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Mac
Industries couldn't have asked for a better
start to the season, as they comprehensively
beat arch rivals the Diamonds 9-1 in front of a
capacity crowd at the Hamsters Cage. Despite his
busy close-season in the transfer market,
McCarthy only named one new signing in his
starting line-up, with former Diamond Joe
Sturgess coming in for his debut against his old
employers. Former Youth Team keeper Jack
Simpson, signed on pro at the beginning of this
season, started the game in goal, with Will
Collin and captain Bert Lloyd at the back.
Sturgess played in his favored deep midfield
role, with Peter Chapman, and Neil Kane, who
very nearly joined the Diamonds, being given his
home debut in a three man midfield. Dan Collin
began the game up front, while the management
duo of Scott McCarthy and Doug Lane sat the game
out on the bench
The
match began at a fast pace, and it was obvious
that Kane was keen to prove his worth on his
home debut and show the Diamonds exactly what
they had missed out on, as he earnt the first
corner of the match within two minutes,
following clever link up with Dan Collin. The
Hamsters continued to dominate, and took
advantage of the Diamonds slackness at set
pieces, as highlighted by McCarthy in his
pre-game briefing. A top delivery from Dan
Collin saw brother Will arriving at the back
post, but his volley flew into the Non-Clock End
as opposed to troubling Oli Wright between the
sticks for the Diamonds. Oli Wright showed why
he was a transfer target for the Hamsters, as he
saved smartly from a Dan Collin volley, and Kane
got the better of Mike Newman before drilling an
effort across the face of the goal. With the
Hamsters returning to the formation of the
successful 2004-2005 season, the fluid football
that was once their trademark returned, and it
was another clever piece of play by Kane that
lead to the opener, as he played a clever pass
that allowed Dan Collin to open his account for
the season with a well-taken finish
The
goal was a wake up call for the Diamonds, and
they were nearly level, as the deadly Tom
Binstead saw his effort cannon off the crossbar.
Minutes later, the forward had another
opportunity, as a clever pass from Oli Johnson
saw him played in, but a smart stop from Jack
Simpson ensured it remained 1-0. The youngster
was called into action again, as a mix up
between Kane and Joe Sturgess saw the ball
somehow go in-between both of them, but
Johnson's well hit one-on-one shot was somehow
pushed away by Simpson at the expense of a
throw. It was the young goalkeeper who would
turn supplier for the Hamsters second goal of
the evening, as a routine save and quick throw
saw Dan Collin pick the ball up, and he fired in
an early contender for goal of the season,
volleying the ball past Wright from the half way
line, leaving the keeper with no chance. Minutes
later, and a quick throw from Lloyd saw Collin
pick up the ball, and despite Diamonds debutant
Tom Walmsley's attempts to knock the striker off
the pitch, Collin managed to deliver a superb
cross that saw Kane nip in and round the keeper
to make it 3-0. Will Collin attempted to emulate
his brothers earlier goal with a shocking effort
from inside his own half, that somehow Wright
was forced into parrying over the bar. The big
defender did eventually get on the score sheet
though, as a training ground set piece saw Tom
Still's clearance fall at the feet of the
defender, and he kept the ball up with a number
of fine touches before volleying home. On the
stroke of half time, Tom Binstead again went
close, but another decent save from Simpson
ensured the Hamsters went in 5-0 up at the break
Having
reminded his team at half time what happened
last time the Hamsters had a lead over the
Diamonds at half time, McCarthy must have been
delighted with the start his side made to the
second half. A long kick from Oli Wright was won
by Bert Lloyd, and the lose ball saw a poor pass
from Walmsley intercepted by Kane, who slipped
in Chapman to net past Wright in trademark
fashion. At 6-0, the Hamsters continued to show
determination, but the Diamonds refused to roll
over and die, as a clever interchange of passes
by Mark Potter and Binstead saw the striker
again denied by Simpson. Down the other end, and
Neil Kane went past both Still and Walmsley with
ease, but couldn't find a way past Wright as the
keeper pulled off a decent save. Binstead was
then denied yet again by a double save from
Simpson, before another training ground set
piece saw Neil Kanes header loop inches over the
bar. The midfielder did eventually wrap up his
home debut hat-trick though, as a wonderful
switch of play from Collin saw the Diamonds
defence split, and Kane was able to fire past
Wright. Potter then produced another good save
from Simpson, and the keeper yet again denied
Johnson in another one-on-one situation. Dan
Collin then wrapped up his hat-trick, as the
supporting midfielders of Kane and Chapman
combined superbly to play in the striker, who
slipped the ball past Wright to make it 8-1.
Neil Kane again showed why McCarthy was so keen
to keep him at the club, as he turned the
Diamonds defence inside out, before seeing his
shot superbly saved by Tom Binstead, who was now
between the sticks. The former Hassocks man
though did eventually seal a dream home debut
with a 4th goal of the game, as another superb
piece of distribution from Jack Simpson saw him
able to rifle home yet another volley, to ensure
the Mid Sussex derby ended with a 9-1 victory to
the Hamsters, as they finally laid to rest the
nightmare 5-5 draw in the last meeting between
the sides
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