So on Saturday 11th July 2015 I was over at Mabley Green’s 3G pitch for Hackney Wick’s first ever game against a Football Beyond Borders XI in the hot sunny weather in East London.
It was a day of celebration as well as enjoyment as the newly formed side got up and running for pre season. The men’s team will be competing in the Middlesex County League Division One Central and East for the 2015-16 season, which is Step 8 in the non league football pyramid.
They took on a team from Football Beyond Borders which is a registered UK charity which uses the power of football to tackle inequality and provide opportunities for young people to achieve their goals and make their voices heard. To read more about this project go to their websiteat www.footballbeyondborders.org
The men’s game would kick off at 3pm but first the Hackney Wick ladies team took on a Football Beyond Borders (if you don’t mind I’ll call them FBB from now on!!) ladies XI in a 30 minute each way game. The Wick ladies had only been training together for a month so would find it hard against an organised FBB XI for sure. Sadly for Wick they fell to a 13-0 defeat although improved massively in the second half and even missed a penalty as well as three follow up shots which were somehow kept out by the FBB keeper. But the ladies would no doubt learn a lot from this experience and they were still all smiles afterwards as its the taking part that counts. History was made, Hackney Wick Ladies were up and running.
Here are some photo’s of that Women’s match:-
And so onto the Men’s game. Hackney Wick V Football Beyond Borders, another moment of history as the two sides kicked off moments after 3pm on Saturday 11th July, here is what happened:-
Hackney Wick 1 Football Beyond Borders 5
It started so well for the Wickers as they grabbed a 3rd minute lead when a ball over the top was run onto and finished smartly past the onrushing keeper. Wick 1 FBB 0.
A minute later and FBB almost levelled when a cross was side footed over the crossbar and then on 6 minutes another good effort from FBB as the hosts keeper came for the ball and didn’t get it but striker was hassled off the ball and saw his effort go wide for a goal kick.
On 17 minutes FBB were screaming for a penalty after forward and keeper clashed on the edge of the box but nothing was given for each side in what was a very competitive match so far. A minute later a FBB were level when a shirt pull inside the box was deemed a foul and a penalty which was swept past the keeper with aplomb. Wick 1 FBB 1.
On 25 minutes another great sweeping attack from FBB ended with the ball being poked wide of the far post after the winger had got beyond his marker. It was a very high tempo game and this continued a minute later when a Wick attack saw a looping header go just over the goal.
On the half hour mark a good effort from range by FBB was brilliantly pushed away by the Wick keeper and then five minutes later a good attack from Wick saw the ball slipped to the striker who forced a decent save from FBB’s keeper at the near post. Eight minutes before half time and the visiting side edged ahead as a ball slipped through saw the FBB player slide the ball past Wick’s keeper. Wick 1 FBB 2.
Five minutes before the half time break Wick nearly got back on level terms when a great strike from outside the box dipped viciously and hit the underside of the bar before being scrambled away from goal. Three minutes later and FBB increased their lead when another pacey attack saw attacker beats keeper to the ball before going around him and slotting brilliantly into the net from a tight angle for a great goal. Wick 1 FBB 3.
It was a sucker punch for the hosts who were so close to levelling moments before but at the half it was 3-1 to the visitors.
Half Time: Hackney Wick 1 Football Beyond Borders 3
Wick knew the next goal had to be their’s but seven minutes into the half they fell further behind as FBB scored again as a great cross to back post was headed home unmarked as the visitors assumed total control of the match. Wick 1 FBB 4.
Just before the hour mark a FBB centre half let a long ball towards the box bounce which allowed a Wick forward to get the ball inside the box but his lay back was scuffed well wide of the target. On 66 minutes a long up n under cross from FBB saw Wick’s keeper just get ahead of the forward to punch clear but three minutes later FBB made it five with the goal of the game as a crossfield ball saw FBB run onto it and whack over the helpless keeper from way out and draw applause from everyone who was their to witness it. Wick 1 FBB 5
FBB had another couple of chances in the last fifteen minutes, firstly another good ball into box saw an effort saved and then another good save from the hosts keeper kept out another fizzing effort towards the near post.
The game kind of ended at that point and despite some sillyness towards the end resulting in some pushing and shoving the day ended with the men defeated too.
Full Time: Hackney Wick 1 Football Beyond Borders 5
Here are some photo’s from the game:-
Despite the results it had been a good day for Hackney Wick FC. They had made history and it was witnessed by a decent crowd as well, which shows the local’s are definitely behind this new team. Let’s hope they push on now ahead of their league campaign in the Middlesex County League. I wish them all the best!!!
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