Report

Not to be – Another loss after a good start

HFC 3 – Penn & Tylers Green (A) 2

Shelly Road, Saturday 22nd November, freshly mown pitches and an autumn breeze in the air. The chugging sound of an old ford transit minibus chugging up Marlow Hill towards Shelly road meant one thing, Penn & Tylers Green were in town. For a first this season, Penn & Tylers Green A's played alongside Penn & Tylers Green Reserves at Shelly road which meant over half the club were present. Penn & Tylers Green A's were visiting HFC in the senior section and the reserves were up against West Wycombe in the Cup.

With plenty of pre-match banter flying around talk was to turn serious as Penn & Tylers Green A's sized up there athletic looking opposition for the day. HFC were starting the day one place below the A's and bottom of the league it was to be a bottom of the table clash fit for Shelly road.

Another strong squad for the A's saw the return of Mitch Andrews from Injury on the bench for the A's along with Nick Williams and Callum. Ginger Lowe also returned to the squad to fit in at centre back with Platty and Aiden returning to reserve team duties. The A-teams squad always growing which is a positive for the club as a whole.

With a fast paced start to the game it was unclear which way it was going to go until 10 minutes in Penn & Tylers Green A's took the lead with some great attacking play and a long throw Greg stuck the ball in the back of the net. Just a couple of minutes later Penn & Tylers Green doubled their advantage with Michael Benning through on goal and finishing well. A good 5 minutes of from Penn & Tylers Green saw them 2-0 up. But HFC didn't lie down and piled on the pressure with wave after wave of attacks and bombarding the A's goal. It wasn't all HFC though and Penn & Tylers Green countered on various occasions and Mikey and Kieran will rue missed chances that went begging.

Just before the break, HFC levelled from a silly corner and goal mouth scramble. Half-time was 2-1 to the A's but HFC were still in it.

With many changes at Half-time for HFC and a revised formation, the pressure only built and again it was wave after wave of attacks. It was an open affair with Penn & Tylers Green also having their fair share, any one on the side-lines watching could have been forgiven for wondering why both teams were at the foot of the table.

With 20 minutes left HFC fired in 2 quick goals to take the lead 3-2 and that was how it was to finish.

A shame for Penn & Tylers Green who did deserve a draw at least. A lot is to be said about the performance of the man in black for the day but sadly I cannot write what I wish.

Penn & Tylers Green look forward to a home tie against Prestwood next Saturday as they look to push on up away from the relegation zone.

Man of the match Rob Chappell