Bengeo Tigers FC

A proverbial six-pointer against the league leaders is not ideal after a two week break, and preparations were upset further when keeper Jack Edwards was ruled out with illness, which meant Nick Sheffield deputised, with Charlie Edwards dropping back into the back four.

The visitors were straight on the attack, and in the first few seconds, Nick Sheffield made a fine save with his feet, and Neal Rowe cleared another danger soon afterwards. Wheathampsted came close again in the 5th minute, but this time Daniel Skyte was on hand to clear. Bengeo had their first effort on goal in the 12th minute, when Tom Deamer finished off a good run with a shot which was saved.

Further changes to the side were necessary in the 18th minute, when Neal Rowe was carried off with a knee injury following a challenge, and Nat Turner reverted to centre half. Wheathampsted went close again 7 minutes later, with a shot that went wide but Bengeo ended the half having a good spell, with a Tom Deamer free-kick that went over, and both Georgie Hunt and Charlie Edwards testing the keeper.

At the start of the second half, the visitors latest effort to open the scoring was blocked for a corner by Charlie Edwards, and from this resulting corner, another easy chance was missed. Tom Deamer, who was having a fine game down the left hand side, went on another good run, but again saw his attempt foiled.

On the hour mark, Georgie Hunt went on a good run into the box, and was brought down from behind. Charlie Edwards stepped up to smash home the resulting penalty, to put Tigers one up. A chance to finish the game off came 9 minutes later, when a great ball by Jake Buzzing found Georgie Hunt again, but this time the keeper came out and blocked at his feet. This was to prove an important save, as two minutes later a hopeful lob from the right hand side by a Wheathampsted forward found the far corner to level the match. Worse was to follow a few minutes later, when a cross from the left took a wicked deflection into the path of an onrushing forward, who headed the visitors into the lead. A flattering third goal for Wheathampsted however, was denied by a headed goal line clearance by Charlie Edwards.

This was a disappointing result in a game which Tigers deserved something out of, especially when you consider the illness and injuries disrupting the line up.