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Mac
Industries opened the 2005-2006 season with a
hard earned point, following a 3-3 draw with
Hove Old Boys at the Hamsters Cage. McCarthy
handed a home debut to Kevin Ticehurst, as he
partnered Peter Chapman in the the attack.
Youngster Ben Walmsley was given a rare start
alongside Bert Lloyd in midfield, while Doug
Lane played at the back alongside Kieran
Elliott, signed on-loan from Mierosoft. With
Scott McCarthy out with ankle ligament damage,
Dan Collin played in goal, and with Tom Walmsley
also sidelined with an on-going knee problem,
the long haired one was handed the captains
armband
As
expected, it was the visitors who made most of
the early running, and as was the case when the
two sides met last season, they dominated the
opening stages. Going forward, the Hamsters
looked disjointed, as Ticehurst and Chapman
struggled to put together any form of
partnership. At the back, it was Lane and
Elliott who stood out early on, as they
valiantly defended, given Collin the protection
he needed due to his inexperience between the
posts. It was Hove Old Boys who took the lead,
with a sweeping move from one end of the pitch
to the other. A goal kick came forward, and the
ball fell to an Old Boys attacker after a stern
challenge from Elliott. The forward played a
quick one-two, before firing the ball through a
crowd players and into the bottom corner of the
net. Not used to being behind having lost only
once all last season, the Hamsters responded in
a buoyant fashion, and attempted to get back
into the game. Hove were still creating the
majority of chances though, and Collin was
forced into a good save after a shot from
distance.
With
Mac Industries offering very little up front in
the game, the only chance they looked to have of
scoring was if a mistake should happen from the
shaky Hove back line. 5 minutes after slipping
behind, and a poor back pass from one of the Old
Boys defenders saw Bert Lloyd nip in, and tuck
the ball past the advancing keeper. Back in the
game, the goal gave the Hamsters the confidence
they needed, and when Peter Chapman went on a
typically mazy run down the right flank, his
cross was perfect for Ticehurst, who saw his
effort hit straight at the keeper. Despite being
more in the game, the visitors were still
troubling the home defence, as Collin was called
into action on several more occasions. Winning
the ball in defence, Peter Chapman then embarked
on another mazy run, this time down his
preferred left wing, and cutting inside he
finished a fantastic individual effort to put
the Hamsters into the lead. 10 minutes later and
the home side went further ahead, with another
early contender for goal of the season. Deep
inside his own area, Doug Lane cleverly spotted
the keeper of his line, and scored a sensational
lob that was met by shock around the Cage. It
shocked the visitors as well, as the Hamsters
sat back, allowing Hove to come onto them, but
they couldn't find a way through the valiant
defence as the half time whistle blew, Mac
Industries going in 3-1 up
The
second half was always going to be a case of
holding on for the Hamsters, but without
Walmsley and McCarthy it was always going to be
a tougher task than last time the two sides met.
Hove Old Boys showed their intent for the half
early on, as Dan Collin was forced into making a
fantastic save following a one-on-one, managing
to divert the ball onto the post. With a
distinct lack of attacking intent from Hamsters,
it was left to Ben Walmsley to try and get a
goal for the home side, and he almost did so,
when he kept the ball in the air before beating
his man and firing in a shot, only to see it
well saved by the keeper. Hove Old Boys
eventually got the goal they deserved though,
afetr Collin pulled off another good save at the
expense of a corner. The keeper opted to punch
the delivery clear, only as far as a Hove Old
Boys attacker, who lashed home his shot to pull
the visitors back into the game. The stand in
captain was kept busy throughout the second
half, pulling off save after save, and in a rare
attacking moment, Kevin Ticehurst showed why
McCarthy rates him, when he threaded through a
fantastic pass which Peter Chapman was inches
from connecting with. With 5 minutes left on the
clock, it was Hove who sneaked the goal though,
as Collin, who had done so well all night, was
beaten at his near post. A tactical change late
on saw Bert Lloyd take over between the posts to
allow Collin to go forward, but it was to no
avail, as the final whistle blew to give both
sides a point on the opening day
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