Richard Huish College (Taunton) 0 Hamworthy United Under Eighteens 3
Understandably, perhaps, the Hamworthy United youngsters failed to settle in the opening 20 minutes of this match, and could have been 2 or 3 goals down in a period where goalkeeper Shaun Lillington made some point blank saves. Eventually, however, superior fitness and some good passing football saw these debutants in the South West Counties Youth League run out very comfortable winners. The game became more even as the Hammers defence became better organised, and also as the heat began to expose the Taunton side’s lack of fitness, the visitors eventually taking the lead late in the first half having previously missed a number of other chances. Dean Macklin jinked along the goal line before crossing to the far post for Josh Reavenall-Nuete to head the ball back to Craig Barnett who finished left footed on the half volley into the bottom corner. Halftime 0-1 The second half, however, was a different story with the Hammers completely dominating the game, creating numerous chances, almost at will, and scoring two further goals. Right back Mark Seal popped up on the far post swivelling on a free kick from Craig Barnett before placing his shot low past the keeper into the bottom corner and Dean Macklin added the third, again following a free kick, controlling the ball on his chest before volley into the net. The Taunton goalkeeper then kept the score respectable, making some excellent saves, notable from Richie Norris who had an effort brilliantly tipped onto the bar a point blank range, and Craig Barnett who saw his volley from the edge of the box pushed around the post. Fulltime 0-3
Team: Lillington, Seal, Smith (Rex), Byrne, MacDonald (Capt.), Chappell (Holden), Barnett, Norris, Reavenall-Nuete (Haskell), Macklin, Cooper-Blayney