Harrison Cage’s summer in fighting shape is already paying handsome dividends for Hoddesdon Town, with the midfielder producing a knockout performance to claim the Greene King Level Head IPA Man of the Match Award following Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-1 victory over FC Baresi at Lowfield.

Cage was superb throughout an entertaining First Division South encounter, but it was his breathtaking equaliser shortly before half-time which provided the moment everyone inside Lowfield was talking about long after the final whistle. Hoddesdon eventually secured all three points through debutant Ollie Babbage’s stoppage-time winner, a result which sent Simon Riddle’s unbeaten side to the top of the league with ten points from their opening four matches.

Harrison Cage

The evening had initially threatened to become a frustrating one for Town after FC Baresi struck first through Israel Kabengele in the 19th minute. Hoddesdon, though, refused to panic and continued to play their football, with Cage increasingly influential as the hosts looked for a route back into the contest. That route arrived just before the interval, and it did so in spectacular fashion. In the 43rd minute, Connor Bolton received the ball following a short pass from a quickly taken free-kick on the left before driving towards the byline and delivering an inviting cross towards the opposite side of the penalty area.

Waiting there was Cage, although what happened next was certainly not the conventional finish expected. Launching himself acrobatically at the ball, Cage produced a magnificent volley which flew powerfully beyond Baresi goalkeeper Ilyas Baig and crashed into the roof of the net to bring Hoddesdon level at 1-1. It was a goal worthy of winning any match, never mind levelling one, and Cage was not finished with the gymnastics either. As Lowfield celebrated, he marked the strike in customary fashion with his now traditional — and increasingly legendary — back-flip celebration, providing another memorable image from a superb night under the lights.

Cage Celebrates His Wonder Strike

Perhaps nobody should have been surprised by the athleticism involved. Cage spent a large part of his summer putting himself through an intense training programme in preparation for a charity boxing contest, swapping football-specific work for rounds in the gym and the considerable physical demands that come with preparing to step inside the ring. We featured Harrison’s boxing preparations earlier in the summer, and the benefits of all those hours of conditioning are now becoming increasingly apparent on the football pitch. He has returned for the new campaign looking exceptionally fit, sharp and powerful, and the work done throughout the close season has seemingly given him an outstanding physical platform from which to attack 2026/27.

With a strong pre-season behind him as well, Cage looks rejuvenated and has quickly become one of the first names on manager Simon Riddle’s team sheet. His energy allows him to contribute at both ends of the pitch, while his willingness to get forward gives Town another attacking outlet without diminishing the defensive qualities required from his role. Tuesday’s display was an excellent example of that balance. The spectacular goal will understandably dominate the highlights, but his Man of the Match award recognised an entire evening of committed running, intelligent positioning and attacking intent rather than simply one extraordinary swing of his right boot.

Cage said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the award, but the most important thing was getting another three points. We went behind and had to show a bit of character, and I thought the lads responded brilliantly because we kept believing we could win the game right until the end.”

On that goal, Cage added: “Connor did really well to get down the line and put a great ball across. It came over at a nice height and I just thought I’d have a go at it rather than try to bring it down, and fortunately I caught it really well. I think everyone knows by now that if I score, the back flip is probably coming out, so I couldn’t disappoint them!”

The Cage Backflip In All It's Glory

There was still plenty of drama to come after Cage’s equaliser, with the match remaining delicately poised throughout the second half. Hoddesdon continued searching for a winner and were finally rewarded deep into stoppage time when substitute and new signing Ollie Babbage marked his debut with the decisive goal, sending Lowfield into celebration and maintaining Town’s tremendous start to the campaign. The 2-1 victory moved Hoddesdon to the summit of the First Division South after four matches, with three victories and a draw giving Riddle’s men ten points and a healthy goal difference of plus nine.

Afterwards, Cage received his Man of the Match award in front of a packed clubhouse, where Chairman Stuart Varney presented him with a well-earned pint of Greene King Level Head IPA, sponsors of Hoddesdon Town’s Man of the Match award.

Stuart Varney Praised Harrison's Performance

Varney said: “Harrison was outstanding and thoroughly deserved the award. Everyone will obviously remember that incredible goal and the back flip afterwards, but his whole performance was excellent and you can see just how fit and confident he is at the moment.”

The Chairman continued: “We all know how hard Harrison worked throughout the summer with his boxing training and he has carried that fitness straight into the football season. He looks like a new man at the moment, he is giving Simon so much energy and quality in that position, and he is setting really high standards every time he pulls the shirt on.”

Cage Spent The Summer Training For A Charity Boxing Match, Raising Funds For A Mental Health Charity

Hoddesdon Town Football Club would once again like to thank Greene King and Level Head IPA for their continued support of the Man of the Match award. Tuesday belonged to the entire Town squad as a dramatic late victory sent Hoddesdon top of the table, but when it came to choosing the standout performer, there could be only one man in the ring.

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