Kentish Town 4 v Hoddesdon Town 3
25 Aug 2011

Thomas Looney returned to the side tonight to lead the Young Warriors into battle and with only two other players in the starting line up (Ed Stopps and Charlie Kanaris) the rest being 19 or younger.

The home side started the better and soon had the away side on the back foot, so much so that Hoddesdon Town had to make changes and bring on a sub after just 10 minutes. On the 15^th minute after a lovely through ball Kevin Grzabka danced his way past one defender and then lobbed the on rushing Keeper. 10 minutes later the Young Guns were awarded a free kick some 35yrds out, up stepped Thomas Looney who hit a screamer which hit the back of the net in the blink of an eye.  Minutes later Michael Rice was fed a good ball and he raced clear on the right and delivered an inch perfect ball for Michael Nwanze but he could only hit his shot straight at the keeper from 5 yrds out.

Hoddesdon never gave up and as the match entered the final 15 minutes of the first half they started to claw their way back into the match and managed to pull one goal back before the half time whistle.

Hoddesdon came out in the second half rearing to go and were straight at the home side and pulled back an equaliser within the first ten minutes and those Townie supporters were fearing the worst, but the young guns rolled up their sleeves and started to play their football again. And in the space of ten minutes in form striker Michael Nwanze put away a brace with two well taken goals, his first with a well hit shot which the keeper was helpless to do anything about and his second with a good diving header, which now takes his tally to four goals in three senior matches.

The away side did go looking to get back into the match and when Townie Keeper Stoops allowing a ball to slip his grip and fall over the line, but it was to little to late and in the dying seconds the Home side were denied a stonewall penalty when Luke Morgan was bought down in the box by the away keeper, but the referee waved the appeals away.

Manager John Creith said after the match, “another great performance from our squad and with every match we are getting better, we have a long way to go yet, and we are still leaking goals mainly due to our inexperience but I have total belief in our abilities and potential,  We are not the finished article yet, but tonight we have taken another step towards that aim. The team played well at times and when we took our foot of the gas we got punished, but we had enough up our sleeve to see us through, it should have been easier than it was, but that will come with each game we play.” He went on to say “ I would like to thank the committee for their support and backing as most clubs would not have let me bring these young players through on mass, and I know we will still face some tough times ahead but I know that they will be backing us fully, which will make my job easier and give encouragement to the players.”