Lightning strikes twice with honours even at Horsley

Just over a month ago, these two sides met in the County Cup and played out a 4-goal thriller which Hambledon then won on penalties.

Hambledon went 1-0 in that game, only to then fall 2-1 behind before a last minute equaliser from Ollie Cummings earned then the shootout. Minus the penalties, surely lightning couldn’t strike twice could it?

With Matt Kiley, Ian Terry and Gavin Montgomery away, Simon Boxall moved into the centre of defence and Seb Jefferies and Matt Balls returned to the squad. Luke Winter generously stepped up to lead the team on a day where advice would be both necessary and welcomed.

On a bitterly cold day, both teams wanted good movement early to get their bodies warm. Hambledon emerged with an uncharacteristically quick start, finding feet well.

Indeed barely 5 minutes had passed when Hambledon broke the deadlock. A long throw in was flicked on by Ollie Cummings, and landed a the feet of Dave Tye 15 yards out. Tye showed great composure to strike the ball into the top corner with the outside of his right foot to give the Dons the perfect start.

This lead was nearly doubled just minutes later the lead with Marlon Gibson’s first time effort from range just going wide with the keeper nowhere to be seen.

The remainder of the half saw Hambledon struggle to keep the ball and they were getting beaten to the punch too often in the 50/50 challenges. This meant they struggled to get the ball up to Wicks and Tye up top.

Around the half hour mark, Horsley capitalised on this inability to keep the ball when they equalised with a cross finding its way through to back post. Their striker then calmly slotted the ball into an open net.

Horsley then hit Hambledon hard, with the Dons really struggling on the heavy pitch and they had goalkeeper Ian Day to thank on more than one occasion with superb saves to deny the home side. .

Half Time: Horsley 1 - 1 Hambledon

Hambledon came out strongly in the second half, immediately actioning their weakness in possession with Goodall and Cummings seeing more of the ball and spreading it wide whenever possible..

Unfortunately, this good work was undone by a momentary lapse bringing a really soft concession. A regulation Hambledon goal kick led to their downfall when Horsley won the header with Hambledon out of shape.

The ball fell to their striker who got a shot away before being brought down by Ian Day. It would have been a penalty but it fell to the other striker to stroke the ball home.

This was frustrating with the Dons having started the half well, but they took it in their stride knowing they could still find a way back into the game.

Matters nearly worsened minutes later as Horsley’s tricky striker floating a shot that hit the bar.

As the game entered the last 15 minutes, Hambledon moved into a 3-4-3 with Seb Jefferies slotting in alongside Paul Wicks and Dave Tye upfront.

The Dons desire never waned and they found themselves in with Tye playing in Adam Appleton who made it into the box before being clipped by a defender. However, he stayed on his feet and squeezed off a shot that the keeper was equal to.

The Reds were livid that the clear foul had not been given as a penalty purely because Appleton stayed on his feet. Sadly these protestations came to nothing.

But Hambledon continuing hammering on the door with corners and long throws troubling Horsley and Ian Goodall almost levelled the scores when the ball dropped to him, but the Horsley keeper pulled off a great save to deny him.

Deep into injury time saw that flash of lightning strike once more. Hambledon won yet another corner and Appleton floated the ball across - Ollie Cummings leapt like a salmon, twisting his neck to fire a superb header into the far corner of net.

Pure delight followed - in a game where the Dons had been outplayed for the majority, they kept their heads and willed their way to an equaliser, refusing to bow down! In what is the Invitation Cup’s group of death, this point could go a long way come the end of the group.

Captain, Liam Tanner said: “Great character and belief shown from everyone. That result really keeps us alive in the group.”

Acting Manager, Luke Winter added: “Superb effort today lads. That’s why when you stick together as a squad, work hard, fight and show passion and commitment for 93 minutes, anything can happen!”

Next week sees the Dons travel to Worplesdon in search of maintaining their strong league campaign.

Full Time: Horsley 2 - 2 Hambledon
Tye
Cummings

MOM: Ollie Cummings