After Last weeks strong performance we wanted to get back on track with another decent performance against a tough Hangleton Rangers side.

A 2pm kick off meant the boys had time to sleep in and hopefully turn up refreshed to the game. The pitch was in great nick as it was a 3G meaning the boys could utilize the surface and play some good football when the chance arose.

Jack stepped up for us in between the Sticks due to Oliver still being unable to play and Jack did a fantastic job in net for us! Confident, Loud & pulling off saves left and right in the second half.

Starting a pretty strong line up in our old 3-4-3 formation, we took the game to Hangleton and attacked them from the start. A swirling strong wind was hindering both teams when the ball got in the air so both tried their best to get the ball down and play.

The first half was a end to end affair with both teams trying to get the upper hand but it was Us who ended creating the better chances with Kieron, Alafy and Stephen all coming close Including hitting the bar and post several times. There were several stand out performances in the first half with Ryan, Cam, Stan and Kieron all putting in a hell of a shift.

HT Hangleton Rangers - 0 - TDYFC- 0

At the half the boys talked to us and wanted to keep the same approach but get the final 3rd decisions right this time. Nigel made a few changes just before the half so Lewis, Sam and Tian came on for Mase, Alafy and Dean.

In the second half, we were pegged back a bit with Hangleton gambling and pushing more men forward to try and get the win. This put us on the back foot and we seemed to be struggling to get a hold of the ball and keep it in the dangerous areas, instead we were pinned back and ended up conceding the first goal on around 45 mins. 1-0 to Hangleton.

Some changes were made with Freds and Ethan coming on just before the goal but right after the boys pressed forward to get the equaliser and with Ryan, Cam and Ethan standing strong and Jack dominating his area, we kept the ball a lot better and started to create more chances down the right and left wings.

Our goal came after some changes again with Alafy, Mase and Dean coming back on and us switching to a 4-4-2. Dean won it in the back line and played it up the wing to Mase, who laid it into the path of Sam who with a beaut of a turn before sending Alafy through on goal. Alafy cut inside and hit a shot against the keeper before it bounced back into his path and this time he lifted it over the keeper and into the far corner. 1-1.

This seemed to get the boys to step up a gear and we really started to take the game to Hangleton and it wasn't more than 10 minutes later before we got our second.

Kieron came back on for Freds and Stephen on for Mase and again the goal came from the back line. This time Ryan won the ball and played it into Dean. Dean beat his man before playing it into Lewis. Lewis turned his man and played it into Stephen who looked up and played it out to Dorian. Dorian then played the ball into Kieron who held off one man and then turned another before unleashing a fantastic shot into the top right corner. 1-2

With less than 5 minutes left to play, the boys were trying their best to see the game out and even created a few chances before Alafy got cleaned out right outside their 18 yard box but no free kick given and from the ensuing clearance the ball took a deflection and went out for a corner. While our boys were getting into position, Hangleton took a quick short corner and the striker hit a shot towards goal that was clipped and flicked up and over Jack. Frustrating! 2-2

We had a chance right at the death to get a goal, Kieron running through again and the defender trying to do a shirt swap before the full time whistlez, pulling him back in the area but Kieron held strong and shot, winning us a corner. This unfortunately didnt come to anything.

FT Hangleton - 2 - TDYFC - 2

A tough one to swallow at the death and feels like a loss but we take the lessons learnt and move our focus onto the Cup match next week.

MOTM- JACK FOSTER - Fantastic performance between the sticks today for Jack, Stepping up to help the team and lead by example like the captain he is!