Bengeo Tigers FC

The recent Sumatran tradition of welcoming our visitors with good weather continued today as third division Hormead Hares visited Sele School in the county cup second round match on a beautiful autumn day. Hormead had scored 30 goals in their first three league and cup matches this season and that record suggested that this was no ordinary third division side.

Richard Andrews took over the captain’s role in the absence of Jack, who was off with an injury. Completing the defence were Zack, Kyle and Ben with Sam Milne starting in goal. With midfield holding player Joe still recovering from a head injury, Craig took over the roll with James Levy and Robert to his sides. James Brett and Calum manned the wings and Tyler was the lone striker. This slightly cautious approach gave the Sumatrans time to sound out the unknown quantity of our visitors. Andrea, Tobi and Sam R started ‘on the bench’.

In the eigth minute a strong run from Robert culminating in a fiercely struck shot forced a good save from the Hormead keeper. A quick counter by our visitors was gathered well by keeper Sam.

James L found himself in the thick of the action and was awarded a free kick at the edge of the area. James Brett stood up to take the kick, but the resultant header was put just wide of the post.

In the 21^st minute a Hormead striker found himself some space just outside the box, to hit a high rocketing shot, which Sam couldn’t reach. A cracking strike to put our visitors into the lead. Andrea replaced Calum on the right wing after 20 minutes and within moments came close, just putting the ball wide. Moments later, James Brett put in a superb cross and with the keeper beaten, Andrea couldn’t quite make it in time to tap the ball in an empty net. Tobi (on for Tyler as Robert was pushed forward), working hard in the midfield, put in a strong challenge to win the ball. A perfectly weighted pass to Andrea saw him coming close again for the third time in minutes. Although it wasn’t all one way traffic, the Sumatrans were starting to get hold of the midfield and were becoming a constant threat to the Hormead goal.

Half time saw no changes and it was Hormead who had the first goal attempt when Sam M was forced to make a good save. An excellent counter by the Sumatrans saw Robert pick the ball up on the half way line outpacing everyone to get close in on goal. The Hormead keeper made a good save, but wasn’t able to gather. Robert, following up, sniffed a second chance and made sure to put the scores level.

One of the best Sumatran moves of the game was started by Zack at left back who put a through ball to Tobi, Tobi to Robert who passed out to Andrea on his right, Andrea’s shot forcing another good save from the in form Hormead keeper. By now, the Sumatrans had a firm grip on the game and were pressing hard for the lead with the Hormead keeper being in the thick of the action. James Levy nearly latched on to an Andrea cross with the Hormead keeper just getting to the ball in time. The organised Tigers defence, marshalled by captain Richard, ensured that keeper Sam R (having replaced Sam M) was hardly troubled. Craig, James L and Tobi worked hard to keep up the pressure with both James Brett and Andrea working well from the wings. In the 65^th minute, Andrea got the goal he deserved firing a superb shot from just inside the box to take Tigers into a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later, Andrea netted again having received a perfectly weighted ball from Tobi. The scoreline stayed at 3-1 to give Tigers a deserved victory.

In the first half, Tigers had come under a lot of pressure from a well organised Hormead side, but as the game went on Tigers got stronger and grabbed control of the midfield, once again showing that hard work usually does pay off. Well done to all the boys on progressing to the next round of the County Cup.

Tiger’s men of the match today were Craig Webb and Tobi Odusina

Mick Barber