Hugin Vikings travelled to Deal missing a couple of players from the previous weeks victory over Deal, a game which could have gone either way in all fairness.
Today was going to be tough and we knew that. We won the toss and elected to shoot down hill, with wind behind. We needed to make the most of the advantage whilst we had it.
Hugin pressed and kept Deal within their half for much of the first 10 minutes, unfortuntely for Deal their Goalkeeper dropped out due to injury which meant their striker was playing in goal.
Hugin pressed but never took any advantage and it wasn't until 10 or so minutes were on the clock did we have our first meaningful attempt. Ryan James working hard down the right hand side found himself with no where to go, however Michael Trann drop in to want the ball, Ryan passed back then Michael into NAthan Stout who took a sublime touch with his back to goal to dink it outside of his boot passed the defender and then smash the ball into the net. It was a quality finish.
Deal kicked off and started to get into the game a bit, getting in behind the Vikings defence on a number of occassions however we managed to clear the danger.
Hugin with a long clearance won a corner which was taken and cleared, then Ryan James picked it up, played a lovely pass to Ben White who then crossed to Jack Brown to lash home the ball on the volley to make it 2-0.
Not more than a couple of minutes after the restart, Reece cleared the ball long, Ben White again flicked onto Nathan Stout who smashed home the ball for 3-0.
At 3-0 up complacency seemed to creep in, and Deal took advantage getting a goal back to make it 3-1 half time.
The second half got underway and just like last week Deal took the initiative and wanted the ball more, all of a suddent they were a different team. Hugin Vikings were hanging on to the lead. Deal pressed and pressed and it weren't long before they got a second goal to make it 3-2. This was becoming a nervy finale to the game.
Deal pressed and won another corner, the ball was whipped in, Brandon Dackombe headed the ball out only to see it hit Jack Brown and richochet into the goal to make it 3-3.
At this point Deal had the momentum and looked like going on to win.
Deal won another corner, this time it was cleared from danger, Nathan Stout sending Ryan James clear down the right hand side who crossed into Ben White to slot home only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.
Deal came forward again looking for the winner, Mason Brown and Brad Matthews stood firm in the middle, this time clearing to Ryan James who took his player on, lost the ball then fought back to win the ball back and send Nathan Stout through who smashed it home for his hat-trick.
With only minutes to go, we countered again, this time Finley Regan having a long range shot saved byt the keeper who only managed to parry the ball into Nathan Stouts path who gladly side footed the ball home again for 5-3.
Well played again to all the lads today, even when pegged back you never gave up.
Man of the match was Nathan Stout, however we were good all over the pitch today.
Have a great Christmas and don't eat too much Turkey !!
