbury tried their best to get going again, but Davis and Sander were both having solid games and the wingers were kept very quiet. Mazurkiewicz was keeping their pacy striker quiet and Gilbert was shackling the arial prowess of the Hawks skipper Streeter.

Abu and Matt Walker were now dominant in midfield and Abu had a golden opportunity to put Prime ahead after a mazy run by Henshall - characteristic of another impressive performance by the new signing. His through-ball left Abu with just the keeper to beat, but he made a good save at his near post.

But Abu was not to be denied and he curled in an exquisite 25 yarder into the top corner, with the keeper clasping at fresh air.

Hawkenbury had to come out of their shell and Kerton was forced into action twice in quick succession, but the keeper saved well firstly with a good strong wrist and secondly with an outstretched right foot.

Ellis replaced Davis and Garside replaced Gilbert for the closing 15 minutes as Prime sought to hold on.

With 5 minutes left, it seemed as if the Hawks would get a point - to the fury of manager Goldsmith.

They attacked down the left-wing and Sander put the ball out for a throw at full-stretch - but the intended recipient of the pass was 3 yards offside, hence Goldsmith put his flag up. Delves decided to ignore this and from the resultant long throw, the luckless Matt Walker looped a header over Kerton.

It would have been easy to feel sorry for themselves, but Prime picked themselves up and went back on the attack. Abu curled in a dangerous free-kick and Skovborg-Hansen out-leapt his marker to glance home a dramatic and well-deserved winner in the last minute.