Saturday saw another Derby game following last weeks 2-1 away win as Hambledon welcomed Milford and Witley to Badger Park.

Jack Field was missing so Louis Alderton came in for his first team debut.
Turner took the no10 while we welcomed back Greg Lyall from what seemed to be a 5 month suspension!!

The manager and assistants message was clear; let’s see if they can defend under early pressure. Be compact and make the ball do the work.

The Dons started on the front foot and looked comfortable on the ball early on.
Josh down the left was showing intent and beat his man inside 5 minutes whipping in a cross which was defended well.

8 minutes in and it was 1-0. A Will Grove cross from just inside M&W half wasn’t cleared by the centre half- Kuda Kamoto reacted quickly and with silky footwork to cut back inside & leave the defender stranded before calmly slotting away.
1-0 Kuda

With 15 minutes played and Milford doing there best to get at the Dons, they won a corner. Suddenly when the ball was in flight, the ref blew his whistle and awarded a penalty.
Cal Roots was judged to have ‘held his man’ to everyone’s surprise- even the Milford lad laughed it off! On review of the footage the ref got this one wrong. Simple as that, it wasn’t a penalty.
However the Milford cm stood up and struck the ball to Will Edwards left hand side who got down quickly to make a superb save!

Not long after and the home side were 2-0 up. Following the break down of a Milford attack Louis Alderton broke free down the right and got away from his man before driving into the box and squaring the ball to Kuda Kamoto who thrashed the ball into the left hand corner.
2-0 Kuda

Turner was pulling the strings in behind Kuda and after winning a header on the half way line played a 1-2 with Josh who got a shot away but dragged it wide.

Turner did make an assist moments later though, when a loose ball was collected by Louis in the centre of the pitch and played a 1-2 with Turner before nutmegging the keeper and scoring on his first team debut!
3-0 Louis

A fourth came and Hambledon were running riot.
It was turner who popped the ball back to James Mariner who lofted the ball over the defence- Kuda with work to do used his body to judge the flight of ball before cheekily chipping it over the keeper.
4-0 Kuda and Hat trick

Just before the break Milford pulled one back. A corner was dealt with but when the ball was swung back in the Dons switched off and the left winger reacted quicker than everyone else to tap home from 6 yards.
4-1 and HT

Greg Lyall came on for Chris Turner at HT.

No5 came courtesy of a long ball from Will Grove and the rest was worked by Kuda Kamoto. He took down the ball and squared his man up before shifting the ball onto his left foot and slightly lifting the ball over the keeper into the right of the goal.
5-1 Kuda

Kuda was given a rest after that goal and Matt Metcalfe came on.
The Dons had lots of chances and Louis could have got a second but his shot was right at the Keeper.

A free kick from the left hand side was dispatched perfectly by Cal Roots and James Mariner ghosted in unmarked at the far post to tap in.
6-1 Mazza

If the game wasn’t hard enough for Milford it just got harder when their striker pushed Cal Roots in the face after a challenge and already on a yellow saw himself sent off.

Charlie Reddick was introduced for Louis Alderton who impressed on his debut.

Number 7 came from Matt Metcalfe following a turner over of possession inside Milford’s half. Josh won the ball back and drove toward goal down the centre. Cal made a great run down the left and after Josh played him in Cal played the ball across goal for Metcalfe to slot home from 8 yards out.
7-1 Metcalfe

A few more chances fell to Josh and Charlie who couldn’t convert but with 10 to go Gaffa Will Grove put the icing on the cake.
After Cal Roots and Luke Winter told Will Grove to get in the box, the defended free kick was punched by the keeper but Will was on hand to volley into the top corner with his left foot.
Some say it was Dani Alves esc!
8-1 Grover and FT

A great display from Hambledon barring one moment switching off for the goal.
Top save from Will Edwards at a crucial period on the game and the finishing was lethal from all today- notably Kuda Kamoto.

MOM Kuda Kamoto

A weeks rest before another local Derby against in form Chiddingfold.

COYD