Dave Strachan Knockout Cup
Harold Hill F.C. complete treble
06/05/19
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Harold Hill triumph
With games being called off all over the county due to the excessive rainfall Witham Town once again pulled out all of the stops to ensure that the Division Three League Cup Final went ahead as scheduled.
A minute’ silence was held prior to kick off to remember our life member Winston Potten who sadly passed away recently.
It was new boys Harold Hill F.C. Reserves who triumphed in the end but left it late to secure victory against a dogged White Notley F.C. side.
Harold Hill started the much stronger of the two sides but were restricted to shots from distance which never troubled the White Notley defence.
White Notley’s best chance early on came from a long throw in from the right which was allowed to drift across the Harold Hill penalty area but no one was on hand to apply the finish.
Tim Howlett from White Notley had the first real effort on gaol, when he was allowed to turn in the penalty area but his shot was saved by Fish in the Harold Hill goal.
Kevin Duckworth was then called in to action as he saved well at the feet of Martin Lwasa, as the ball broke to Ronnie Hobbrough, Duckworth was able to recover and safe the follow up effort.
With half tie approaching a back pass from the half way line caused some confusion in the Harold Hill defence with the keeper committed Ed Killin’s effort was blocked
Half Time: White Notley F.C. Res. 0 v Harold Hill F.C. Res. 0
Early in the second half Dylan Murphy thought he had broken the deadlock only to see his shot thud against the Harold Hill cross bar, with the keeper well beaten.
Bruce then crossed dangerously from the right which saw Lwasa’s effort cleared off the White Notley line by Howlett, and Hobbrough’s follow up was blocked, when a goal looked certain.
The game started to ebb and flow and Killin found space on the right of the Harold Hill back line only to pull his effort wide of the upright.
As the game wore on White Notley’s energy level’s started to wane and this allowed Harold Hill to put some sustained pressure on their opponents. On 72 minutes the deadlock was finally broken when a cross from the right was steered into the far corner by Lwala.
Harold Hill continued to dominate from that point and on 85 minutes effectively sealed victory when Bruce was on hand to force the ball home.
There was time for Hollbrough to add a third when a defensive error allowed him to score on 88 minutes.
Full Time: White Notley F.C. Res. 0 Harold Hill F.C. Res. 3