Match Report: Fleet Town 2 Redhill 0
This close encounter was only settled in the last ten minutes on a wet Saturday afternoon at the East As HGV Stadium. A bumper crowd of 312 braved the elements to be entertained as Fleet Town hosted the league leaders Redhill.
The early exchanges saw Fleet take the game to Redhill, firstly a super ball from Chike Kandi in midfield played in Adam Liddle on his debut, he crossed the ball from the right, which brought the visitors keeper into action Luke Wynne-Roberts having to drop down on the ball to stop its progress across the box. Fleet were soon back on the attack, Chike Kandi again providing the ball forward to Danilo Cadete on the right, his quick movement gave him the space to pass to Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb, who danced round a defender and fired in a dangerous cross, which passed all the way through the box without anyone getting a vital touch to it. The next attack came up the left with Dean Rule crossing the ball into the box, this was blocked and cleared by Redhill defender Joe Dyett. Several more attacks from Fleet saw Adam Liddle and Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb causing problems in and around the box for the visitors back line to try and deal with. Fleet tried one move right up the middle, a long ball over the top which Danilo Cadete ran onto, but only managed to blast the ball over the bar. Eventually Redhill were able to settle into the game and started to be able to handle the Fleet front players, although often with the help of a little push of nudge in the back by the tall Callum McAllister as he went in to head the ball away. Redhill then set up some more dangerous attacks of their own, with the runs of Ethan Ford down the left, but his first couple of crosses were only giving Finlay Purcell catching practise in the Fleet goal. Late in the first half Redhill were given a free kick close to the box, curled in by Nathan Hogan, it got touched by another Redhill player and went behind for a goal kick to Fleet. There was still time for Fleet to mount one more attack before the break, Dean Rule brought the ball up the left and cut into the box and got his shot away forcing Luke Wynne-Roberts into making a save at his near post. So half time was reached and the game still 0-0, with all to play for in the second half.
Redhill made two changes at the break including replacing Ethan Ford who had looked one of their more dangerous players and two further changes early in the half. One of the first chances in the half came when Redhill were given a free kick just outside the D, but they blasted the ball harmlessly well over the bar. Fleet continued to press forward, but as they got close the Redhill defenders were able to knock the ball away for a throw or corner.
From one corner the ball reached Robert Sheridan, who headed the ball towards the goal and the keeper scrambled across to clear the ball off the line. Although the referee had let the little pushes go in the first half, as Redhill players were going in harder in their attempts to contain Fleet, out came the Yellow cards and Redhill picked up a string of cards in quick succession. A quick break by Fleet saw Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb run from his own half with the ball, as he closed in on the box, he was unceremoniously brought down, the resulting free kick was taken by Danilo Cadete, the ball was headed out wide by collected by Nick Medcraft, he crossed the ball back in and Luke Wynne-Roberts was able to Just reach it to palm the ball away to safety.
After Seventy Eight minutes Fleet made their first and as it ended their only change of the match, bringing on Dan Bone to add some extra pressure up front. Just as it looked as if game would finish goalless, a dangerous ball from a Fleet throw in, is headed back by a Redhill player and before Dan Bone can reach it, another Redhill player Joe Dyett gets his head on the ball and directs it past his keeper into the net for an own goal to give Fleet the lead on Eighty Five minutes.
Redhill then made their final change to help them now chase the game as they needed to look for an equaliser. As a Redhill attack is snuffed out and Robert Sheridan in possession and about to clear, the attacker fouls Sheridan giving Fleet a free kick. Finlay Purcell takes the free kick and picks out Chike Kandi on halfway, Chike runs forward and to the right and from twenty yards out strikes the ball into the net to double Fleet’s advantage after Eighty Nine minutes.
With little time left Redhill still pushed forward but could not find any way past Finlay Purcell and Fleet held out for the win, three points and another clean sheet. This lifts Fleet Town up one place to fourth in the table as Cobham dropped points, though the side happiest with Redhill dropping points would be Jersey Bulls as they continue their unbeaten run and close in on the top sides.
