GOALS GALORE

This would have been a dream game for Ground Hoppers – with lots of goals, 2 penalties, changes in fortune and a dramatic ending but for our loyal supporters it was a frustrating game with a very disappointing result. Two weeks ago we produced a terrific performance at the Michael Anthony Stadium to beat Baldock 5-1 but since then our fortunes had taken a turn for the worse with 2 defeats and now a draw which keeps us in 11th place in the table.

Part of the problem has been out inability to put away our chances (particularly against Harpenden Town on Tuesday) although that was not the case in this game, after all scoring 4 goals away from home is quite an achievement, but we were missing a lot of key personnel and we had to pick some players out of position. Only 6 of the starting line up in the previous game against Baldock started in this game and 4 of the 5 subs had just 1 First Team appearance between them. Not an excuse but statements of fact and will in some way explain our poor start to this very open game.

Both sides had early sights of goal with Baldock’s winger Harleigh Johnson-Standley shooting wide following a long throw into our area and Max Hercules and then Harry Shepherd forced great saves off home keeper Oluwayomi Olonisakin. Only 12 minutes was showing on the clock when an unmarked Sam O’Nions gleefully headed his side into the lead from a corner. Score 1-0.

Baldock doubled their lead 4 minutes later when they broke down our right flank and the cross into our box was not cleared cleanly and Caleb Steele took full advantage to give his side a terrific start. Score 2-0.

Things were not looking good for us but thanks to Max Hercules with the help of Harry Shepherd we dragged ourselves back into the game and by half time we had edged ourselves in front. We had a chance to pull a goal back in the 24th minute when Bailey Osborne used his pace to latch onto a long pass but his lob went over the bar. Encouraged by this we started to look dangerous going forward and just past the half hour mark we got the break through we needed. Harry Shepherd started the move by finding Max Hercules out wide on the left. Max cut inside played a nice one two with Shep then tucked away a superb shot past the static keeper. Score 2-1.

Soon afterwards Dylan Fitzpatrick shot was nearly converted by Max with the keeper tipping the ball over the bar and in the 43rd minute we levelled the score when Mason Clarke’s super pass picked out Harry Shepherd who burst into the area only to be fouled by the home keeper to give away a penalty. The keeper almost redeemed himself by producing a fine save from Max Hercules but he followed up to score his second goal. Score 2-2.

In the 48th minute we took the lead and again it was the Max and Shep combination that earned us the opportunity with another penalty. Shep started the move by winning the ball deep in our half then burst forward to find Max on the left who was fouled by the defender in the area. This time made Max no mistake to put us into the lead for the first time in the game and to claim possibly his first hat-trick for the club. It was a great comeback from the lads but we still had a long way to go and the second half would produce more drama. HT Score 2-3.

We made a positive start to the second half and early on Harry Shepherd had a shot cleared off the line but we started to drop deeper and Baldock saw more of the ball and it came as no surprise when they equalised in the 70th minute and again it stemmed from a set piece when the unmarked defender Josh Downs got a slight touch to a free kick which wrong footed Freddie Boroughs. Score 3-3.

So it was back to square one again and we had a lucky escape when a cross cum shot from the right wing in the 73rd minute hit our bar and the follow up header went over. We had our chances with Max firing a shot just over in the 74th minute then three minutes later Skipper Jack Harvey headed a corner just wide. We should have scored in the 81st minute when Harry Jones hit the bar from a corner but Harry Shepherd somehow put the loose ball over from close range.

We thought we had won the game in the 85th minute when Ed Daffern spayed a lovely pass out wide to Max on the right wing. Max then cut inside and linked up nicely with new signing Jonas Kalonda before slipping a precise pass into Harry Shepherd who slotted the ball past the keeper. It was a lovely goal and worthy of winning any game but unfortunately there was more drama to follow. Score 3-4.

With time almost up we managed to concede a late goal which stemmed from our own throw. We failed to clear our lines and allowed our hosts to break through down the right and an attempted clearance of a cross ended up as an own goal which was in keeping with the topsy-turvy nature of the game. FT Score 4-4.

It was disappointing to drop two points but considering the circumstances perhaps we ought to think of it as a point gained. Man of the match was undoubtedly Max Hercules who was outstanding, not only in scoring a hat-trick but setting up a goal for Harry Shepherd who was also outstanding with 3 Assists as well as a goal.

Lets hope we get some players back for what will be a tough week ahead with a trip to Aylesbury Vale Dynamos on Tuesday for a Premier Division Cup game and then on Saturday we are away again at Sawbridgeworth Town who are three places above us in the table for a Premier Division game.

TEAM
TA: Freddie Borough, Harry Jones, Mason Clarke, Harry Beaumont, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Frankie Hercules (Ed Daffern 62), Jack Harvey (Capt), Harry Shepherd, Finn Rolfe (Jonas Kalonda 81), Bailey Osborne (Lincoln Gilmartin 78), Max Hercules (Freddie Grant 90+2). Sub Not Used: Pablo Kalamaras.

Scorers:

BT: Sam O’Nions (12) Caleb Steele (16), Josh Downs (70), OG (90+4)

TA: Max Hercules (33, 43, Pen 48), Harry Shepherd (90)

Crowd: 69