Hill welcomed Seattle today for a pre season friendly. A prestigious fixture for the home side who welcome the players and parents who are here courtesy of sponsorship of West Ham FC. As well as playing us they will also face West Ham and Crystal Palace along with one or two other academies,we wish them well in those fixtures.
After an initial cloud burst which threatened to spoil the afternoon the sun come out for what promised to be an entertaining match.
Hill started the game brightly and on two minutes King throws down the line to Redhead who turns inside and hits a delightful cross field ball over the Seattle defence which Emerson takes in his stride and slots away in the bottom corner. 1-0 and great appreciation of a fine goal by the away support.
Hill are having the better of possession but the away side show some quality down the Hill left and put three passes together resulting in a cross which the forward angles his header past the post.
King and H Barrett link up well to give Redhead a sight of goal but the keeper saves well. With Hill enjoying the majority of possession Fitch picks up the ball on the half way line and runs down the wing, the away side drop off and he drives forward. He cuts in but sees his shot flash across the goal. Groom on the other wing also finds himself with room but the cross just fails to find Harris making his trademark late run.
It is mainly Hill in possession but just failing to find their rhythm in the last third and again Redhead shows good feet to get his shot off but the keeper is equal to it.
Now for some light humour as Hill are awarded a free kick around 25 yds out. This may be a new play from the gaffer but Grace,Johnson and Groom gather over the ball and to decide who takes it they play rock,paper,scissors. Groom is victorious but sees his effort well saved by the keeper. Has the gaffer been watching Bayern Munich!!!!
Shortly after Redhead breaks down the left and cuts it back to Grace who moves it first time to Groom who hits it first time with power and seems to heading to the roof of the net but the keeper again manages to get a hand on it and push it over the bar. Good to see when we move the ball quickly we open up teams but when holding on to it and trying to run and beat too many players it breaks down!
Grace shows strength and hits one from 30yds but again the keeper is equal to it.
For all the possession Hill have had Seattle have dug in well and showed that if allowed too will play good football.Just before halftime Seattle work the ball down the left and the home side fail to clear the danger. It falls to the winger on the edge of the box who plays in Andrei Mironov who slots home. 1-1
Halftime 1-1
Football has many sayings but none more true than it is a game of two halves. For all the possession Hill had in the first half they lost their way a little in the second half and Seattle controlled the game. S Barrett was now to be the busier keeper as the away side started brightly with a few chances going wide and the keeper saving well.
Hill still showed glimpses of moving the ball well with Ewing darting down the left and crossing for H Barrett, who sees his shot go over the bar.
S Barrett is soon back in action when he turns round the post a 20 yd drive.
The gaffer tinkers with his players moving them into positions they don't usually play with later in the season in mind and looking at who can cover in different areas.
They game draws to a close with the away side nearly stealing a winner when a powerful shot is heading goal wards but S Barrett dives full stretch to push it round the post.
The final whistle arrives and it ends 1-1 both sets of players are applauded off by the parents.
We wish to thank Seattle for a great game and wish them well for the rest of their tour and a safe journey back home.
We would also like to thank Darren for very kindly sponsoring the after match BBQ which was well received by both sets of players and parents.