So 1st vs 2nd in the league and expectations were high in both camps. Unfortunately for Brewer FC this proved to just be a bridge to far at this particular time after last week’s scrappy 4-3 victory over Hockerill.
The game did not start in this fashion though with Brewer setting the tempo early doors causing Saffron Hawks problems down their left hand side and this saw the break through come when Bush hit a fantastic cross to the back post for in-form Jiggins to head home! 1-0 Brewer!
This however turned out to be Brewer best attack of the game with this goal only seeming to spur the Hawks on who put the Brewer FC defence under immense pressure right the way through to the half-time whistle, the back 3 however held their own and managed to hold out to keep it at 1-0 to the away side.
At half time Good introduced Watts to the backline in place of Felstead and demanded that Brewer played their own game but further up the pitch.
The 2nd half however began exactly how the first ended with Hawks looking the more likely to score and their equaliser was not far away. Hawks won an early corner which was knocked to the back post which was headed home by the unmarked player 1-1.
The signs were there that if things did not change then this game was going to slip away from Brewer and not long after conceding the equaliser the Hawks broke through only for the on-rushing striker to be bought down by Honour for a penalty which was tucked away for 2-1 despite Honour appearing to get something on the all.
Brewer looked bounce back quickly from this only to be undone on the break by another swift Hawks attack which was knocked wide then squared for 3-1!
Good rung the changes bringing Felton and Bailey in to the fray but to no avail Brewer were again undone by a diagonal cross field pass which was cooly finished by the Hawks left winger who had been terrorising the Brewer backline for the entire 2nd half 4-1.
The final change saw Hatton come on for Garret upfront and shortly after he found himself on the edge of the box after some smart play but sadly he dragged his finish wide.
This was followed up by the last piece of action in the game when once Brewer were done by the pace and trickery of the Hawks left winger who squared, the defence failed to clear and eventually the ball was bundled in to the net.
Brewer FC will not be so gutted by the score line but more the performance against a side which could prove to be their biggest promotion/title rivals this season. Good will also be questioning his decision to change the backline around at halftime when Brewer FC had a clean sheet until that point. He will also question how much more solid Hawks looked than his side playing a back 4. Its hard however to think that Good will not tweek the tactics and if he does then Brewer FC will be a better side for it.
The real test now for Brewer is to bounce back next week against Casuals and Pelham who were relegated from the league above last season.
They no doubt have the quality to get the train journey back on track but the question is can they do it?
#COYB
