It was a cold and clear afternoon in Hawkenbury, the setting for the Division one table top clash. A win for Hawkenbury would take them a point above B&A with a game in hand; the reverse result would leave our heroes 5points clear at the top.
Hawkenbury had not lost a game since the opening day of the season when they traveled to the Goldsmiths Ground to be beaten 2-0.
With Kenny and Gandhi away at the clubs rehabilitation complex in La Manga recovering from aids, Jimmy Edwards was recalled to the starting XI and Kev Sharman, younger brother of Steve was a handed his debut slotting in next to Mr. Ed at the back.
Hathaway continued in midfield partnering the meat and the Slug and Lettuce were reunited upfront with Slug still looking for his 1st goal since September.
Going up hill 1st half with the sun in their eyes was no easy task but the B&A started brightly with Baggo and Gozzy terrorizing the Hawks right back and center halves.
A couple of momentary lapses at the back led to some good chances for the Hawks front men but they found nice guy in splendid form between the sticks. A fantastic tip over the bar the pick of the saves in the 1st half.
The deadlock was broken after a sweeping move down the left a great ball in that foxed the keeper but Gozzy’s (I think!!) shot was blocked on the line by the Hawks lanky centre back. The ref Ralph pointed to the spot but then lost his bottle and produced only a yellow card for the offence.
Gozzy stepped up and slotted it home.
Still the B&A boys pushed forward, with Gammon putting the tackles in in the middle and generally just annoying the Hawkenbury forward players, this gave Hathaway the license to make more forward runs and be creative. He was in inspired form and worlds away from his lackluster showing at Eden Rangers the week before and it was him that doubled the lead. A Mark Baggesen corner was spilled by the keeper, Ian Beale was quickest to react as he controlled and headed past the keeper into the path of the Huff who headed home with precision. He wheeled away with a big cheesy grin on his face, no surprise really as that was his 4th goal in 4games this term. And he wasn’t finished there! A few moments later he picked the ball up near the half way line and strode forward at pace, rounding the left back with ease he then fired the ball across the face of goal where it was turned in by a defender 3-0.
He also did a large chunk of the graft for the 4th goal. Another powerful run from midfield but this time he slipped in Gozzy who cut in and slid the ball over for the Slug to smash home.
Kev Shatman had settled in nicely at the back and looked like he’d been part of the team for years alongside Mr. Ed who was having the game of his life. (The best this season at least!)
Straight from the kickoff in the 2nd half Gozzy found Baggo with a 40yard pass, he cut in side but his cross was cleared for a corner. Still, it was clear that the B&A were going for the jugular. Gammon was trying to get in on the act and tried his luck from distance on a couple of occasions, not quite finding the mark this week.
Gozzy now drifting out to the left flank made some space away from the full back to cross in for the Slug to head home for 5-0 and his 2nd of the afternoon. This also paved the way for the gaffer to make some changes. Mr. Ed made way for Mitch who slotted into the midfield and Hathaway dropping into the back 4. Straight away Mitch got into the action and shot narrowly wide from 5yards.
More good work from Gozzy led to Rob Grabbing his hatrick, another neat finish from close range. It could have been more, late on Bitch played a tasty ball low and hard into the box all Baggo had to do was slide it home but he belted into a field behind the goal, I think it landed somewhere near Frant!
Another great performance from Gozzy, scoring one and setting up three, how we missed him last week, but still he didn’t quite do enough to earn him the man of the match award he was pipped in the vote just behind Kev Shatman, who was just behind Junior who was just behind Hathaway who was just behind…..Jimmy Durante. If you don’t knows who that is google him.
A great win for the B&A, next week Tunbridge Wells Utd
