Croydon Youth 8 Tonbridge Invicta Hurricanes 2       Sunday 20^th January 2008

Croydon Youth, top of the table and looking confident, took to the field expecting yet another win.  But what’s this?! Their goal is under siege!  Their back four are flustered, their keeper’s all at sea! Tonbridge Invicta Hurricanes are all over them and they’re panicking.  It gets worse!...They’re 1-0 down!  And look like going two down!!

No, not a dream.  This was the first ten minutes of the game and the Hurricanes were at their best.  First to the ball and supporting each other well they began the game brilliantly.  After five minutes of pressure a Gabe Russell sliding tackle sent the ball into the path of Ryan Hine and from the edge of the area he fired neatly low into the left hand corner of the net, giving Hurricanes the lead.  Seconds later Elliot Checkley broke into the box from the left wing and flashed a smart shot only just wide of the post.  Matt Gibbs showed great skill to create an opening shortly after this but his shot was just blocked in time. 

After this initial Hurricanes onslaught, Croydon Youth began to find their way back into the game.  A burst on the right wing saw their striker through on goal and though Stanley Hill got hands to the shot he couldn’t quite stop it going into the net.  The rest of the half was quite even but Croydon had the edge.  Two classy passing moves ended with clinical finishing and put them 3-1 up.  Hurricanes had their share of chances too though;  Kane Joseph, Matt and Lewis Floyd all had shots blocked and Gabe fired over the bar just before the half time whistle blew.

The second half was not quite such an even affair.  Almost from the kick off a quick Croydon break put them 4-1 up.  Croydon were starting to be that bit faster to the ball and two more goals quickly followed when too much time was allowed them in the box from corners.  The defence was under some pressure and another two goals followed before the end.  Hurricanes had their moments though.  George Jones, operating on the left sent a fine ball into the path of Kane, who took it superbly on his chest past a defender for a good run on goal, his shot being deflected for a corner.   Gabe almost scored when the Croydon keeper drop-kicked the ball straight at his head! Two minutes later he did score.  The Croydon keeper this time sliced the ball wildly when attempting to clear and it fell to Gabe who controlled and slotted it neatly into the net.  7-2 at that point and a chance for 7-3 when a dangerous George cross from the left wing found Kane on the right side of the area.  Scythed down in the box, the referee had no hesitation.  Kane’s kick was well struck, but just wide of the post.  In the closing minutes Hurricanes were only a whisker away from another goal with a diving header from Stanley.  Stanley?!!  Yes, Stanley.

So the Hurricanes started well and finished well and put up a good fight against the very good league leaders.  Plenty to cheer about.

Man of the Match, as voted by the supporters:  for good reading of the game and some fine fierce tackling: Will Clarke