Saturday 3rd October Heacham V Stalham

Both teams entered onto the pitch under grey skies and steady rain. The pitch had been prepared by the ground staff and volunteers and looked in great condition.
As both teams readied themselves for kick off it became apparent that the visitors where probably one of the tallest sides Heacham had faced in sometime with many of the team well over six foot.
With the game underway heacham settled first and began to move the ball around, with a couple of half chances. The visitors always looking a threat on the counterattack. Heacham had a free kick in the first five minutes which resulted in a smart save from their goalkeeper. A subsequent break by the visitors led to a smart save down the other end by Sam Pishorn who pushed the ball away for a corner. Then as the passage of play began to swing Heacham’s way as they began to dominate the spaces in midfield which on seven minutes drew a corner which swung across the penalty area and was met by Nathan Davies with a fine shot back across the goal which thundered into the net. Heacham 1 up. With Heacham on the up and Brad Key and Ben Oliver running the midfield breaking up the play and again setting the forwards on their way Nathan Davies again saw a great effort just saved by the goalkeeper. The visitors then had their chances with a super free kick that hit the crossbar. Both teams then went through a period of possession without really threatening until mid way through the first half the visitors broke and a great shot tipped onto the cross bar by Sam Pishorn followed by a corner which again was expertly dealt with by Sam Pishorn. This then spurred Heacham on and John Flanagan had a couple of good chances going past players with ease only to see some excellent saves by the goalkeeper. Jack Defty then saw a header collected by the goalkeeper and Heacham were searching for the second. Then 25 minutes into the first half Jack Defty picked up the ball on the right and drilled a pinpoint cross to John Flanagan on the edge of the area who unleashed a crashing drive into the bottom of the net Heacham 2 up. The remainder of the half carried on with Heacham keeping the visitors at bay and breaking quick. Jahy Chima found himself up against one of the tallest forwards and although he had a real handful to deal with, he began to get on top and ably supported by Ed Tann and Royce Rawlings the threat from the long ball was beginning to dwindle. Ed Tann was dealing with the long balls and winning the Ariel duels well as was.

The second half started with the visitors coming out and looking for an early goal, with long balls beginning to be the order of play again, seeking out the tall number 14. During this time Sam Pishorn again dominated his area coming out for crosses and setting the team on their way with fine distribution. Adam Reeve came on and saw a shot just wide. Sam Pishorn then saw a fine save with his feet to deny the Visitors. The play for large parts then began to get broken up with free kicks being awarded and both teams as they struggle to settle. Heacham then began to find their way in the closing stages with the ever-impressive Ben Oliver winning tackles and breaking forward. Heacham began to press and from a resulting corner well worked saw Adam Reeve’s shot go just wide. Then in the final moments of the half the ball is squared across to Nathan Daw who sees the gap and his shot goes neatly across the penalty area and into the far corner for a well fought and deserved 3.0 win for Heacham.

Special mention goes to the reserves playing in the junior cup, up against Freethorpe Reserves from the Anglia Comb. After 90 minutes the teams where square at 3-3 with Heacham going on to win the penalty shoot out 4-3. Well done guy’s super result.