Away to FOBS (East Hanningfield)

AT LAST!!!...on Saturday the VETS finally made the journey into deepest Essex for our division 2 league cup tie against FOBS(East Hanningfield).This game has been hanging in the ether since November,this being the fifth attempt to get it played.With the hosts home pitch still unavailable the venue switched to Witham,and despite some minor navigational problems,the squad,with one exception..(guesses on a postcard please)..all managed to find the place in plenty of time.The pitch itself looked in good nick and was overlooked,appropriately enough,by a spanking new old peoples home..any rumours that Kevin had booked in on a weekend special deal are still being strenuously denied.With a shocking shorts shortage situation satisfactorily sorted we were raring to go.

Our opposition play in the eastern half of division 2 and are not having a great season,so despite this being only our third start since the end of November we were confident of progressing to the last eight.We began the game using a new fangled 4-4-1-1 system and during the opening exchanges it was obvious that this was a game between two teams very short of match practice.Generally scrappy with no player on either side showing any composure in possession,genuine chances were few and far between.Gradually we got a grip on the game and began to pressure the home goal.The best chance to open the scoring coming when Martin T's thumping shot was only parried by the FOBS stopper and Bazza following up managed to shin the ball wide from close in.The opener followed soon after.A slide rule pass setting MARTIN TREADWAY away for a one-on-one with the 'keeper,out of which there was only ever one winner.H-T: FOBS 0 HALE END 1

The gaffer made a few changes at the break and after a shaky opening in which neither team really settled,we began to control the game and carve out some more openings.As the opposition tired another goal for the boys in green looked inevitable.Some great passing was crowned by a deft back-heel from MT into the path of Suhail,whose low strike fizzed inches wide.H also attempted to get on the score-sheet with an outrageous volley from 35 yards out as we pushed for a second.FOBS had lost any spark they had in their play,but we knew at only 1-0 the game was far from in the bag.So the second goal came with a huge sigh of relief as much as anything else.

A Martin T corner on the right. was only half cleared,falling at the feet of Bazza who returned to Martin and his left-footed cross was met at the far post by the boot of TAJU OYEDEJI for 2-0. FOBS completely fell apart,having a man sent off for mouthing off at the ref.We should have had the opportunity to increase our margin of victory when Darren was comically bundled over by a FOBS defender,only for the ref to wave play on.

The home team huffed and puffed but we saw out the final minutes without any discomfort.

Final score:FOBS 0

HALE END 2

Team.G.DOODES, S.WINDEATT, T.BURTON, A.BROWN, B.SMITH, K.WHITWORTH, D.FOSS ,R.GAYLE, S.BUTT, H.HASSAN, M.TREADWAY, T.OYEDEJI, T.GRAVES, P.LAUGHEY, B.HOWARD.

Not a classic showing but after the lack of match action a win and a clean sheet will do very nicely thank you. Tillingham await in the quarter-final and will prove a tougher test,but we know we can massively improve on today's performance. Great to see the return of Roger and Tony.

Man of the match is shared this week. Well done Sean and Trevor.