20^th Sept. 2007 GroundHoppers 4 – Flamingoes 0

A lethargic Hoppers side, struggled to get their game going, wasting numerous chances in the last third of the pitch. Good chances fell to Andrew Huggins, Barry Gadsdon, Oluka Takan, Stephen Wright, Steven Canfield & Darren Eames. On each occasion Hoppers failed to hit the target with any quality or found the Flamingoes goalkeeper in good form. It was a day when being patient would be important not to concede anything and give Flamingoes a lead. On the odd occasion Flamingoes did get behind the Hoppers defence, they found returning goalkeeper Richard Greig difficult to beat.

Hoppers continued in the second half as they played in the first, dominating play, waiting for that first goal to ease the pressure. That goal would eventually come from Andrew Huggins; A David Rose free-kick, was flicked on by Stephen Wright, Andrew picked up the flick to drive the ball home. This settle Hoppers and the second goal was long following, Oluka Takan who worked tirelessly all game, collected a chipped pass into the box, Oluka wrestled his way clear before thumping the ball into the net, off the underside of the cross bar. Stephen Wright nodded in the third goal from close range; Paul Hooley’s long throw was flicked on by Paul Patten for Stephen to finish. Hoppers continued to create chances, the best falling to Paul Hooley who it the base of the post and David Rose. The final goal was forced in again by Oluka Takan, another David Rose pass found Paul Hooley and the left flank, he beat his marker before driving his cross into the six yard box. Flamingoes threw everything at the ball trying to keep, But the assistant referee was in the right place to see the ball cross the line.

Not a fluent performance, but well deserved points.

TEAM: Greig, Eames, Brown, Patten, Canfield, Huggins(1), Lloyd-Bennett(Hooley), Rose, Gadsdon, Takan(2), Wright(1)