Once again almost the end of October and what started as a grey and overcast morning ended in bright warm sunshine. Hadcroft got off to a good positive start and the energetic David Smith rose high at the back post from a perfect corner from Julian Probyn to head Hadcroft in front on 5 minutes 0 – 1. Sedgley had the odd attempt during the first half but never put Scott Newman in the Hadcroft goal any real problems but that was not the same for the Sedgley goal keeper when Julian Probyn never gave up the chase and beat defence and keeper to the ball and slid it into the net on 17 minutes 0 – 2. It should have been Hadcrofts 3rd on 34 minutes when still up in the oppositions half following a corner centre half and man of the Match Daniel Shakespeare had a golden chance but blasted it wide. Right on half time Hadcroft were awarded a free kick wide on the left almost on the corner spot up stepped David Chambers who hit it hard and low straight into the net 0 – 3.
HALF TIME 0 - 3
Hadcroft went out in the second half but did not look as strong as they did in the first half they defended a lot deeper allowing Sedgley to come onto them. Sean Gray replaced Sarvesh Tah on 57 minutes and Super sub Luke Smith replaced Damon Lewis on 63 minutes. At this stage in the game it was all Sedgley and it was only the defence run by Daniel Shakespeare doing a strong rear guard action that kept Sedgley out. Richard Parsons replaced David Smith on 74 minutes and the inevitable happened Sedgley finally breached the defence and scored 1 – 3 on 76 minutes. This was like a red rag to a bull and it seemed to fire up the entire Hadcroft team and 1 minute later Luke Smith chased down a poor defensive back pass to round the keeper and slotted the ball it into the net 1 – 4. Luke Smith then had the miss of the day when good work between Sean Gray and Chris Smith saw Chris whip over a brilliant cross that reach Luke on the back post 3 feet out with an open goal only to see him clear the bar by a mile. Hadcroft had the bit between their teeth now and kept pressing and persistence from Julian Probyn saw him bury the ball into the net on 83 minutes 1 – 5. Hadcroft had a couple of half chances but could not convert them.
FULL TIME 1 – 5
Next match Sunday 23rd October away to Ruiton Conservatives at the Quarry Club Gornal KO 10.30am
