Another early start and long away trip saw Hill take on league leaders Brantham on a glorious sunny morning.
The gaffer has a busy end to the season with games in all competitions coming thick and fast,the benefit of a big squad is now paramount with injuries also mounting. Foster now out after breaking his thumb last week. Ewing taken ill this morning and Harrison picking up an injury in the warm up.
We get underway and the first ten minutes both sides are looking for the right to play. The home side look to close down early and move the ball around quickly. Hills forwards work hard closing down the back four who all look very comfortable on the ball. No side wants to give the other an advantage and few chances are created.
On twelve minutes the ball breaks to Redhead who doesn't connect cleanly and the keeper pushes wide. Emmerson who has started brightly breaks down the left and earns a corner. Brookes sends over the delivery which Johnson steers goal wards but is cleared off the line.
With twenty minutes on the clock the home side are taking advantage of the slope and have Hill on the back foot. A ball over the top sees the winger away who lobs the advancing S. Barrett but Jessop is on hand to clear up.
Hill are finding it difficult to handle the pace and movement of the home side and are restricted to two long range efforts. First a 30yd Brookes free kick that just goes over the bar and then Johnson hits one from the edge of the box that is well saved.
Just before the break the home side move the ball with pace and again the winger is in on goal only for S.Barrett to deny him. They have one more attack that sees the ball go narrowly wide.
Half Time 0-0
Second half sees the gaffer slightly shuffle the pack and Hill come out of the blocks well,Redhead sends a ball over the top for Emmerson to run onto but sees his shot deflected wide. From the resulting corner Redhead has his effort charged down.
Hill know they have a game on their hands today and the home side are working hard not to let them play. Hill are on the back foot and only half clear their lines to the home side central midfield player who steps forward and strikes a well hit shot from 25yds into the roof of the net. 1-0 Brantham. The gaffer is unimpressed and shows his frustration on the drinks bottle!
Hill has they have done many times this season need to show character which they do and begin to get back into the game. They press forward and the home side are on the back foot but a little against the run of play they break have a great interchange of play down the left, hit a cross field ball and the right midfielder is away and slots home well. 2-0 Brantham.
Other teams at this point with 15 minutes to play may buckle but not Hill. As the gaffer said afterwards 'they don't know when they are beat' Hill dig in and pour forward down both flanks and through the middle. For the first time the home side are on the back foot and looking nervous!
Hill get a corner on the right which is cleared to King on the edge on the box who volleys it goal-wards, his eyes lit up as he thought it was going in!! It is blocked near the line and on trying to clear it the defender hits it against Redhead who had thrown himself in front on him and the ball ends up in the back on the net. 2-1 Game on!
The home side are starting to wobble and Hill are now first to every ball,every tackle, every header. They are showing great desire and want something from this game.
They again get a corner and it is knocked out to King on the edge of the box who controls and puts it into Redhead. This is a moment in a match that doesn't happen often but when it does you just stand and applaud. Redhead knocks it up with his right foot and scissors kicks it into the far corner, the keep does well to get a hand on it but to be fair two keepers wouldn't have stopped that! Take a bow Tom... I did ask if it was a shinner and I can't print the reply. 2-2
Hill look to take all three points and have the home side pegged back. Very late in the game a H Barrett cross breaks to Swann who shoots narrowly wide.
Full time 2-2
The quote after the game from the gaffer 'that comeback result may just have won us the league"
Well done boys a game which we didn't always control but showed great character which will stand us in good stead for the County Cup Final next Sunday.
Good luck boys make the gaffer proud!