Back to league action for tonight’s game against Brislington, local rivals whom we have never beaten at Moorhouse Lane in nine attempts. Well, we finally put that one to bed thanks to a strong performance that showed our fitness and dedication to the cause. It was an entertaining game in which Hallen had the upper hand in all departments but found it difficult to score until the visitors showed their frustration and a lack of discipline saw their numbers reduced and from then on there was only one team who was going to be victorious.

Hallen were off to a bad start before the game had even started with Greening injuring himself in the warm up and having to use crutches to enable him to watch his replacement, Joint, give a more than capable performance. Despite the pitch still being hard, heavy late afternoon rain had left a skiddy surface so first-touch control and speed of thought were always going to play their part in what would undoubtedly be a fast game. Hallen were the first to impress as they hurried an over confident visiting back four into making mistakes that could have been costly in the first ten minutes. But it was Burgess who was the first keeper to be called into action as he saved well low down to his right from a free kick after fifteen minutes play. The next minute the ball was skidding around in the Hallen six yard box and we were grateful to Joint and Burgess who worked wonders to ensure the ball failed to cross the line. Hallen’s team work was now reaping dividends as Collett brought the visiting shot stopper into action and Bament missed the post by inches as he shot across the keeper after being set up by Bennett. Despite Hallen looking the livelier outfit we went in for the break with Reid making a goal line clearance showing that the visitors were still in the game.

Brislington started the half with their front men failing to get on the end of two crosses that were delivered from the wings but Bennett was to go the closest when he headed a centre past the keeper only to see a desperate clearance off the line as Hallen were about to celebrate. Just past the hour mark, Brislington were reduced to ten men as a player received his marching orders for verbally abusing the referee and a minute later the visitors were also one goal down when Collett scored from the spot after Bament was hacked down in the area to end a fine run. We then had a spell when things threatened to get out of hand due to over exuberance but things settled down with Hallen bossing proceedings as Bennett shot over the bar and Collett brought another good save from the keeper. In the final moments we should have increased our lead when Bament shot into the side netting ignoring the intelligent run to the near post by Collett and seconds later we hit the same spot again when the chance should have been converted.

Report by Paul Bywater

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