Ackland pleased with a draw in ‘bitty’ Thatcham game
MANAGER Danny Ackland declared it a “fair result” after Hartley Wintney drew at home to Thatcham Town in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday.
Both clubs finished with less than the full complement of players due to red cards and an injury.
But after last week’s 6-2 away defeat at South Park, Ackland was satisfied with his players’ response.
“I was pleased with the draw, most especially after the result last week,” the Row manager said. “The perfect start obviously with such a quick goal. However, as is often quoted sometimes it does not work out when you score so early.
“Following the recent drop in form the team was obviously lacking in confidence. I’m disappointed with the two goal conceded. We possibly could have defended better.
“The second half was very bitty and the game never really got going. We put in a very decent finish and could have won it. However Thatcham could feel same with the late lob. All in all, it was a fair result.”
There was an explosive start to the match as the Row scored with their first attack with a few putting the time from kick off at 16 seconds. Tayo Oyebola got free down the middle and squeezed in his shot.
On 11 minutes Hartley came close when an effort from the edge of the penalty are from George Wallace went just wide. The Kingfishers came close on 19 minutes when a cross from Samuel Tanner found Muhamadou Ceesy who saw his close range effort blocked.
Thatcham continued to press and a minute later pulled level. A corner on the right from Kyle Daniel-Spray found Ceesy who saw his downward header bounce down and up into the roof of the net.
Hartley almost retook the lead on 26 minutes when Mason Obeng freed Wallace down the left and the perfect low cross saw Oyebola just unable to convert. A minute later Ellis Orsborn and Adam Payce combined down the right and the low cross from the latter eluded three Hartley played rushing in.
Play moved to the other end and a cross from Tanner found Basim Mirahmasebi who shot wide. Thatcham gained the ascendancy and went ahead on 42 minutes. A cross from the right by Jordan Brown saw the Hartley defence unable to clear and Mirahmasebi took full advance to shoot home from close range.
Into added time at the end of the first half and the Row equalised. A through ball found Oyebola behind the Kingfishers defence. The striker attempted to round the Thatcham goalie Callum Smart but was clipped by back tracking defender Clive Gwavava. The central
With just 30 seconds left on the clock South London equalised to send the game into extra-time.
The boys were exhausted after giving so much in the game but somehow found the energy to go 3-2 up through Kayden DadiSessegnon but South London again hit back twice to make it 4-3, with time running out Sessegnon powered home the equaliser to make it 4-4 with the game destined it seemed for penalties,
Thatcham defender was given a straight red card.
Conor Lynch stepped up and scored the resulting penalty kick.
The second period became a drab affair with many pauses in play. On 55 minutes Hartley were awarded a freekick some 25 yards from goal. George Winser took the kick and his shot beat the wall but went just wide of the post.
On 71 minutes the team numbers were levelled up after Charlie Wagstaffe for the Row received a second yellow card and an inevitable red card sent him from the field of play.
Five minutes later a long run from Winser saw a pass to Lynch who saw his effort blocked.
Thatcham were reduced to nine players when Kyle Daniel-Spray had to leave the field with a shoulder injury and all the substitutes had been used.
Into added time and both sides almost fashioned a winning goal. A cross from the right by Mo Jallow for Hartley found Wallace whose effort went just wide.
Almost at the end of added time the Kingfishers almost snatched a winning goal. A long ball forward saw indecision in the Row defence and Owen Clark nipped in and sent a lob which went just over the crossbar.
Hartley Wintney are away to Northwood on Saturday.