Tonbridge Invicta Hurricanes 6    Tulse Hill 7   Sunday 27^th April 2008

The match kicked off and with two minutes gone the spectators were exchanging puzzled glances.  What had happened to the Hurricanes? What was going on?  Why weren’t they a goal down?!

Yes, the Hurricanes managed to show commitment from the start this week, and for once they weren’t chasing the game with just two minutes gone.  They were chasing the game with ten minutes gone instead!

The back four of Gabriel Russell, Sam Greehy, Luke Bohanan and Will Clark were looking settled and snuffed out the early Tulse Hill attacks, but with ten minutes gone a Tulse Hill corner led to a series of rather ineffectual headers and the ball was stabbed into the back of the Hurricanes’ net.  Three minutes later the Hurricanes were two nil down when a fierce shot from the edge of the area flew past Stanley.  In between the goals Matthew Gibbs had had a good shot well saved, following excellent build up play from Elliot Checkley and Vinny Mackey.  2-0 down though with thirteen minutes on the clock, something needed to be done.  Ryan Hine found the magic touch, piercing the Tulse Hill defence with a beautiful through ball into the path of Kane who took the ball into the right of the area before crossing perfectly for Matt to knock in from six yards.  A great move and goal.

Five minutes later though Hurricanes were two behind again.  A tricky, mazy run from a Tulse Hill forward ended with him flat on his face and the ref pointing to the spot.  Stanley Hill guessed the right way and got hands to the ball but the shot was just too fierce.  Within minutes though, Hurricanes had pulled a goal back again.  Kane collected the ball just inside the area and although he only half-connected with his shot it was enough to send it past the off-balance Tulse Hill keeper.  Half-time 2-3.

Two minutes into the second half a Tulse Hill corner again caused problems and their forward was quicker to react to the loose ball.  2-4.  Play swung back to the other end of the pitch:  a Kane attack was only half cleared and the ball fell to Lewis Floyd just outside the area.  His well placed, curling shot sailed high into the roof of the net.  A terrific strike.  But then what?  Yes, you’ve guessed, Tulse Hill went two goals up again!  A quick break giving Stanley no chance.  And then?  Yes, we scored!   This time Sam delivered the defence-splitting ball to Kane.  Kane took it beautifully in his stride, slipped it skilfully past the advancing keeper, skipped round him himself and whacked the ball home.  A terrific individual goal.  4-5. 

The next goal?  Yes, that’s right: Tulse Hill.  This time their winger weaved his way around half the Hurricanes team before practically dribbling it into the goal.  A good goal, but this was getting very frustrating!  Tom Mair had been introduced to the game and was winning plenty of the ball on the right flank, combining well with Kane and Lewis.  On the left, Henry Partridge was tackling well and supplying ammunition for the forwards to latch onto. Harry Hine was also playing well and, apart from giving Tulse Hill lessons in how to take throw-ins properly, was winning plenty of tackles. Midway through the half, Hurricanes were awarded a free kick 20 yards out.  Ryan’s strike headed goal-ward and perhaps with the help of George Jones’s dummy run, continued past the bemused Tulse Hill keeper into the back of the net!  5-6.  But then they got a free kick!  Same distance bit more central. If you hit the ball hard just under the crossbar  at this age the keeper has no chance and that’s just what they did.  A very good strike. 5-7.  At the other end Ryan decided to shoot from a similar distance and although the keeper got hands to this one, the result was the same; another good Hurricanes goal. 6-7

Had there been time for another goal, it would probably have been Tulse Hill. That was just the pattern of the game.  Hurricanes were always playing catch-up!  It was a great game though, with some superb goals.  A pity the Hurricanes could never quite draw level, but the effort and determination shown by the players was a great credit to them and it was good to end the season with  a fine battling performance.

Man of the Match, as voted by the supporters:  Tenacious tackling, great distribution from the right wing and a wonder goal to top it off:  Lewis Floyd