Southern Combination Walking Football League
Hastings United 0 vs Battle 1
Hillcrest Academy, 17 June 2023
Old Bexhillians 4 vs The Atha 3
Bexhill College, 17 June 2023
It was a tale of two penalties today.
Two pens, two red cards for fouls preventing direct goal scoring opportunities and only one slotted home.
Sadly for United ours was the one missed. The Coach – never afraid to step up and shoulder the burden – leant back and blasted it high over the bar but Battle’s Bunny Warren picked his spot and put it five inches beyond Gig’s dive to his left.
The visitors went back up the A21 celebrating their victory – revenge for stinging home defeats by the Fronts and Hornets – and the three points secured the Abbeymen a third place finish in the league.
Earlier in the day, Old Bexhillians confirmed their league win with a nip and tuck 4-3 victory over the Atha. Big Wes Mendy scored a fine hat-trick that was 90 seconds from securing a superb point before Alan Osman got a deflection that beat Raz.
If anyone thought that the 105-year-old keeper was past his best this game made them think again. Raz was outstanding throughout and shared the man of the match award with Bill who was a towering presence in defence.
The OB’s deserved their league win but it was The Atha who came away with the credit for giving their Bexhill buddies a game to remember.
This news meant that the Academy fixture was a dead rubber and it was a lacklustre performance all round from the Fronts as a result.
We were as deflated as a punctured Wembley Trophy orange plastic ball, trapped by a twit in cross country spikes.
Only Deano shone, with a super defensive display to win him the MOM award. Colin had just one shot to save all game and there was a lot of U possession which came to nothing.
It turned on the penalty. Ref Jesse adjudged a Battle defender went into the box making his last-ditch tackle and Russ, who slotted one for England in the Euros and one at the Eastbourne tournament, could not convert.
A man down, the Knights stuck to their task and when it was evened up with Jimbo’s red DOGSO, Steve took his chance.
It was hot, humid and frustrating but that’s walking football.
Take heart lads that Battle also beat the OBs by a single goal and they are a well organised outfit that Gary Walsh – in his French Legionnaires hat – can be proud of.
