Posted: 21st ~ February ~ 2009

A determined performance saw Harold Wood take a crucial 3 points against run away league leaders Shell club.

Wood got off to a flyer scoring in the opening 10 min when midfield architect Rafis fed Munday on the left. Mundays drilled cross was met from 6 yards by the work hungry Huckstepp giving the Shell keeper no chance. Wood continued to turn the screw playing a quick pass and move game to the delight of very senior head coach Robinson. Rafis and Wettner both came close before excellent work from impressive debutant Sawyer saw Munday head over from a yard out leaving boss Hammond with his head in his hands. Shell, with the advantage of the Everest incline, finally came to life and had a penalty appeal waved away after an impeccably timed tackle from new boy Todd. A resolute back 4 saw off a succession of free kicks with Shell only really creating a headed half chance but wood rallied and finished the remainder of the half the stronger.

The second half started equally as well for wood when the busy Munday intercepted a cross field pass and fed pocket dynamo Huckstepp who coolly ran in on goal and despatched from 10 yards. How woods attacking players could have used Huckstepp's know-how as chance after chance was squandered. Rafis twice missed when it seemed easier to score and Wettner came close after linking with partner Huckstepp. Shell struggled to play their favoured flowing football but did force an excellent save from keeper Worsdel after an attack on the break. The only other half chance from the visitors came when an airshot from Smy could have let in a more alert Shell forward but Smy, totally blameless, explained away the mishap as he was put off by a shout from great grandfather figure Robinson.....

Three quick substitutions by manager Hammond looking for more goals saw the ever dependant Holliday and the rehabilitated Manzi replace woods front line with Hayes coming on for Munday who has yet to complete a full 90 for Harold Wood. Sawyer grew in stature giving the Shell full back a torrid time down the right hand side and provided more telling crosses which Woods forward line failed to capitalise on. Manzi's usual lightning pace seemed to have been left on the physio bench when he only managed to run himself into an upright with the goal beckoning and more wayward efforts from a variety of Wood culprits were blasted either high or wide of the Shell goal.

2-0 didn’t tell the full story with manager Hammond happy but rueful saying "it could have been a lot more." Excellent perfomances from a host of Wood players including Rafis, Munday, Wettner, 2 goal Hucksted and Sawyer but for reasons of his own, Hammonds man of the match somehow went to new boy Todd who will have busier days at the office.

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