Hailsham Town suffer a second half nightmare against Roffey

Hailsham Town went down 5-0 on Saturday afternoon against Roffey - but it all could have been very different.
By Mark Dunford
Published 13th Sep 2020, 13:11 BST
Updated 13th Sep 2020, 13:16 BST
FootballFootball
Football

A positive opening period saw the home side slightly shading the first half, with Jamie Salvidge shooting over on the turn and Tim Johnson seeing Roffey stopper Andy Barr hold his shot from the edge of the area.

At the other end, Roffey's closest effort was an opportunity that flew wide, whilst Hailsham put together some decent passages of play, in particular a flowing move down the left with Ellis Webster and Rhys Taylor linking up well, only for Barr to hold Taylor's cut back across the area.

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With the game delicately poised at the interval, Hailsham could have taken an immediate lead when Webster seized onto a loose pass, only to see Barr quickly out to deflect the ball behind for a corner just 20 seconds into the second period. Roffey though would take the lead soon after - a direct ball over the top finding a visiting forward, who clipped a first time lob over the backpedalling Wester Young from 25 yards.

A free kick when kept low then struck the post before deflecting to safety for Roffey, but the lead would be doubled on 55 when a weak clearance was intercepted, and neatly converted following a run into the box.

After the surprise of finding themselves two behind, Hailsham rallied, with Rhys Taylor bending a shot just wide from the edge of the area, and Salvidge again close after a good run.

The game was effectively over as a contest on 75, when a Hailsham throw was not properly brought under control, allowing the ball to be nicked into the area for Roffey's Sam Shoebridge to pick his spot and find the corner from 12 yards out. Still Hailsham attempted to break down a stubborn Roffey defence - Johnson seeing a rapidly dipping effort just about held under the crossbar with Salvidge lurking - but further goals from the visitors on 80 and 84 saw the visitors claim a comprehensive victory which scarcely looked possible at half time.

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Hailsham are next in action on Saturday afternoon and hope to have at least one new face available for selection, with AFC Varndeanians the visitors in the FA Vase (3pm), whilst the Under 23's get their season underway on Wednesday night, at home to Eastbourne United (7.30pm).

Stringers; Young, Hoodless (Fox 75), Tompsett, Stracey, Jarvis, McCann, Webster, Johnson, Feasey (Jones 60), Salvidge, Taylor (Hughes 75) Unused; Findon, Holles

Attendance; 83

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