Hunter the Saviour in 8-Goal Thriller
A bright sunny day and great conditions were the back-drop to this fabulously competitive and free-scoring game at The Nest.
The home side started the brighter of the two teams, retaining early possession and finding openings through the Harriers defence. The new defensive grouping of Mikey Arlett, Ben Hicken, Josh Arnold and George Lillywhite looked comfortable in dealing with Horsley's attackers and played the ball out confidently from the back. Loxwood took the lead through Harry Hunter who had enough space wide on the left to bring the ball in on his right, look up and place a long distance effort around the Harrier's keeper. At the other end, Horsley won a free kick on the edge of the box and struck a well taken effort off the crossbar. The game was end to end for the remainder of the first half with vital saves from both keepers, particularly a fine save to deny Hunter when clean through on goal. Hunter nearly got a second, but his curling effort hit the bar and flew to safety. Five minutes before the break, Loxwood extended their lead. Hunter turned provider this time with a deft through ball for Max Robertson to flick home. With a minute left on the clock, the Magpies looked to have extended their lead further, Hunter playing a searching ball across the face of goal for Tom Pearce to tap in, but the linesman's flag was raised for offside.
Credit to Horsley Harriers, they came out in the second half a different side and within three minutes were back in the game. Finding space between the Loxwood defensive line, their striker ran through to the right of the goal and planted a well struck shot below a diving Eron Welch. Three minutes later, an identical set of circumstances and the identical result gave Horsley a quick-fire equaliser. With their tails up, the Harriers took hold of the game and looked dangerous with almost every attack. Loxwood took a little time to compose themselves once more, but on fifteen minutes found themselves behind. This time, the Horsley striker was put through on the left and from another tight angle found the back of the net through the keeper's legs. Controversy then hit the match when the Loxwood keeper got beaten for pace and brought the Harrier's striker down outside the box. With defensive cover close-by the referee determined that it wasn't a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity and did not warrant a red card. The game grew in tension and competitiveness and Loxwood soon got an equaliser. Hunter used his speed and power to win a fifty-fifty challenge, cut into the box and got a shot on goal. The keeper did well to save, but Robertson reacted quickest to the loose ball to slot home from a yard out for his second of the game. The harriers fought back, and a looping ball into the the Magpie's box evaded the Loxwood defense and was slammed home for the strikers fourth of the match. At the other end, Robertson went down in the box, but the referee waved it away unconvinced that there was enough in the challenge to trip the player. Minutes later, Horsley were awarded a penalty, Louis Horsley adjudged to have brought the Harrier's striker down as he ran through on goal. The penalty was hit hard and low to Welch's left, but incredibly he got down well to deny Horsley a fifth. The last 10 minutes were incredibly tense and with three minutes remaining on the clock, Loxwood had a corner. Hunter delivered a superb cross and Louis Horsley sent a bullet header into the roof of the Harrier's net. Loxwood went in search of a winner, but Hunter was denied by a cool-headed save as a dramatic 70 minutes of football were brought to a close.
Despite the controversy it was a fantastic end-to-end match of football, played with competitive never-say-die spirit from both teams. On reflection, a draw was a fair result in a match that both teams fought hard to win.
Loxwood Tigers: Eron Welch, Josh Arnold, Ben Hicken, Mikey Arlett, George Lillywhite, Tom Pearce, Max Roberston, Tom Lillywhite, Harry Hunter, Louis Horsley, Toby Chandler.
Goals: Max Roberston (2), Harry Hunter, Louis Horsley
MOM: Harry Hunter
The home side started the brighter of the two teams, retaining early possession and finding openings through the Harriers defence. The new defensive grouping of Mikey Arlett, Ben Hicken, Josh Arnold and George Lillywhite looked comfortable in dealing with Horsley's attackers and played the ball out confidently from the back. Loxwood took the lead through Harry Hunter who had enough space wide on the left to bring the ball in on his right, look up and place a long distance effort around the Harrier's keeper. At the other end, Horsley won a free kick on the edge of the box and struck a well taken effort off the crossbar. The game was end to end for the remainder of the first half with vital saves from both keepers, particularly a fine save to deny Hunter when clean through on goal. Hunter nearly got a second, but his curling effort hit the bar and flew to safety. Five minutes before the break, Loxwood extended their lead. Hunter turned provider this time with a deft through ball for Max Robertson to flick home. With a minute left on the clock, the Magpies looked to have extended their lead further, Hunter playing a searching ball across the face of goal for Tom Pearce to tap in, but the linesman's flag was raised for offside.
Credit to Horsley Harriers, they came out in the second half a different side and within three minutes were back in the game. Finding space between the Loxwood defensive line, their striker ran through to the right of the goal and planted a well struck shot below a diving Eron Welch. Three minutes later, an identical set of circumstances and the identical result gave Horsley a quick-fire equaliser. With their tails up, the Harriers took hold of the game and looked dangerous with almost every attack. Loxwood took a little time to compose themselves once more, but on fifteen minutes found themselves behind. This time, the Horsley striker was put through on the left and from another tight angle found the back of the net through the keeper's legs. Controversy then hit the match when the Loxwood keeper got beaten for pace and brought the Harrier's striker down outside the box. With defensive cover close-by the referee determined that it wasn't a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity and did not warrant a red card. The game grew in tension and competitiveness and Loxwood soon got an equaliser. Hunter used his speed and power to win a fifty-fifty challenge, cut into the box and got a shot on goal. The keeper did well to save, but Robertson reacted quickest to the loose ball to slot home from a yard out for his second of the game. The harriers fought back, and a looping ball into the the Magpie's box evaded the Loxwood defense and was slammed home for the strikers fourth of the match. At the other end, Robertson went down in the box, but the referee waved it away unconvinced that there was enough in the challenge to trip the player. Minutes later, Horsley were awarded a penalty, Louis Horsley adjudged to have brought the Harrier's striker down as he ran through on goal. The penalty was hit hard and low to Welch's left, but incredibly he got down well to deny Horsley a fifth. The last 10 minutes were incredibly tense and with three minutes remaining on the clock, Loxwood had a corner. Hunter delivered a superb cross and Louis Horsley sent a bullet header into the roof of the Harrier's net. Loxwood went in search of a winner, but Hunter was denied by a cool-headed save as a dramatic 70 minutes of football were brought to a close.
Despite the controversy it was a fantastic end-to-end match of football, played with competitive never-say-die spirit from both teams. On reflection, a draw was a fair result in a match that both teams fought hard to win.
Loxwood Tigers: Eron Welch, Josh Arnold, Ben Hicken, Mikey Arlett, George Lillywhite, Tom Pearce, Max Roberston, Tom Lillywhite, Harry Hunter, Louis Horsley, Toby Chandler.
Goals: Max Roberston (2), Harry Hunter, Louis Horsley
MOM: Harry Hunter
