Sunday 18th November, Finchampstead Hurricanes took on Abbey and the lads put in a shift. Battling with Abbey’s first team to take all 3 points. From the kick off Finch lads looked confident and in control of the game. In contrast Abbey started looking nervous. The shift in the formation to play 3 in the backline and adopt a CDM role to create more presence in the midfield worked. The 5 across midfield and 2 up top were able to keep Abbey on the back foot in the early exchanges. Finch hit the target first with Adam working the ball to the goal line and finding winger Ben M for the near post tap in. Lewis and Jack kept the pressure on in Abbey’s half, giving Abbey no time in their own half whilst Adam and Cam bossed the midfield with Billy covering in CDM.
Abbey rallied and the game was in the balance for spells. Abbey’s initial chances were snuffed out by our pacey defence of Alfie, Jacob and Marcus with James/Nathan and Ben M/Dale covering on the wings. But Abbey persisted and managed to play the ball across Jake’s goal to bundle it in at the back post. Marcus and Adam took knocks towards the half time whistle which game Abbey a bit more time on the ball, but they couldn’t make anything of it. 1-1 at half time.
Marcus and Adam rested up initially as the game restarted. The second half was an end to end game as tired legs on both sides opened up the pitch. Jack’s chasing down the Abbey defence paid off and he picked out Ben M to double the Finch lead.
Abbey did have chances including a point blank shot which went over the cross bar somehow, and Jake dealt with everything else Abbey could throw at the goal, loud and confident!! Including a lob tipped over the bar and a finger tip save pushing the ball onto the upright, which he then caught on the rebound as he hit the ground…..not seen anything quite like it!! The game was put to bed 5 minutes from the end when Cam used his glue-like-feet to walk the ball through the Abbey defence and slide the ball under their keeper. 3-1 and game done!!
Considering Abbey are a strong side and we were missing our main strikers (Ollie/Max) due to injury, the lads worked hard for each other. This was one of our best team performances across the board. The work we have been doing in training on movement off the ball and running into space paid off today. Well done Hurricanes!! Thank you to Nick for running the line, to Dale for helping us out today and for so many of you for coming along to support the team!! The result keeps the Hurricanes in contention with division leaders Virginia Water, just 3 points behind them with a game in hand. Haslemere’s win today puts them in the top 3 with Finch and Virginia Water as the break away group. The Hurricanes remain in 2nd place ahead of Haslemere on goal difference.
Next week is the SPL senior trophy game against Balham at Finch. Balham lost out on penalties to Burpham. The next few fixtures are:
- 25th Nov – Finch vs Balham (spl cup)
- 2nd Dec – Finch vs Burpham
- 9th Dec – Finch vs Finch (home derby)
- 16th Dec – Virginia Water vs Finch
