Again bright sunshine, and this time the right sized pitch, goals and a referee!  Things were looking good as Hurricanes took to the field for their second game of the season.

Hurricanes started brightly with the midfield of Ryan Hine, Gabe Russell, Elliot Checkley and Kieron Matthews working hard and gaining plenty of possession.  Few openings were created though until after ten minutes Wandle Warriors suddenly took the lead.  A through ball looked offside, the flag went straight up but the ref waved play on and the forward raced through to score.  Unlucky, and then three minutes later another Wandle break, not offside, saw them go two up with a second clinical finish.  To the Hurricanes’ credit they re-grouped and took the game to the opposition.  From the kick-off Ryan dribbled round five Wandle players before releasing an excellent ball into the path of Kane Joseph, whose shot span just wide.  From the goal kick the ball came to Sam Greehy whose powerful long range shot had the keeper back-pedalling, the ball unfortunately going just over.  The midfield were winning everything at this point and Hurricanes attacks continued.  A through ball from Will Clark found Ryan just inside the penalty area; a neat step took him past the defender before he fired a cracking shot which cannoned off the bar.  Elliot was first to the rebound but his shot went just wide. Two minutes later Elliot found space again just outside the area; he struck the shot well but straight into the keeper’s arms.  After this period of pressure Wandle suddenly broke; three forwards were racing towards Stanley but Sam Greehy charged back to clear the danger.  More pressure followed, though, and a threatening ball into the area had a Wanderers forward and Stanley Hill charging towards each other; the resulting clatter saw the ball ricochet bizarrely back over Stanley and to a Wanderers forward who scored from close range.  An  unlucky goal, but even worse Stanley’s brave efforts had left him injured and he was unable to play on.  Gabe stepped up to take his place between the posts, and was almost immediately tested by a Wandle corner.  As the ball arrowed into the area at chest height, Gabe dashed from his line and, perhaps forgetting he could now use his hands, didn’t catch it but volleyed it up field.  Shortly after, the whistle went.  3-0 at half time.

With the second half, the Hurricanes again started brightly, but this time they had something to show for it: Ryan made inroads into the Wandle half; he fed a neat pass to Harry Hine who spun a beautiful ball through the defence and into the path of Kane Joseph.  Ball controlled. Thumped powerfully. Top right. No chance for keeper.  3-1.  Wandle were soon fighting back, however.  A break down their left wing led to a shot low to Gabriel’s right giving him no chance.   Their fifth goal followed not long after, in the corner, before their bizarrely bouncing sixth finished the scoring for the day.  In between the goals Gabe had made some fine saves and his long drop kicks were causing Wandle problems.  From one, Tom Mair helped the ball through, Kane collected it and powered a fine drive goalward but just over.  A patch of Tonbridge pressure followed with a goal-bound volley from Sam being headed clear by a defender and a Kane cross was neatly met on the half volley by Elliot but the keeper blocked well.

Wandle Wanderers looked a good side and they took their chances well, but 6-1 was a flattering score-line.  Hurricanes should take heart from this gritty performance; if they continue to play as well as this, the results will start to come in.

Congratulations to all supporters for not getting lost in these last two weeks!  Next week: at home!

Man of the Match, as voted by the supporters:  for tireless work in midfield in the first half and for a great performance in goal in the second:  Gabe Russell