Our first league game of the season and we entertained Bromley Green (again) only this time at home, rather than at Waterside where we opened the previous season.
With Joe Spicer and Matt Moore away on holiday, Harry Goddard suspended and Billy Rice out with an injury to his shoulder, we were still able to name a strong squad. Maurice Munden, Paul Burt, Tom Collins and Dale Davis all making their debuts. Warwick Drawbridge, Terry King, Elliott McNeill, Daniel Morrison, Shay McGuinness, Aaron McGuiness, Darren Warburton, Tommy Dawes, James Batholomew and Darren Moody completing the squad.
Right from the start we bossed the game, it seemed our superior fitness, attitude and general play shell shocked the visitors.
We opened the scoring with a move that sliced the Bromley Green defence open, like a hot knife through butter. Darren Warburton into Dale Davis who played Paul Burt into the right hand side of the box who crossed for Tom Collins to finish, in all fairness it was a better finish than it looked. A great first time half volley into top left hand corner of the net.
Within 5 minutes it was 2-0 after Tom Collins raced onto a Paul Burt flick, lobbing the Bromley Green keeper from 20 yards.
At this stage Maurice Munden was asking for a coat, as he was getting cold and extremely bored.
We had a few penalty shouts, some blatant some half hearted appeals and it seemed that the ref was feeling a little sorry for the Bromley Green lads, in not giving at least 2 of those shouts.
Bromley Green got back into the game with their first meaningful attack, the ref seemed to have seen something no one else had seen, and gave a penalty, which was slotted into the corner by Gary Lockyer.
Within minutes the ref had even things out with a harsh call on Bromley Green, pointing to the spot, after a ball to hand incident. The decision was slightly strange but none more than the incident at the other end moments before.
Paul Burt stepped up and slotted in the corner giving the keeper no chance what so ever.
We had a few other scoring chances, completely dominating in all areas. We reached half time slighty dissappointed it was only 3-1, as in all fairness it was men against boys.
The second half was a continuation of the first, Hamstreet creating all the chances, winning all the second balls and keeping the ball on the floor. As our fitness showed the poor Bromley Green lads were wishing for the full time whislte after 60mins. Unfortuantely for them it was just about to get even messier, Tommy Dawes came on for Tom Collins who had given the Smith brothers of Bromley Green a real headache all morning.
With Tommy Dawes causing problems within seconds for the vistors, with his first touch slotted into the corner of the net and it was good night. A classy finish from 12 yards courtesy of a cross from the left, via Daniel Morrsion.
Tommy Dawes was linking up well with Shay McGuiness, Darren Warbuton, Dale Davis and Paul Burt engineering chance after chance and on another day and not coming up against a keeper in the form of his life, would of had a 10 minute hat trick.
There was still time for Paul Burt to create another goal this time for Aaron McGuinness, who finished smartly.
We hit the bar four times in the second half and opened up Bromley Green time after time. It was getting embarrassing at how easy it was at times.
At the final whistle you could feel the relief from the Bromley Green players. If this was a boxing match the ref would have stoped it after the 4th round.
Final score Hamstreet 5 Bromley Green 1
Mo Munden in goal had little to do, the defence was excellent, marshalled by Terry King and in truth stopped a very good Bromley Green strike force from playing any football, the midfield dominated and Dale Davis was simply awesome, the front boys of Tom Collins and Paul Burt excellent and long with Tommy Dawes, Darren Moody and James Batholomew.
