Heacham vs Mattishall

A grey December afternoon at heacham sports field saw a historical moment for Heacham FC with their first ever appearance in the senior cup. Heacham welcomed Mattishall from the Anglia Premiership a good test for Heacham FC.

Mattishall kicked off and looked very comfortable on the ball passing well and finding their players well which resulted in a free kick being awarded just outside Heacham area with the resulting shot going harmlessly wide.

Heacham then began to find their way and started to win the ball in midfield and after four minutes Heacham first chance fell to Nathan Davies after a fine ball by John Flanagan with the ball being scooped away by the goalkeeper. Mattishall then settled after the early scare and worked the ball down field winning a corner. The ball was cleared by the impressive Edward Tann at the back with the resulting shot flying high and wide.

Heacham then had another chance on five minutes with Jack Defty playing Nathan Davies in who’s shot just found the side netting. Heacham then began to win the midfield battle with Brad Key, Nathan Daws and Matt Goss getting in early tackles and not allowing the visitors to settle and get their passing game going. Then after ten minutes Heacham awarded a free kick which was delivered by Brad key superbly onto Royce Rawlings head with the goalkeeper positioned to safely gather the header. Heacham then had a good period of possession and on 15 minutes a Jack Defty cross found John Flanagan who’s shot was well saved by the goalkeeper. From the corner Jack Defty found himself unmarked but the header flew just over the bar.

Heacham continued to press and Matt Goss won the ball from the visitors trying to pass out from the back with his shot again just flying wide.

The game then continued in the same vein with Heacham dominating the midfield and the ever impressive back four of Edward Tann, Royce Rawlings, Nathan Daw, Jahy Chima dealing with the visitors’ threat well, on 30 minutes heacham have a free kick with the ball dropping to Royce Rawlings who’s shot goes just wide. Then on the half hour the visitors again trying to play out from the back sees the Jack Defty, John Flanagan and Nathan Davies closing down and with a mix up with the defence Nathan Davies makes Heacham FC history, scoring from close range lashing the shot into the back of the net.

Heacham then set about defending well and on 40 minutes broke though only for John Flanagan to see his shot fly narrowly over the crossbar. Then a few minutes later the visitors manage their first shot of the half which flies high and wide over the crossbar a true testament to Heacham. It is fair to say Heacham played exceptionally well in the first half with the visitors trying to play on the break but not creating anything of substance.

Heacham started the second half and continued where they left off in the first half and after five minutes won a free kick just outside the area the shot by the ever-tireless Brad key just creeps wide of the post to the relief of the goalkeeper.

Heacham then had another half chance with a delightful ball into the area only for key to just miss getting his boot onto the cross.

The visitors then worked the ball upfield and with a load appeals for handball in the area with the match officials pointing for a corner.

The visitors then began to get frustrated with some niggling fouls one of which saw Jack Defty fouled on the byeline just outside the visitor’s area. Heacham then set about a period of defending against the visitors who were pushing forward for an equaliser but lacked any cutting edge in the box. Heacham then worked the ball well down the left with the ball going out for a corner, which was subsequently hit into the side netting. The next 20 minutes was a hard-fought midfield battle with Heacham trading well with the visitor’s midfield and winning most of the battles. Then after 70 minutes heacham broke from a rare mattishall corner with Daw running the whole length of the pitch only to see his shot well saved by the goalkeeper. Sam Pishorn then had his first real test of the day with a corner which he came out and gathered well. Then after 77 minutes a great curling cross is met by Jack Defty whose header finds the goalkeeper in the right place to gather. After 85 minutes the visitors began to throw players forward seeking out an equaliser which almost backfired when Josh Winner found himself striding forward and his long-range shot hitting the cross bar with the goalkeeper well beaten. Heacham then saw out the game comfortable with the back four and midfield working hard to see out the game a well-deserved win for Heacham in their first ever Senior cup match. Mattishall’s struggles throughout the match didn’t create a real clear-cut chance in the whole match, which was testament to the Heacham team, with the level of commitment by every player wearing a Heacham shirt making it very hard to pick a man of the match. Heacham are in the Hat for the next round.

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