Pardon the pun but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since the Reds last took to the field. Altogether now - 3 Cup postponements, 2 New Signings - Charlie Sheridan (cup-tied for this game) & Callum Scott (Man Of The Match on his debut), 1 Broken Ankle (Dan Bennett ; tough luck mate – get well soon) ……and a Partridge In A Pear Tree!
And so to the game. The re-shuffled Reds knew that this would be their biggest test thus far and so it proved.
The first quarter was end-to-end and Hedge End were very unlucky to have a cross-come-shot disallowed for the ball already having swung out of play before it swung back in again. However, it was The Shots who eventually got their noses in front through Danny Thompson who nudged a through ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Just before half-time the lead was increased to 2-0 by George Marchant who turned-in a perfectly flighted Toby Elsow corner. Straight from the kick-off a brilliant Hedge End move tore the Reds defence apart and a goal looked certain but a fantastic goal line clearance from Reece MacLeay ensured that the Shots held on to their 2 goal cushion as the ref blew for half-time……a potentially match turning moment if ever there was one !
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with both sides looking capable of scoring with each attack. In the end it was The Shots (through another Danny breakaway goal) who increased their lead to 3-0 before Hedge End hit straight back with a similar goal to reduce the arrears to 3-1.
George Patten then appeared to make the game safe for the Reds with a clinical chip over the advancing Hedge End ‘keeper, only for the visitors to score again with a terrific long-range effort which gave Shots goalie, Nathan Woolley, no chance and make it 4-2 with 10 minutes still remaining.
Thankfully though, the defence held their composure, stood firm and never allowed their opponents to get to within a goal. A typically calmly taken goal from George Mann, after rounding the ‘keeper, in the final minute was the icing on the cake.
F/T. 5-2 to the Reds and a 4th Round tie next Sunday with Sherborne St Johns (ironically, Charlie’s old team !!)
Speaking after the game Reds Manager, Russ Woolley, told www.strayshots.co.uk: “I was very pleased with that performance – a true team effort with everyone playing their part.
Having said that I thought the defence was outstanding today. Nathan’s communication and distribution, Callum’s calmness on the ball, George – a rock as usual and Archie Fawcett, after being given such a torrid time by their No 11 in the first 15 minutes, then worked him out so well he was forced to switch wings - and as for Reece, well..." (see above !!)