Blackham & Ashurst we're essentially back in good form coming in to this game. A good run of results with only the defeat to Hadlow in 2011. It was a strong squad with four on the bench including the Ginger Ninja Pat. Hamish dropped back to fill the void left at the back by Hathaway King of the air and Bayley kept his spot in the centre of park after a run of very impressive displays.
The game started at pace with B&A going on the attack early. It wasn't long before it paid off with Latts netting from close range to open the scoring. The lead was doubled 10 minutes later with a neat half volley from the in-form Fern Cotton. It wasn't anywhere near the strike he put away in the Hadlow game but still a very tidy and important goal. Fern was having a whale of a time against the Hawks right back; he was quite literally just walking it round him every time. (shame he can't cross a football) The game looked safe as Hawkenbury offered little up front but some hesitant goal keeping and sloppy defending let them back in it with a week looping header just out of Dazza's reach. We responded well though and When Gandhi's ghost was slipped in the keeper came out and cleaned him out inside the box. Up stepped the confident Essex Pele but the Hawks keeper got down well to his right to save. The ball fell to fern a yard out with the goal gaping, but he managed to put it into row Z of the home support. Latts was also denied by another fine save, better than the penalty save. This time after setting himself he picked his spot in the bottom corner but the keeper got down well and tipped it away. The two goal cushion was restored on the stroke of half time. A perfect Bertie Bassett free kick was headed home by the Gandhi's ghost at the near post. By the half Bowlesy and Hamish had formed a great understanding and weren't giving the boys in hoops a sniff. Step forward Hamish Macbeth, the newly crowned King of the Air. The B&A decided to buck the trend and stay outside for half time and even declined the kind offer of a half time cuppa. It paid off as within minutes Latts had raced clear and rounded the keeper to make it 4-1. A rare mistake from the Ginger King let them in to pull another goal back. Big Dan came but was left stranded, nothing he could do about that one. Again the response was swift. This time the hard working 2Gun Willy had the ball wide on the right. The gaffer was screaming at him to hold it up and look after the ball, but he ignored the orders and instead picked out the Biegeion Friese was an inch perfect pass on to his boot. He then finished calmly to finish his hattrick. 5-2. Then it was time for Bertie Bassett to get back to scoring ways. He shot from 20 yards out curling a beauty into the top corner, no chance for the impressive Hawkenbury stopper. Pick that one out. Bert then made way for everyone's least favourite Ginger windup merchant. Return of the Pat. He came on and added some energy to the proceedings. Not to mention his Rory Delap esq thrown ins. It only took him 5 minutes to get in on the act. A short Zac Effron corner was whipped in by our hattrick hero right on to the Ginger beacon of light. To be honest I don't think he knew much about it but it bounced off and trickled into the bottom corner. His first goal for over 3 years. The scoring was rounded off by none other than the Romford Pele himself. This time he was slipped in by former saved by the bell star Zac Morris and blasted the ball (via a deflection) past the keeper. He said he wanted us to get 8 and we bloody got 8. It was a good all round performance and another 3 points to keep us in 3rd spot. Another massive performance from the Woggler in centre mid outdone ever so slightly by the impressive Hamish Macbeth.
