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The
Diamonds game and gained a point from the
Hamsters Cage in one of the most entertaining
games that the stadium has ever witnessed. With
Mac Industries ruined through injury and
illness, Scott McCarthy was forced into making a
number of changes from the side that faced Barca
Babes in their last encounter. With Pete Morgan
out with long-term illness, an undiagnosable
cough, it meant Ian Simpson returned to the
starting line-up. He partnered Doug Lane, who
was given the captaincy for the evening. Usual
captain Robert Jones was ruled out thanks to the
mystery bug that is sweeping the club, which
also claimed Bert Lloyd, who was named among the
substitutes. Kevin Ticehurst started in midfield
alongside Tom Walmsley, while Peter Chapman and
Dan Collin continued in attack. For the
Diamonds, Mike Newman was recalled after a
lengthy spell on the sidelines, while Sam
Sturgess made his debut in the only additions to
the side that was comprehensively beaten 15-2 at
the Cage in the last encounter
A
passionate crowd was packed into the stadium on
this breezy January night, and it was the home
side who started the brightest. A long ball
forward from McCarthy, modeling the new grey and
pink goalkeepers jersey, now available in the
club shop priced £35, found Peter Chapman,
whose header down fell at the feet of Tom
Walmsley. The ex-Southdown Rovers man had no
hesitation in bringing the ball down, before
cracking a sweet right footed drive through a
crowd of players, which Diamonds manager Oli
Wright did well to push round his post. The
visitors showed that they were not at the Cage
to make up the numbers though, as Doug Lanes
attempted back heel out of defence fell to Tom
Still, who combined well with Mark Potter, and
it was Potters shot that flew inches wide of the
Non-Clock End goal. Another long ball forward
from McCarthy was miss-controlled by Joe
Sturgess, and Dan Collin didn't need a second
invitation, as he nipped in, jinxed his way past
the Diamonds defence, only to see his effort
scrape the post and head out for a goal kick. A
quick corner from Walmsley saw Simpson have his
effort saved by Oli Wright, and moments later
the Diamonds took a shock lead, as Tom Binstead
showed what he can do, beating 3 men before
steering the ball past McCarthy to put the
visitors 1-0 up. The Hamsters were instantly on
the attack though, and good link up between
Walmsley and Chapman saw the ball fired across
goal, but there was nobody there to capitalise
on the chance. Simpson then twisted inside and
outside, and found Walmsley, who saw his effort
fly over the bar. A quick throw from Walmsley
was headed partially clear by Joe Sturgess, but
Doug Lane picked up the pieces and saw his
effort fly past the post again, as the Hamsters
continued to rue their missed chances
After
good work by Dan Collin down the right flank,
Oli Wright was forced into receiving a back
pass, which was picked up by Ticehurst. Feeding
the ball forward, Chapman performed a clever
dummy, which left Walmsley was the time he
needed to make it 1-1 with a clever side footed
finish. Moments later it was two, and again it
was Walmsley who powered forward with the ball,
before firing a rocket of a shot past Wright and
into the top right hand corner of the Diamonds
goal to put the Hamsters 2-1 up. Mac Industries
soon went 3-1 up, as a Joe Sturgess clearance
was picked up by Tom Walmsley, who exchanged the
ball in a one-two with Chapman, before playing
in Dan Collin for the striker to grab his 24th
of the season and make it 3-1. The Diamonds were
soon thanking their post again, as a clever pass
from Ticehurst found Simpson, who showed his
ability by beating two, before firing in a shot
that came back of the post. Retrieving the ball,
the defender then found Walmsley, who hit a shot
from distance that rebounded off the other post,
and then Chapman had a shot well saved by
Wright. The Diamonds player-manager was
performing heroics, and he was at it again
shortly after, as the visitors midfield was
nowhere to be seen, allowing Simpson to power
forward and fire in a shot that was tipped round
the post. Minutes later he then denied Walmsley,
when Dan Collin played in the midfielder after
picking up a lose pass. Simpson was then allowed
to run again, and he found Chapman, whose shot
was blocked by the legs of Wright. Holding on
for half time, Sam Sturgess attempted to keep
the ball in the corner, but was dispossessed by
Collin, who then knocked the ball past Wright,
only to see Joe Sturgess clear the ball off the
line at the expense of a corner.
Early
into the second half, and it was soon 4-1, after
a good run and shot from Chapman was saved by
Wright, the ball falling to Ticehurst, who fired
it home from close range. A foul on Mike Newman
was waved play on by the ref, and Tom Binstead
was able to pick up the lose ball and play in
Potter, who made it 4-2 with a smart finish past
the advancing McCarthy. It was Collin again who
tested Wright, as he beat two players before
seeing his shot saved by the Diamonds keeper.
McCarthy was soon called into action, as a quick
Diamonds corner found Binstead, whose shot from
distance was parried away by McCarthy. He was
soon at it again, as Ticehurst gave away the
ball, allowing the Diamonds to break through
Newman. His pass found Binstead, whose shot was
pushed over the bar by McCarthy after looking
like it might swirl in. With the Hamsters
starting to struggle, McCarthy took the decision
to introduce Bert Lloyd in an attempt to regain
the midfield battle, at the expense of
Ticehurst. With the first half being Hamsters
dominated, the second was taken over by the
Diamonds, and a clever pass from Still saw
Potters effort dip just over the bar, possibly
through a deflection from Doug Lane, with the
advancing McCarthy stranded. Collin again showed
how dangerous he could be, when he tested Wright
with another shot that was well saved by the
keeper after a clever pass from Simpson. A
McCarthy pass then found Lane, who played in
Collin. The cross from the striker was bought
under control by Chapman, who saw his shot beat
Wright, but again the Hamsters were denied by
the woodwork.
The
turning point in the match though came as Bert
Lloyd turned purple due to the combination of
his cold and the mystery bug, and was unable to
carry on. Re-introducing Ticehurst meant the
Diamonds would always have a chance, and so it
proved, when the former Portslade Dolphins man
gave away the ball to Potter. He advanced
forward, and put in a delightful cross to
Binstead, whose powerful effort was kept out by
the reflexes of McCarthy. Ticehurst then gave it
away while attempting to clear after the save,
and Still was able to play in Potter, who beat
Simpson, and fire away a shot that looked
destined for the bottom corner, until McCarthy
flew from nowhere to push it wide. Binstead
finally did get his second though, as he saw his
first effort blocked by Simpson, but then
steered the rebound through a gap in the defence
to make it 4-3. With the Hamsters struggling, it
was no surprise when the Diamonds equalised.
Chapman lost the ball in the corner, and Newman
and Potter combined on a quick counter attack to
make it 4-4 with 5 minutes on the clock. Mac
Industries piled forward, and it was Simpson was
again denied by Wright after another mazy run
and shot. Seconds later, Walmsley laid it off
for the big defender, who was yet again denied
by Wright. The inevitable finally happened
though, as the Diamonds broke through Potter,
and got a goal through someone that we are
unable to identify on the video, to send the
Diamonds fans into heaven. With the Hamsters
down and out and the match having minutes to go,
an unlikely victory looked on the cards. Their
was still a final twist in the story though, as
Walmsley found McCarthy, who had now pushed
himself forward. His pass back to Walmsley
allowed the former captain to play a neat ball
to Chapman, who, in the very last minute, struck
the ball as sweetly as he could past Wright and
into the net to ensure that the Diamonds went
home with only a point.
After
the game, Scott McCarthy had this to say:
"On the balance of things, a draw was
probably fair. After the last match we were
lured into a false sense of security, and
underestimated our visitors at our own peril.
Obviously, the illnesses going around the club,
and the fact that the players lounge now stocks
Strongbow Sirrus didn't help our cause, but
there is no point in forming excuses. We beat
them in possession, we beat them in shots, but
we couldn't beat them in work rate, and that is
why they have got the point. The simple fact is
we failed to take the chances through bad luck
with regards to the woodwork, and through
another superb performance by Oli Wright. They
will obviously be delighted with the point,
while we feel that we have let down a lot of
people with the way we played tonight. That is
now two games without a win, which is something
we need to address. While I think we were the
better side, we have had lots of games this
season where we have not been, and got results.
It balances itself out in the end. But take
nothing away from the Diamonds, they were worthy
of a draw and I hope that they fully enjoyed
becoming only the 4th team to get something from
us at home. As for us, we will learn from these
mistakes and ensure we do everything in our
power to get the 3 points in the next game. KEEP
THE FAITH"
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