Southern Combination Walking Football League
Burwash vs Hastings Hornets
Heathfield Community College, 23rd May 2023
Burwash 0 Hastings Hornets 1
The Hornets went to third in the table tonight after a hard fought one-nil away win at Burwash.
The solitary goal was a belter from Ricky DLTN from a free kick just outside the ‘D’. Chairs rolled it with deftest of touches for the Rickster to bury it hard and low into the far corner. The Burwash keeper didn’t even see the shot coming as it scorched through a forest of legs. This second-minute goal was enough to win the three points and leapfrog the Hornets above Battle although the Knights do have two games in hand.
It was a fine all-round team performance masterminded by manager West Ham Paul who used his available nine players in good rotation and covered defenders Puffing Paul and Touchline for a blow and a blow in the bread (of heaven) basket respectively.
TLM had his best outing for the H’s yet. The former Welsh International – known as Dai One Cap in the valleys – was skilful and precise all evening on his beloved left wing and made a couple of great blocks. He and PP were like the twin towers at the back and were not bested all evening.
Chairs was also on form. He made three huge blocks when defending and had the shot of the night which hit the underside of the bar and flew out instead of in. The gasp of frustration from Long Suffering Carol behind the goal was audible on the pitch.
Matty and the Rickster did a half each and both went close. They held the ball up well and caused Burwash problems at the back. Their linking play with Chairs and the Riddler was a joy to watch with some lovely one-twos. Rid was hampered by an ear problem which made him more difficult than usual to communicate with but, judging from the finger signals, everyone was happy with his boisterous interventions in midfield.
The Cat turned in another good performance with three good saves in each half and enjoyed his clean sheet. But it was Doc Dyer in the engine room and wearing the armband that won the plaudits of his teammates. He literally didn’t put a foot wrong all night and marshalled the troops with fog horn efficiency.
A one-goal lead is difficult to defend and makes for a tough match. If Burwash were stung by the Hornet’s opener they didn’t panic and pushed forward relentlessly as a well-organised unit. Their only problem was that their tricksy striker just didn’t have his shooting boots on and must have left them by the barn door he was practising against before the match. Burwash hit the bar and the post in the first half but the Cat kept the rest out or they blasted the ball over.
Doc was lucky not to see red after a foul on the edge of the area, but ref Jesse stuck to his free kick award despite grumbling from the yellows. He reffed hard and fair from the off. And it was more of the same after the break with Burwash pushing forward and failing to score. Their closest effort hit both posts and the Cat’s head and spun tantalisingly on the line and the little 55, seeing a shot parried by the keeper, pounced, did the hard work, went round the beached whale and harpooned it wide. It was never going to be their night.
The Hornets stuck to their task for the 40 minutes and Ricky’s goal was enough to win a precious three points – a great result against a tight unit away from home. Man of the match for Burwash was their unlucky striker who didn’t give up all night despite not having his eye in and our MOM was skipper Doc who simply bossed it.
MoM Burwash: Striker
MoM Hornets: Doc Dyer
