Tiny Harding’s Reserves made it three pre-season wins in a row with a high-scoring 7-3 match at Kingstone Harriers. The goals were scored by Stuart Snedden, Kyle Harding (3), Callum Maddy and Thomas Wilkes (2). The Reserves were boosted by Sam Bradley and Steve Goodwin dropping down from the first-team for the day, and the return of Wilkes from Sheffield.
Without touching the ball, The Saints found themselves a goal down. A pass down the right-wing set the winger free and he cut inside his man to send a left-foot shot over the top of ‘keeper Chris Tong. The Saints could have drawn level soon after the opener but for a fine save from the ‘keeper denying Ricci Lynes, after he had raced onto a through by Maddy but his right-foot shot was excellently diverted over the bar. Snedden then caught a volley perfectly from 20 yards but for another top drawer save, Hay remained a goal down. They didn’t have to wait much longer though to equalise. Snedden curled in an absolute beauty from an acute angle on the right-wing to make it 1-1. Harding then put Hay in front when he emphatically finished after Kevin Goodwin’s low cross from the right. Yet Kingstone came back into it and equalised after Tong’s misplaced pass allowed their striker to run free on goal and easily finish. Wilkes was introduced around the thirty minute mark and made an instant impact when he was adjudged to have been felled in the box; it looked soft but Harding wasn’t complaining as he smashed the penalty down the middle. Wilkes then thought he had added a fourth with a clever run and finish but a dodgy offside decision denied the tricky attacker.
The Reserves stepped it up in the second-half and looked the fitter unit; this was Kingstone’s first pre-season match and their players certainty fell away in the second-half. The hosts made it 3-3 when their midfielder unleashed a long-range strike that looped over the tall frame of second-half sub goalie Josh Barrell. However, the Saints responded in perfect fashion with arguably the goal of the day. A quick throw by Harding found Henry Walsh, who in turn found Goodwin. His reverse pass found Harding in full-stride heading into the box from the right-wing and he cut back to Maddy who finished with aplomb. It was an excellent team goal, with some neat one and two touch football. More goals followed as Goodwin’s pin-point cross let Wilkes head home from six yards to make it 5-3. Harding then tried his best Beckham impression with a 50 yard switch from right to left; the ball was aimed for Maddy but ended up flying into the top corner and the youngster had his hattrick. Despite good opportunities for Bradley and Joe Emmit going astray, Wilkes ended the game by adding a seventh; Goodwin’s touch found Wilkes and his quick feet and pace saw him escape the attentions of the defenders and he finished confidently, meaning the score ended 7-3 to the Saints.
It was a good workout against a decent Kingstone outfit. If they were at the same position as Hay were at in their pre-season schedule I have no doubt the score would have been closer. Yet, Hay can once again take a lot away from the performance. They looked threatening going forward throughout the game and could have scored double-figures. There was some very neat football being played in and around the box and to score seven goals at any level, against any team, is encouraging to say the least. Man of the match goes to Harding, who scored three different types of goals, grabbed an assist and his all around play was excellent. Next up in the pre-season schedule is a trip to Ewyas Harold Reserves on Wednesday.
Hay: Tong, Bradley, S. Goodwin, Rees, Powell, Maddy, Snedden, Walsh, Harding, Lynes, Goodwin.
Subs: Barrell, Edwards, Wilkes, Emmitt, Ambler.