So a week into my pre season coverage and tonight (Monday) I was over at Mabley Green,Hackney, for a game on the newer 3G pitch between Tower Hamlets and Brentwood Town.
It was a perfect evening for some footy with the late evening sunshine beating down on the pristine surface, perfect for some passing football, and both sides did indeed try and play the right way.
The match was played in 3 x 30 minute periods so both squads could be fully tested. And the game saw Hamlets create the first effort which was tipped wide by the keeper before both sides saw efforts kept out. The visitors then missed a sitter before they made amends on 12 minutes, slotting home after a brilliant through ball.
However the hosts responded by scoring two goals in a minute, firstly on 21 minutes when a through ball saw them round the keeper and slot home and then barely sixty seconds later another ball in behind found the same player who drilled a left footed effort beyond the Town keeper and saw the hosts lead after the first thirty minute period.
The second period saw greater pressure from the Brentwood forward line and they created some really good chances but failed to convert any of these, and yet again it was their defending that was to let them down again as they were caught cold four minutes from the hour mark when Hamlets skipped in down the left and a weak ball across saw the keeper gather then let the ball squirm from his grasp and allowed the hosts to just about squeeze the ball over the line and see the ESL outfit open up a two goal cushion.
So into the third and final period of thirty minutes and after yet more changes from both sides, the hosts had chances to make it 4-1 as Brentwood pushed on to try and get back into the contest, but saw these chances go array. Brentwood then began to assert more pressure in the final fifteen as the period took on a rather frenetic tempo.
With twelve minutes to go Brentwood pulled a goal back when they finally managed to get in on goal, round the keeper, and slot home, making the last ten or so minutes interesting. Town missed a couple of really good chances towards the end as they pressed for a leveller but it looked like Hamlets would hold on for a good win.
However as we entered stoppage time the visitors struck a brilliant leveller from twenty yards out and this looked likely to be the final action of this match. However in a dramatic ending the visitors then won a penalty after the linesman flagged for an infringement just inside the box over on the far side and the Ryman League outfit had the chance to win the game with the last kick but the hosts keeper dived to tip the spot kick away and the game ended all square.
So a thoroughly entertaining contest ended in a 3-3 draw with both managers knowing more than they did prior to this outing no doubt.
Full Time Tower Hamlets 3 Brentwood Town 3
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