On a sunny autumn morning we travelled the short distance to face new promoted Beaver, formally known as Churchills in the premier league cup at pitchside, Stanhope.
Everyone was available for selection, although Terry King was rested and Paul Burt was still not 100% but both boarded the team coach and travelled.
We were one of the two unfortunate clubs to play in the the preliminary round of the premier league cup.
We started the game knowning that Beaver would battle every single ball, and try to intimidate us. Surprise surprise its exactly what happened. I stressed to the players not to get caught up in their tactics and concentrate on our play and we did exactly that. We had a few early balls into the Beaver area but unable to get any connection or trouble the keeper. Beaver were up for this game, as they are every game and put us under some early pressure, but we coped failry well and stood up to there 'bully boy tactics'.
Once we took the lead through Tommy Dawes, who finished well from 18 yards after a good ball in from Harry Goddard we dominated until the half time whistle. Tommy 'the ferret' Dawes continued his fine record of scoring in every game, Hamstreet have scored in this season, but other than a few nice touches and a couple of decent efforts the Uruguayan didnt add to his tally.
Darren Warburton did score a decent goal from a flukey Shay McGuiness tackle/come cross with a volley from 10 yards then added his second and our third from another Harry Goddard cross moments later.
At this stage Beaver were trying to put their foot in without getting close, so they tried another tactic of throwning puches. One aimed at Dale Davis who was bizarrely booked for defending himself and the offender only recieved the same punishment! Maybe this was a sign that they couldnt get near him and they could only stop him this way?
Just before the half time whistle Tom Collins was fouled in the area, and he stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way.
Half Time Beaver 0 Hamstreet 4
The second half was a bit of a none event and to be fair alot closer than the first half. We had a few chances, as did Beaver.
Dale Davis and Harry Goddard were replaced by Darren Moody and James Batholomew.
James Batholomew did have a chance to score when Darren Warburton did well down the left and crossed for a 'Bathy' to slot home but in true Ronnie Rosenthal fashion somehow missed, but you have got to be there to miss them!
Aaron McGuiness came on to replace Tommy Dawes shortly after hour mark and he added a bit of physical power to the front line.
We scored our 5th goal after some great work from captain for the day Shay McGuiness. Shay beat his man a played a good ball into the space for Tom Collins to run onto and he rounded the keeper and finished well from an angle. This was probably the only thing Shay did in the second half other than give the ball away and generally have a shocker!
Beaver had gone close once or twice before they did score, and it was Leighton Kennedy from a corner when he powered his header into the net from a corner.
Full Time Beaver 1 Hamstreet 5
We deserved the victory today without playing that well, but we got the job done and we are into he next round, which is the quarter finals.
Overall it was a good result and throughly deserved.
