Hashtag United are
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South champions after they gained the point they
needed with a draw against Hackney Wick at The Old Spotted Dog to win the title
and gain promotion to the Essex Senior League Premier for next season.
The equation was simple going into the game for the
visitors, avoid defeat and they would take the title with a game to spare,
however defeat against Hackney Wick would mean a potential title showdown with
Coggeshall United on the final day of the season.
And it wasn’t going to be easy against a Wick side who in
their previous two encounters this season in league and cup had seen the sides
draw 1-1, so a tight and tense evening was expected in front of a vocal crowd
at The Dog.
Wick, who sat in sixth at kick off and could still mathematically
finish the season third, began much the better side and saw an effort from
point blank range kept out by Hashtag keeper Jackson, before they attacked
again and burst through the visitors backline, but a great last ditch block saw
the ball roll into Jackson’s hands.
Sure enough after the hosts great start they found
themselves behind in the 12th minute, and it was a great bit of play
by Harry Honesty to put the title chasing Hashtag into the lead, as he lifted
the ball over the oncoming keeper before volleying home in off the bar to send
the visitors wild, they had that lead and knew the hosts now needed two to deny
them glory.
Wick though continued to be on the front foot and would make
this difficult for the visitors, and Jackson had to get down to save another
effort from outside the box, whilst down the other end in what was Hashtag’s
second meaningful attack, they headed a free-kick inches wide.
Wick then saw Jackson brilliantly save a free-kick from just
outside the box, but there was nothing he could do from the resultant corner as
Akin Akinola managed to hook home a left-footed effort, and the hosts were deservedly
level ten minutes before the break. It was back in the balance you
could say, and the teams went into the break level, with Wick certainly the better
side, and the visitors knew they were going to have to work hard for this.
Half Time Hackney
Wick 1 Hashtag United 1
It looked like Wick were going to carry on how they did in
the first period, on the front foot, as initially they threatened the Hashtag
backline early in the half, and got in down the left before cutting back into
the dangerzone, and with keeper Jackson out of the frame, it took some last ditch
defending to cut out the cross and clear for a corner.
After this early burst of pressure from the hosts though, they
didn’t really trouble the visitors thereafter, and it was Hashtag who carved
out the better second half chances.
Firstly then managed to get in down the right however the cutback
bobbled before getting to the attackers and a mis control saw that attack fade.
And then a visitors free-kick almost left egg on the face of
the hosts keeper as he came to claim the cross but totally misjudged the flight
of the ball and it sailed over his head but luckily for him drifted inches wide
of the far post, I thought it had gone in it was that close.
The hosts keeper then almost made another error when
claiming a bouncing ball towards the top corner, as he dropped the ball back
into the six-yard box, but whilst trying to reclaim the loose ball was fouled
by an opponent, meaning he could breathe a sigh of relief.
Wick, whose attacks had pretty much dried up in this half as
I said earlier, thumped a long-range effort well wide, whilst down the other
end a visitors free-kick to the back post was almost controlled but yet again
couldn’t get the ball out of their feet, so the chance was gone.
The game was now into stoppage time and there would be five
or six minutes of it, the tension was palpable, especially amongst the visitors,
who knew that the title and promotion were just minutes away, but terrific game
management by them saw no further alarms and the final whilst brought scenes of
joy as Hashtag United claimed the point they needed for the championship and
promotion, well done to them, a great achievement for Jay Deveraux and his side
in their first senior season.
A word for the hosts as well by the way, who have now held
the champions to three 1-1 draws this season, and until recently were in the
title picture themselves. If they can
keep this squad together for next season then they must surely be considered
one of the front runners for next season.
A good game between two good sides this one was.
Full Time Hackney
Wick 1 Hashtag United 1
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