Team: Hipple, Fuller, Grundy, Roberts, Kingston, Jessavala, Forkan, Peters, Fewtrell, Richards, Hunt

Subs: -

Goalscorer: Forkan

It was one of those very rare occasions when a defeat felt every bit like a victory. I would like to stand here & say that Hartley Wintney played like Brazil but if truth be told we played more like Wimbledon of old & truly captured the Crazy Gang spirit.

The squad went from 5 to 13 & back down to 10 all in the space of the afternoon. The latest player pulled out at 4pm only to be replaced by 16 year old Kieran Fuller who looked like he should be playing in my nephews under 12's team.

We all made it to Leighton which was a positive start. The team had an awkward look about it, not least with Andy Hunt playing centre forward/target man, 16 going on 12 year old Kieran Fuller at right back, slightly out of shape Danny Roberts at centre half, sun tanned Jason Kingston making his 1^st start in 3 weeks at left back, injured Dave Richards up top & Rob Forkan making his 1^st start for the club.

Leighton made all the early running, spraying the ball impressively from wing to wing & playing neat & concise football on the dry but flat playing surface.

It took time to adjust but the visitors just about weathered the early storm. Leighton peppered Liam Hipple's goal from distance & stretched Hartley near enough to breaking point on occasions but we stood firm & briefly threatened ourselves from time to time as a result of long searching balls out of defence.

Midway through the 1^st half Liam Hipple did well when tipping the ball at full stretch onto the face of the cross bar. He had to be alert moments later diving low to his right to keep out a speculative but dangerous shot from distance but saved the best until last when quickly shutting the angle in a one on one situation & with a reaction save somehow managed to palm the ball expertly just past the far post.

Following the solid opening Hartley did concede a fairly soft goal from a throw in, it was placed into the penalty area for the oncoming forward who sharply turned his man & slotted home into the far corner, 0-1.

Although chances were at a premium for Hartley, just prior to half time Luke Fewtrell did force arguably the best save of the game from the home goal keeper. The ball was played into his path on the right wing, he took the ball past the full back & his ferocious shot from all of 20 yards was somehow matched by the onrushing goalie to keep the score at 1-0.

The 2^nd half started much the same as the 1^st with Leighton looking to play open, attacking football, probing the Hartley defence at every opportunity.

The score became 2-0 only 5 minutes into the half. The Leighton centre forward did well to hold the ball up & in one swift move turned & drove the ball home into the bottom corner of the goal from the edge of the penalty area.

Conceding the 2^nd goal so early in the half could have been disastrous but from the re-start the game totally changed & Hartley with their "nothing to lose" attitude began to take the game to Leighton.

Leighton were now on the back foot & chances were now coming Hartley's way with some frequency.

Following an expert block just inside his own half, Andy Hunt created the opening for Rob Forkan to drive with power & pace for all of 50 yards, through the Leighton midfield & beyond the defence, finally drilling the ball into the far corner of the goal. It was a true contender for goal of the season & certainly put Hartley in the ascendency with the opportunity to achieve the most unlikely of comebacks.

Following some neat footwork Forkan came close to claiming his 2^nd goal lifting the ball just over the bar & Lee Peters was most unlucky when the Leighton goalie somehow managed to keep the ball from crossing the line following his powerful header from inside the 6 yard box.

The best opportunity was squandered when Roberts penalty was saved low to the goal keepers left, following a theatrical dive from Andy Hunt when challenged from behind.

Hartley kept attacking & Leighton were now desperately hanging on as chance after chance came Hartley's way.

Steve Grundy was lucky not to give away a penalty & gain himself a red card for a Jonathon Edwards style 2 footed lunge at the Leighton striker who was ideally positioned to put the game beyond Hartley.

Up until the final whistle Hartley continued to battle but just couldn't find the equalising goal.

The 2^nd half performance alone will go down as one of the most spirited & impressive this season & each player should be very proud of their efforts.

It is nights & performances like this that make you realise why you love playing football.

Well done.