Tonbridge Invicta Hurricanes 5      Doverhouse Lions  3  Sunday 7^th October 2007

League Cup

An 8-goal-thriller saw Hurricanes gain revenge for the league defeat of three weeks ago as they played fantastic football to see off Doverhouse Lions in the cup.

In the league fixture three weeks ago, Hurricanes had dominated the first half and had nothing to show for it.  This time it was different.  Hurricanes were first to threaten as Gabriel Russell looped the ball forward into the path of Kane Joseph for a run on goal, his shot going just wide.  Two minutes later, Henry Partridge was the provider as he split the Doverhouse defence with a beautifully lofted and curled ball into the paths of both Kane  and Ryan Hine.  Ryan took the honours, having plenty of time to pick his spot and drive it low past the keeper.  1-0.  Almost immediately, Doverhouse fought back; a right wing break resulted in a fierce cross coming in and deflecting from a defender past Stanley Hill into the goal.  Unlucky.  1-1.  The Hurricanes midfield of Gabe, Ryan, Elliot Checkley and Tom Mair were working well together and creating openings all the time.  A Tom tackle won possession for Gabe who threaded a fine ball through for Kane to latch onto.  Controlled.  Thumped.  Over the keeper into the roof of the net.  A fine goal. 2-1. 

The Hurricanes back four is looking better every week.  Will Clark and Sam Greehy were snuffing out Doverhouse threats down the middle and excellent concentration and timing from the full backs, Henry and Luke Bohanan meant very little was getting through to bother Stanley.  Doverhouse had been a bit lucky with their first equaliser and were a little lucky again with their second; a corner ballooned up off an Invicta defender to a Doverhouse forward who was well placed to tap in.  The equaliser was against the run of play and Hurricanes were soon back on the attack.  Ryan dispossessed the Doverhouse left back and sprinted up the wing; he sent a fine cross into the area but it just eluded the charging Kane, George Jones and Elliot.  Tonbridge pressure continued and, with almost the last kick of the half, Sam Greehy’s long range effort rattled the shins of the keeper.  2-2 at half-time.

Almost the first attack of the second half saw Hurricanes regain the lead.  Gabe again released Kane on the right wing.  Temporarily the move seemed to break down as two defenders intervened, but a terrible muddle saw them both end up on the ground, leaving Kane to snap up the loose ball and fire in a great cross.  Ryan was waiting, controlled well and shot home from the edge of the area. 3-2. 

But would you believe it…another equaliser!  This time the referee, perhaps better-placed, over-ruled the linesman’s offside flag and the Doverhouse forward ran through unchallenged to thump the ball over Stanley into the roof of the net.  A bit unlucky but Tonbridge were determined that this match would be theirs.  Immediately they were on the attack again.  Harry Hine was working tirelessly in midfield and interlinking well with Kane on the right wing, George Jones was winning tackles and putting the Doverhouse defence under pressure.  Luke and Henry were winning plenty of the ball and creating openings up the wings.  “What have you done to them?!” the Doverhouse manager was heard to say at this point in the match -  a great tribute to the terrific effort the Hurricanes were all putting in.  Stanley, back from injury, played a big part in the way the match finished.   Firstly, by setting up the fourth goal: his long drop kick bounced beautifully into the path of Kane.  His shot was fierce and, though the keeper got a hand to it, its power took it into the bottom corner.  4-3.  Surely there wasn’t going to be another equaliser?!...

No.  There wasn’t. But there was defending to be done.  Another suspiciously offside Doverhouse break resulted in a fantastic point-blank save from Stanley and then, from a Doverhouse corner, Stanley saved bravely at the foot of the post.  In between these saves, Sam Greehy had epitomised the Hurricanes’ fantastic work rate, sprinting back  and practically hurling himself at the feet of Doverhouse forwards to prevent two dangerous breaks.  With five minutes to go, the jitters in the crowd were eased by Hurricanes’ fifth goal:  a Kane corner flew across the area, eluding everyone but Ryan waiting at the far side.  Outside of right boot, smacked into the top of the net.  5-3.  Game over.  A fine win.

Man of the Match, as voted by the supporters:  always a threat going forward, superb finishing, hat-trick hero:  Ryan Hine.