This game was played in front of a home crowd that could be described as partisan should the word mean “capable of seeing things only one way”. Add to this a home dugout that berated the officials for every decision given against their team and you had a match that was always simmering but, luckily, never boiled over.

It was a game where the Hallen boys needed to stand strong and they did so enabling them to create a host of good goal-scoring opportunities. Had they converted just half of them they would have won at a canter. In the first minute Hallen nearly conceded a goal as they were surprised by the speed and skill of the home winger but Burgess stayed calm and blocked the goal-bound attempt. Hallen then settled down and a good passing move provided Charlton with a decent chance had he not elected to try and chip the keeper. But Hallen were soon to take the lead as Corrick broke down the right side at speed before crossing for Bennett to arrive at speed and hit the ball home from six yards. Hallen continued to be the stronger side as a defender dived to block a shot on the line and an effort from Bament brushed the post. Reid then missed a good opportunity when unmarked as the ball was begging to be headed home from a corner but it was Radstock who looked the more dangerous in the last ten minutes leading to the break.

Early in the second half Radstock equalised when a free kick from twenty-two yards hit the underside of the crossbar and a home player was first to react and put the ball in the net. Hallen were close to regaining the lead in the next minute when a defender was inches away from putting the ball into his own net as we had a passage of end-to-end football. But we gradually took control as Collett allowed the keeper to block with his legs when presented with a one-on-one by Bament. The home keeper was soon in action again as he made a fine save to deny a well-struck free kick from Charlton but was at fault a moment later when he failed to hold a shot from Bament. The ball was presented to Collett who failed to score from four yards as his effort hit the inside of the post and away to safety. Ten minutes to go and Hallen were still creating chances as it was Bennett’s turn to choose the wrong option as he tried to chip the keeper after making space for his shot. With the clock running down, there was still time for a thunderous shot from Bament to hit the underside of the bar and, at the death, the home keeper to anticipate where a header from eight yards was going when the only place should have been the back of the net.

Report by Paul Bywater

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