After last weekends impressive display, we travelled to Sandyacres with a strong squad to face Kennington, who in my opinion, have always played football in the correct manner without having the killer instinct.
Joe Spicer was still on holiday, Dan Morrison who stepped in for Matt Moore was in Spain. Matt 'caveman' Moore was involved in a freak accident at home, falling down the stairs 'crazy fool! and Billy Rice still nursing a shoulder injury.
We started slowly, against a young energetic team in blistering heat. We struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game and looked a little lethargic.
It wasnt until Kennington took the lead from a set piece that we decided we were up for fight! Maybe the crazy call from the Kennington manager for a drinks break directly after his team had scored, was all the motivation that we needed!
Within 2 minutes of conceding it was all level, decent work from Darren Warburton down the left hand side of the box and his cross was headed into the back onion bag by Paul Burt.
Minutes later we were 2-1 up, some great work by Tommy Dawes down the left and his cross was steered into the back of the net by a Kennington defender.
At this stage Kennington would have felt a little mythed as it harsh was on them, we had created two chances and scored them both.
Once we realised that turning the Kennington back four with passes into the channels and allowing the pace of our strikers to cause them damage, there was only going to be one winner in this match.
Tommy Dawes raced onto a Paul Burt pass and finished nicely side footing the ball into the corner of the net. This was a massive turning point in the game, we suddenly realised how easy it was to open them up. The belief in our play was evident, where as Kennington did not look interested.
At half time we went in 3-1 up, without playing that well, but the chances that the front boys had, give them credit, they finished well.
The second half was all Hamstreet, Kennington played some good football as they always do, without causing us any real problems. The back four were solid and the the midfield worked tirelessly.
A good move down the right freed Paul Burt, who's shot was saved by the Kennington keeper, but the rebound fell to Tom Collins, who finished well from an awkard height.
At 4-1 we could have easily taken our foot of the gas and sit back, but all credit to every player involved we were hungry for more goals.
A few short interchanges in and around the Kennington area allowed Tom Collins to go free in the area, were he was fouled in the area, for a stonewall penalty. Paul Burt stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Tommy Dawes was finding plenty of space and creating a chance every time he had the ball. Chances fell to Paul Burt, Tom Collins and to Tommy Dawes himself but the Kennington keeper making a decent save each on occasion.
With 8 minutes remaining good work from Tom Collins, James Batholomew, Shay McGuinness and Harry Goddard who was impressive when he came on, freed Paul Burt who finished well to complete his hat trick and he walked away with the match ball.
Final score Kennington 1 Hamstreet 6
The three forwards will take all the plaudits with the goals, and to be honest they were the difference between the teams as we took our chances, Kennington didnt. In truth we created chances from the moment we equalised to the final whistle, where as Kennington created only a handful and credit must be given to the defence and the midfield who never bossed it as much as they would have liked, but 3 points was the main objective and it was achieved. We cant always play football the way we want, sometimes it has to be won ugly and it was today. The fact that we won 6-1 and never really got going can only be positive.
I would to say I was very impressed with Glen Childs the referee, who handled the game superbly.
