Hayling United 0 - Hamworthy United 4
In what appeared to be mid-winter, (in the middle of August !) with the wind and rain driving from one end of the pitch to the other, Hammer’s skipper Nathan Walker won the coin toss, and opted to play with the conditions for the first half, and what a good decision that turned out to be.
The first five minutes were fairly frantic, with Hayling United trying to keep a high line up the field, and the Hammers finding the ball running away, aided by the wind and very wet surface.
New boys, Hayling United started very brightly, as they were keen to gain their first Premier league points, after defeats against Brockenhurst and Cowes Sports. The Hammers, on the other hand, were keen to improve after only a solitary point in two displays against Cowes Sports and Lymington Town.
From the off, the Hammers looked more balanced following changes from the draw with Lymington in midweek.
Matt Grimason came in at left back and didn’t appear to put a foot wrong. Steve Gilbert moved over to right back, with Williams and Walker retaining their pairing in the centre. Manager Phil Simkin kept the same four in midfield, but this time, Mickey Hubbard played on the right, Jackson on the left, with Kenway and Legg combining through the centre.
Up front, with Jack Swann and Carl Chivers still weeks away following injury, Dan Baguley was recalled to the starting eleven, and he was partnered by Hammers old boy, Warren Byerley, on loan from Gosport Borough, and what a difference a quality pairing makes.
Despite very difficult conditions the team played some good football very early on, Richard Jackson causing a lot of problems with his pace and close ball control down the left hand side. Baguley and Byerley worked well together as a front pair, Byerley always showing the quality of a front man, able to receive the ball into his feet, even when closely marked.
Early pressure paid off for the Hammers, when a corner from the left side was delivered by Mickey Hubbard with pinpoint accuracy, for Nathan Walker to volley home from 6 yards out, a great start after only 7 minutes.
From the re-start, the Hammers robbed Hayling of the ball, and cut straight in on goal, with Jackson setting up Baguley from close in. Baguley appeared to scuff his shot, which was pushed out by the keeper, but Jackson was on hand to place a side foot shot into the open net from about 10 yards out after only 8 minutes. This took the stuffing out of Hayling and they didn’t really recover, but they were still determined, and occasionally they looked dangerous, sometimes aided by poor defending, but keeper Martin Peters was not called upon to make a save.
With the wind and the rain continuing to aid the Hammers, you just thought that two goals would not be enough before the half time break. Midway through the half, Warren Byerley broke through onto the Hayling goal, with only the keeper to beat. With the quality of a top forward that he is, he calmly, and easily deceived the keeper rounding him, before driving the ball into the empty net, leaving the Hayling defence wanting on the wet grass, sheer quality.
Would three be enough ? A few minutes before half time, another vicious corner from Hubbard found Nathan Walker in the box and his glancing header hit the outside of the upright. The fourth goal came just before the break, a cross to the far post finding an unmarked Steve Gilbert. He headed back across the box where Mark Kenway was on hand to smash in his first league goal. Gilbert suffered an injury with his contribution to the goal, and failed to appear for the second half.
The half-time whistle came as a welcome break to everyone, as spectators had no shelter from the weather, as the ‘new’ stand hadn’t arrived in time, so players and spectators alike, were almost soaked to the skin.
Hammers manager Phil Simkin knew that there was every opportunity for Hayling to use the natural elements against his side in the second half. Gilbert was replaced at right back by Mickey Hubbard. Callum Ross-Jennings, on loan from Weymouth, came in on the right side of midfield.
Dan Baguley was flattened on an aerial challenge early in the second half, and was immediately replaced up front by Carl Mutch, goal scorer from midweek.
The Hammers took complete control of the second half by playing a simple passing game, and despite the advantage of the wind and rain, Hayling didn’t look like scoring. There was no addition to the scoring by the final whistle, despite Mutch going close with a well struck shot, saved by the home keeper. The whole team ‘dug-in’ when they had too, constantly with everyone behind the ball, when Hayling were in possession, truly a good team effort, and a worthy victory.
The Hammers will clearly get harder opposition, but the pleasing thing was the whole team performance, and getting that first win under the belt.
Hammers : Peters, Gilbert, Williams, Walker, Grimason, Hubbard, Kenway, Legg, Jackson, Baguley, Byerley Subs : Mutch (Baguley), Lovell, Carmichael, Horlock, Ross-Jennings (Gilbert)
The Hammers entertain New Milton Town at home on Wednesday evening kick off 7:45pm