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McCarthy
Industries ensured their fans enjoyed the
bragging rights over bitter rivals the Diamonds,
as they triumphed 18-16 away at the Dolphin. In
the most anticipated match in Hamsters history,
McCarthy kept faith with 5 of the 7 players used
in Tuesdays victory over Marle Place. The
player-manager, despite still carrying an ankle
knock, started in goal, while Kieran Elliott and
Bert Lloyd played at the back, with
Peter Chapman partnering captain Dan
Collin in attack. Both sides came into the game
on the back of victories, and in the run up to
the game both McCarthy and Diamonds manager Oli
Wright had been trying to gain the advantage in
the press with a number of psychological blows.
With
the roof shut at the Dolphin, it would make for
an intimidating atmosphere, and it proved to be
the case as the match got under way. However,
the visitors couldn't have wished for a better
start, as McCarthy gathered the ball, and a
throw up pitch saw Dan Collin volley home to put
Mac Industries in the lead. Shortly after, the
Dolphin was silenced even further, as a Bert
Lloyd shot flew back off the perimeter wall, and
fell straight at the feet of Collin, who
finished neatly past the helpless Wright for his
and the Hamsters second of the evening. Despite
this bright start, the Diamonds started to take
control with a number of neat passing moves, and
they soon got back into the game, as McCarthy
was caught out by the perimeter wall, and Tom
Binstead was left with a simple finish to make
it 2-1. The Diamonds nearly made it 2-2, as
ex-Lindfield man Mark Potter saw McCarthy get
the faintest of touches on his volley, with the
ball rebounding off the post and trickling along
the line. It was a let off for the Hamsters, and
the Diamonds made the warnings count, as a
powerful run from Joe Sturgess saw him deliver a
ball across the box, which allowed Binstead to
slot him for his second of the game. Hamsters
captain Dan Collin nearly put the visitors back
in the leader, but the shot he produced after a
tricky run flashed narrowly past the post.
Potter was unlucky not to score again, as his
shot was this time saved at full stretch by
McCarthy, who then cleared the ball straight
into the genetalia of pitch side cameraman Henry
Thacker. The Diamonds did take the lead though,
and it was the talismanic Binstead who wrapped
up his hat-trick, as a late run into the
Hamsters half saw his shot deflected past
McCarthy by Kieran Elliott. Mac Industries got
straight back into it though, as Dan Collin's
shot from kick off was spilled by goalkeeper Oli
Wright, and the ball dropped into the Diamonds
goal to make it 3-3. Bert Lloyd continued his
goal-a-game record as he intercepted a through
pass, before letting rip with an unstoppable
drive from distance to send the traveling
Hamsterites delirious.
McCarthy
was soon called into action again, as Binstead
hit a powerful volley that the player-manager
managed to stop, but after confusion in the
area, the goalkeeper and striker collided as
McCarthy flew into a challenge, leaving Mark
Potter to pick the ball up and slot into an
empty goal, despite claims he had entered the
area. The collision left McCarthy injured as his
damaged ankle took a blow, and as he received
treatment a video replay was used to determine
that Potter's goal should stand. Tom Binstead
then showed why he is one of the most feared
strikers in the country, as a cleverly placed
shot left McCarthy with no chance. The Hamsters
were soon back in it at 5-5 though, as Kieran
Elliott's shot from distance was saved superbly
by Oli Wright, but the re-bound fell straight to
Collin, who struck the ball him. The Diamonds
were not phased though, and with the
encouragement of a packed Dolphin behind them,
raised their games again, this time it was
Potter who turned Elliott inside out before
laying the ball to Tom Binstead, who gratefully
struck home his 5th of the night to put the home
side 6-5 up. Mac Industries nearly pulled it
back though, but Oli Wright kept his side in it
with a fine save after a good run and shot by
Bert Lloyd. The Diamonds soon moved 2 goals
ahead, as a Potter through ball saw Binstead yet
again have a free run at goal, and he made no
mistake, slotting past McCarthy. Peter Chapman
thought he had made it 7-6, but his goal, after
a good pass by Bert Lloyd, was disallowed as he
had entered the area. With Oli Wright marauding
out of goal, McCarthy saw his chance to score,
but his sweetly struck shot was saved by the
flying feet of Tom Binstead, proving that he
does not just score goals. It was soon 7-6
though, as Lloyd played in Chapman, who saw his
shot re-bound off the wall, allowing Collin to
net past the stranded Wright. Peter Chapman was
soon on the score sheet, as a clever move by Mac
Industries saw Bert Lloyd and Dan Collin link up
to supply the experienced striker with the
chance to score. The Hamsters soon went into the
lead again, as another long shot, this time from
Kieran Elliott, was blocked, and the ball fell
to the poacher Collin, who put the visitors 8-7
up. However, in similar fashion to how the
visitors scored early on in the game, the
Diamonds made it 8-8 straight from kick off, as
Binstead laid the ball off for Potter to strike
home and send the teams in deadlocked at half
time
A
stern team talk was held in the away changing
room at half time, and McCarthys words obviously
had some effect, as the Hamsters began the 2nd
half with all guns blazing. It was the
player-managers throw that found Collin, who
controlled it impeccably and fired home past
Wright to make it 8-9. It was soon 8-10 though,
as Peter Chapman saw an effort fly across the
goal, but a clever piece of skill from Dan
Collin saw him back-heel the ball across goal,
leaving Wright stranded and allowing Chapman to
net his second of the night into the open goal.
Kieran Elliott soon got on the score sheet with
a trademark goal, as he played a one-two with
Chapman, before letting an unstoppable effort
from distance rocket into the corner of Wrights
goal. It was soon 12-8, as the Hamsters began to
show why they are such a deadly team, as Bert
Lloyd played through a superb pass, allowing
Collin to take the ball round Wright and add
another goal to his collection. With the
Diamonds heads dropping, it was all Mac
Industries, as Bert Lloyd intercepted a cheeky
scooped pass from Sturgess, before taking the
ball on to fire past Wright. Another clever
throw from McCarthy saw Collin released, and he
was able to volley home past Wright to make it
14-8 to the visitors. The Diamonds realised that
an increased effort would need to be made, and
it was Sturgess who lead the retaliation. A good
save from Wright saw the ball drop to the
powerful utility man, and he fired an
unstoppable shot into the roof of the Hamsters
net. Inspired, it was Tom Pashley who became the
supplier, as he won the ball from Chapman before
playing it into the unstoppable Binstead, who
scored after a clever turn. Oli Wright kept the
score down with a smart save after a one-on-one
with Collin, and the Hamsters, who has slackened
off realised an increased effort would be needed
as the game was far from over
It
was McCarthy who was the supplier, as he laid a
pass into the feet of Elliott, whose shot ended
up with the ball in the bottom corner to make it
15-10 to the Hamsters. Peter Chapman showed the
work rate that made him a favourite at the
Hamsters back in the 90's, as he won the ball
back for Elliott to play a clever pass for
Collin, who slotted the ball home to make it
16-10. Dan Collin turned provider, as another
neat pass saw Peter Chapman played in, and he
secured his hat-trick at the second attempt, after
Wright pulled off a good save. Pashley and
Binstead were beginning to link up well up-front
for the Diamonds, and despite the 7 goal
advantage, the match was far from over. A clever
pass from Pashley found Binstead, and he was
able to beat McCarthy. The same 2 Diamonds
players linked up again, as Pashley harried
Elliott down the line before putting a cross in
for the Diamonds forward to net yet another
goal. An Oli Wright throw found its way to
Pashley, and he was able to make it 13-17, and
he was on the scoresheet again moments later, as
a clever piece of dribbling by Binstead allowed
the Diamonds to make it 14-17. Scott McCarthy
was forced into the save of the night, as he
somehow managed to turn away an effort from
Pashley, but their was nothing he could do as
Binstead grabbed his 10th of the night with a
shot on the turn. Kieran Elliott nearly grabbed
another the Hamsters, but his shot from distance
was well saved by Wright. He did eventually wrap
up that hat-trick though, as good work by Collin
saw the defender able to fire home a fine volley
to beat Wright. The Diamonds ensured it would be
a nervy last couple of minutes though for the
visitors, as a clever piece of link up yet again
between Pashley and Binstead saw Binstead make
it 16-18 with his 11th of the night. But that
was the way it finished, as the Hamsters grabbed
the advantage going into the second leg at the
Cage in one of the most entertaining games of
football that Mid Sussex has ever seen
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