An entertaining, yet ultimately frustrating game, finished 1 -1 on Tuesday night under the Lowfield lights. After an upsetting end to the Coggeshall game on Saturday with a dislocated elbow for an opposition player, the team was looking to build momentum with another home game to enjoy against an in-form Burnham Ramblers.

The first half began as a fairly even contest with both sides looking to play forward and break the offside trap. Neither were successful with a flurry of offside calls from the eagle-eyed linesmen. With half an hour gone, Hoddesdon started to find a bit of rhythm and were carving out some chances with Connor Casey coming close and Bolton and Brown both probing down the flanks.

Half time came with the scores level. The second half started with Hoddesdon starting to dominate possession more and getting into the Burnham defensive half with increased purpose. Cue a series of Hoddesdon corners with a Blue Gallagher and George Hamill combination delivering into box were the Burnham keeper had to be on his guard. However, it was in the 56th minute that the pressure found its prize. It was another corner delivered from the left by George Hamill , headed back across goal by Reece Barnett and top scorer Connor Bolton diverting into the net with his head to give Hoddesdon a well-deserved lead. You can see that goal here.

The Hoddesdon pressure continued and on 67 minutes, Connor Casey found himself one-on-one with the Burnham keeper. He ably rounded him only to be pulled back by the ankles and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Here was the chance to put the game out of sight.

Unfortunately, a rare moment of misjudgement from taker Connor Bolton led to an attempted emulation of the recent “on the whistle, no run up pen” from Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara, but with the keeper reading it AND the ball being sent wide of the right-hand post. It was a “head in hands” moment and not a good time to have attempted this one. He’s having a stellar season though, and it only fired his energy for the remainder of the game. Alas, it was the start of luck deserting the Lilywhites from this point and good build up play went awry every time when the shots came.

When the luck turns, it can really turn and, on 83 minutes, what looked to be a horribly mishit shot from Derek Feyi was so bad that it found Will Hayes wide left who got to the by-line, crossed low, and Noah Hayes deftly diverted past Liam Nugent to make it 1-1. Hoddesdon got busy in response but could not find a shot that really troubled the Burnham keeper, and it finished with the points shared. Hoddesdon had dominated the possession and chances but had failed to control the game. Burnham looked solid and assured and will feel they deserved their point. For Hoddesdon, it feels like two points dropped.

No game this Saturday but we travel to play Hackney Wick on the 15th March and are then at home the following Tuesday for another ‘Lowfield Lights’ game against Enfield Borough. Come and join us!

Up the Hoddy!

HTFC Team: Nugent – Agnew – Riddle – Barnett – Gibbs (c) – Brown – Hamill – Gallagher – Bolton – Collins – Casey (Sterling ‘89).
Hoddesdon Man of the Match: Reece Barnett.